Graffiti - art or rubbish?
Graffiti - vandalism or modern art? Let us know your thoughts.
Spraying graffiti in public places is seen by many as anti-social behaviour.
But recently graffiti art has developed into a popular and profitable scene.
The growing global popularity of artists like Banksy has seen sales of graffiti art rise in the last year.
For The One Show, Cerrie Burnell visited a gallery in Bristol where Banksy is currently exhibiting. His work has gone from appearing on street corners to selling for hundreds of thousands of pounds.
But what about the graffiti on property, bus stops and public toilets across the UK? Should this be seen as art? The cost for removal across the UK is claimed to be as much as £27 million.
Graffiti: Is it art or vandalism?
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~30~RS~)
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I believe that graffiti can be art if it is done well, like Banksy's work is. But when it's just someone's name in big bubble letters, then that's graffiti.
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If Grafiti is outdoors and is scruffy, I dont like it but if it's done nicely its quite nice!
From Lucy Stafford. aged 9
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If you feel strongly about graffiti, then you should sign a partition, boom, boom!!!!
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Weeds are plants in the wrong place.
Graffiti is art in the wrong place
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If you think about it graffiti is where art first began.
I believe there is a difference between Graffiti as art and Tagging as vandalism.
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Graffiti Art is about sending a message of some kind through imagery. Banksy's work is acclaimed because he has something to say through it. It's not just about "tagging" or defacing a building or wall, it's about social and political change.
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Best piece of graffiti I ever saw, alongside the Slough Arm of the Grand Union Canal...
Someone had written "HIP HOP" on the wall, someone alse had come along later and added a C and an S to make it "CHIP SHOP"!!
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i think that graffiti is art and it is people expressing their feelings. people who are against graffiti just do not understand how beutiful it looks on our walls.
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All these people who do graffiti will think they can make the same as banksy. So in my opinion the gallery's are contributing to the vandilism... They should find out who banksy is and make him pay for the damage he has done to the community. Its tax payers money that is being wasted here remember that. If it is art then paint on canvas and put it in a gallery.
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The only way that graffiti artists will be able to develop is if we allow them the freedom of 'ugliness', over time they either give up and do something else or they become Bansky. Go Graffiti
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GRAFFITI HAS BEEN AROUND FROM THE CAVEMAN TO POMPEII AND NOW IN OUR CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY. THEY COULDN'T GET RID THEN AND THEY WONT NOW. PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS FEEL THE NEED TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES. SOME EXPRESS THEMSELVES LESS SKILLFULLY ARTWISE AND OTHERS VERY WELL... VAL KERRY
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Most areas suffer from relentless 'tagging' which is not graffiti but classed as graffiti my most. Tagging is the disease of communities where children want their friends to see their 'tag'. We need to encourage art in the right places and prosecute those that scribble their tag all over the community.
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i tried grafiti once on my forehead whilst lookin in the mirror i spelt tipton when my friend looked it spelled notpit up the baggies adrian
wayne adams west bromwich
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I have been doing graffiti for 4 years and i class it as art. I don't like tagging on the streets because it looks messy but the murals i class as art. I think that people should be open minded about graffiti because there is alot of talent.
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Graffiti is art! Just up the road from where I work I watched a piece being created over several days its a large japanese warrior piece I had to stop and take pictures its so good. However tagging is certainly not art and quite boring really.
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Why not try what they do in Australia or NZ where local artists involve graffiti ists in local art projects or where youn people gather.
They also play classical music in areas where graffiti is bad to ease the problem
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Hi
I'm not sure if these exist already, but why not provide public spaces for graffiti art? These could be billboards, perhaps with a surface that is easy to clean or replace. Works could remain on view for a limited period (eg a month) before being removed ready for the next artist to do his stuff.
Signs next to/beneath The display boards could ask grafitti artist to comfine their efforts to such boards - rather the walls of buldings, etc. This, then, provides an exhibition space for the aspiring 'Banksey' whilst discouraging vandalism.
Cheers
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Why don't all these councils cotton on to the fact that painting over graffiti so the graffiti artist have a lovely blank canvas is a bit pointless? Why not commission some talented graffiti artists to cover the walls, if it's the work of an artist they respect they won't paint over it.
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The answer is both yes it is and no it isnt. Banksy has proven the skill of graffiti and how good it can look.
Perhpas Councils should try working with their locals. Brighton, where I live, has little problems with graffiti and I believe it is because the council has set aside certain areas of the city and walls where they can do their work. When the wall is full or something unacceptable is put there, they just paint the whole area white and artists start all over again.
They have a platform to do their work and others travel to Brighton to leave there mark too in these areas.
Good luck and work with the people and don't be a 'jobsworth'
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hey one show
i think graffiti is great! all you people who think it is horrible are just jeolous because it is just art and they are talented people!
if you could draw like they could you would want to show it off to everyone where people can actually see it in everyday places!if there were more places for it to be done on a special wall like in brighton then it wouldnt go in the wrong places!
love the show btw!
from gemma, 15, Crawley xxx
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Hi all
My son Olly is studying an art and design diploma, none of us in the family had heard of Banksy until Olly came home totally influenced by his work. Olly produced a piece for his fine art studies based on banksy's work. Olly wants to be a shoe designer and incorporated a pair of shoes left by the side of the road giving the illusion of these being banksy's shoes and his illusiveness! The piece was really good and earned olly a distinction. My son and I love Banksy's work, but Olly has no desire to go out and do graffiti anywhere. He admires his 'art work'.
But who is he does anyone know???
Good luck to Banksy, he is an artist with expression and his work is not offensive.
Val McCann
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There is one piece of Graffitti that makes me chuckle every time I see it. On a bridge over the M25 somewhere between junction 16 and 23 there has always been as long as I can remember the word "PEAS". Recently someone has added to it so it now reads "give PEAS a chance"!!! Makes me chuckle everytime !! Genius!
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Graffiti is vandalism by definition. However "vandalism" and "art" is not mutually exclusive. Any graffiti can be seen as art, and like any other form of art, some are more convincing than the others.
When these pieces leave the streets and move indoor into museums and galleries, they become "graffiti-style" art.
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Whether a particular item of graffiti is considered art or not is actually irrelevant. If it has been painted on a surface without the permission of the person the surface belongs to, then it is criminal damage - simple as that.
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if people were to gave the kids a chance and somewhere to graffiti they could develop their skills in a positive way and make works of art ,,,, GRAFFITI IS ART !!!!!!
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Many of the best artists at the moment are graffiti artists, such as Banksy, Blu and Microbo! I feel privalaged to see good pieces for free and can inspire any passerby!!
Gotta love graffiti and street art!!!
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Graffiti only brightens the dull and mundane streets of our country.
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Graffiti is a form of art good or bad either way it shows the artistic talent of youth. It s also really where all art began.
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graffiti is an art form, it always has and will be.
i agree some is messy but if it wasent ilegal we could spend more time at it and it would look really good.
here in Dublin there are run down parts, so sometimes the council lets us do it and it really brings up the street!
-same2-
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Very disappointed that Adrain Chiles referred to Elstree studios as being in North West London. The studios have been and always will be in Borehamwood which is in the county of Hertfordshire. Please get info correct before broadcasting it.
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There is no doubt that some graffiti is amazing art, but it is all subjective. I believe Banksy is very talented and it seems now that people are delighted when his 'art' appears in their neighbourhood, but before his fame, would these same people have appreciated it as much - probably not.
In comparison, tagging is something I think is generally ugly and destructive and pretty talentless.
If the government chooses to prosecute those who do it - it should be all or nothing. Should banksy be prosecuted? How can a council choose to promote some, but not all graffiti artists?
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I wouldnt complain if Banksy graffitied on my house. But if some little punk ass tagged or did that stuppid bubble garbage. Would not be happy Jan.
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Graffiti is the medium by which frustrated and talented ARTISTS can paint and display their work for large numbers of people to see and is generally done in places where the quality enhances the look of the environment....
Vandalism is the tagging or defacing of graffiti or property by in the most part, untalented and illiterate individuals who are either jealous of the talented images they see, trying to mark their ''territory'' or just doing something foolish to try and prove their so called bravery in ways or places likely to cause injury either to themselves or those who end up having to pick up the pieces....
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people complain about the youth of today not doing anything but hang on street corners n lounge on benches and when they express them selves sure theres the few who vandalise but as many here hav said the few outthere show potential and meaningmi think the local authorities etc should place areas for the "taggers" "bombers" etc to air themselves and also concider making it viable to show and learn the skill within the "art" and gain new talent for the public to enjoy
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I suppose it is Art Critics and Historians who decide. I wonder why, unlike say music historians, who tend to be musicians or business historians or science historian who tend to be scentists or in business, people who specialise in Art History tend not to be Artists. I suppose its because valuable objects are involved. Banksy was interesting until his persona as a homeboy from the wrong side of the tracks creating arch, dry intelectual banalities was exploded by the revelation that he was from the class of people who these glib intelectual truisms appeal to.
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First, to say tghat I normally avoid chat shows but have become a real fan of your show and try to get it every night.
Now, Graffiti is like mutations in evolution. Most of it is useless and will die as abnormalities fail. Rarely it is brilliant and moves the species forward. We are in an age of expressionism where art is almost desperately trying to redefine itself. Graffiti is part of this. Don't discourage it. Be open. Art and life meet here! Here is a 'way in ' for people without a degree in 'fine arts.' Banksy is brillint and makes a real statement in everything he does. But, coucils, please do get rid of filth and obvious rubbish!
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I think that ALL graffiti is an abomination. If I want to see artwork I can visit art galleries or surf the web. Spray painted graffiti on public buildings, transport etc is just so scruffy and probably more expensive to rectify than that other bugbear - discarded litter.
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Art and anonymity - interesting concept. I agree with what folks have said about defacing other people's property as being wrong. I also feel that just as skate-parks have been constructed for the physical artistry, so graffiti practice parks could be set aside to develop other creative skills and nurture talent with the aerosol. Expert training in all forms, subject matter, concepts and typo by experienced artists would develop and free alot more emotions and expressive instincts.
Interesting how the two terms that immediately come to the fore when discussing art are 'celeb' and 'cash'. What about the art itself? The concept, subject, meaning or lack of it? Is it irony that Banksy has adopted his pseudonym thus? I think it's great to be a-nonny-mouse in this CC-all be-something-or-nothing modern cityscape. We all need to express our feelings and frustrations and what better place to vent them than at your extension-head-space graffiti-bl*nk-canvas-park? Free Art, Free Expression. Just think . . - they might! Someone might notice something diffferent - even if it is that WoBlAy bloke off the telly . .
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Graffiti, like any other form of 'so called' art should be displayed in colleges and galleries where it can be fully appreciated by those who enjoy it. By extolling its use on buildings and other structures, only encourages vandals to spray and deface our towns, cities and countryside. Locally to us, we have an historic railway bridge where graffiti has been encouraged by Network Rail and the Local Authority in the misguided belief that this will deter graffiti in other parts of the town and keep youngsters off the railway lines. Sadly, we now have it plastered on walls at the local hospital, car parks, road signs and private property.
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I have the opposing view that Banksy's work has lost the whole point by being exhibited in a gallery and on canvas. His work is art because it highlights social and political subjects in the street context, using the language of the street, and often in a manner that amuses, whereas graffiti is just some yoof trying to lay claim to their territory and doesn't say anything intelligible or coherent nor is even aesthetically pleasing.
The problem is that many "mini Banksys" now crop up imitating his style, and that just isn't cool at all.
There is also nothing wrong with art in public spaces, especially art that says something about the dereliction of a space or that engages with people such as Antony Gormley's work, Polofamily ;-)
Site specific art is an accepted part of contemporary practice - taking it out of galleries and transforming existing locations in many diverse ways, depending on the practice of the artist, and especially for emerging artists such as myself.
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I would consider this vandalism regardless of whether it is artistic or not. If permmission is granted then fine but most of it is done on unsightly sides of buildings or concrete jungles or run down areas which doesnt really add to the appeal of the surroundings
or help the environment.
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when is a flower not a flower? when it's a weed. What is a weed, well it's a flower in the wrong place.
so graffiti is art but when it's in the wrong place it's graffiti.
end of.
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I think graffiti is rubbish and lowers the tone of an area. Most of it is just scribble and scrawls. If it was done in chalk, then it would not be as much of a problem as the rain would wash it off. However, I have seen in Southern Ireland where there has been a borded up house for example,where some one has skillfully painted in doors and windows with window boxes and flowers. Even some one answering the door with a puppy at their heels. It looked good and not at all offensive and did do something to improve the appearance of empty buildings - this is definitely art and not graffiti.
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What most people seem not to see is that graffiti is enfoced art on the public whether its good or bad, I wonder if the people who use graffiti decorate the inside of their own house with it. we have enough enfoced graffiti with architects and planners as it is.No more please.
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I think grafitti art is a way of expressing emotion and so its mostly beautiful. However, some texts or images can be taken offensively. I studied Banksy's work and I think its inspiring,mysterious and there is so much depth and meaning in his work, I like it.=)
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i love griffity but i dont do that of couse but when it is some 1s name or summin , i dont like that.
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Well when there isnt anything to do what do you expect teenagers to do ! I think that its art and it shows theire true colours
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