Graffiti - the Writing on the Wall Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 8000 words

Graffiti - the Writing on the Wall - Essay Example There is evidence of forms of graffiti inside the Lascaux caves, which was carved into the wall using bones and stones. These days graffiti is created using markers, enamel paint, rollered throw-ups and stencils, though the traditional use of spray cans is considered by many graffiti artists as the most authentic. These methods catch the eye and communicate a message effectively in an expressive form. Graffiti can be emotional, ironic, humorous or even destructive and gives the artist a chance to express himself through his artwork. Many graffiti artists create tags or tagging, as they like to call it, which is there way of self-promotion. It involves writing your own name in your own graffiti style. Many people, in particular the older generation see graffiti as vandalism and even a protest against society, but is being individual and trying to seek recognition such a bad thing The desire to be noticed for having a particular talent should surely be praised rather than slandered. I am sure it is difficult to know where to draw the line on such a matter, but in all honesty graffiti is one of the best forms of publicity and communication within the design world. It can be created almost anywhere and many graffiti artists choose spots where people have to view their artwork, regardless of how dangerous or risky it is to 'get up' a piece there. For instance subways, trains, and buses are a high priority as every body uses public transport. Many Graffiti artists use strong form and ideas, and often combine irony and humor to create thought-provoking messages. Tristan Manco who has written a number of graffiti books including 'Stencil Graffiti,' says: "Street art is both an expression of our culture and a counterculture in itself. 'Communication' has become a modern mantra: the city streets shout with billboards, fly posters and corporate advertising, all vying for our attention. They almost invite a subversive response. As high-tech communications have increased, a low-tech reaction has been the recent explosion in street art." 1 Stencil Graffiti is becoming increasing more popular and has a powerful platform to create personal visions that interact with our daily lives. Stencil artists use fly posters/ stickers/collage/freehand and spray cans to create their artwork. A stencil can easily be formed on any surface within reason. It was introduced from the 1980s in Europe but was first experimented in the New York subways and again can be traced back to the beginning of time, from cave paintings. Leather stencils were used to decorate the insides of Egyptian pyramids and the Chinese used paper stencils to decorate silk and Buddha figures. It was these beautiful techniques that influenced stencil artwork in Europe during the medieval period. Church walls, floors and furniture were covered with fantastical stenciled materials. It is amazing what has been developed from what is thought to be one of the earliest art forms. As early as the 1950s and 1960s, American artists such as Robert Rauschenburg and Andy Warhol had developed new screen-printing techniques and visual ideas, which had a big impact on the art and design world. Their hybrid techniques labeled them forerunners of today's stencil graffiti artists. Warhol was a pop art