Graffiti: Art or Vandalism?
There has long been a debate about whether graffiti is a form vandalism or a form of art with neither side gaining more than a few significant strides. With the increasing popularity of Banksy and Shepard Fairey, though, graffiti arts’ critics may have been momentarily silenced. A recent “fine arts graffiti” stunt in both Los Angeles and New York had us wondering what you all think. Graffiti: Art? Or Vandalism?
Artist Mat Benote has, over the years, experimented with starting discussions (in diplomatic terms) about the money museums spend on works by famous artists as well as asking the time honored question: is graffiti art beautiful or intrusive? From altering other artists’ work to creating abstract sculptures only to be left wherever he pleases and covertly inserting his own works on the walls of major museums, Benote has definitely gotten people talking. Last week, he hung his own pieces (complete with information plaques) at our own LACMA and Hammer Museums as well as at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. Hung during normal business hours amongst regular patrons, museum guards, and security cameras, he does have a sort of Thomas Crown Affair appeal. His website states that one intention is to “be a catalyst in the continuing process of merging high art and low art.”
So… is he vandalizing or making a true artistic statement? Is he starting a worthy discussion among artists and museums or is he acting like a petulant child? The jury is out at Fine Arts LA headquarters, but let us know what you think!
Tags: "gifted" art, Art, Banksy, graffiti, Guggenheim, Hammer Museum, LACMA, Mat Benote, Shepard Fairey, vandalism
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It depends on whether it’s en eye sore or not.
And whether it’s on my wall or not. If I catch one of them in the act I’ll ask them if they it’s art or not. Then I’d leave it up to them on whether my reaction is assault or not.
Well, I think that graffiti is art.
If some people don’t like it, fine.
Get rid of it.
But some graffiti expresses emoticon,
and if it’s in the wrong spot,
just clean it up.
Don’t make a big fuss out of it.
I wouldn’t mind seeing graffiti around,
but I know I wouldn’t appreciate having it on my house.
I think graffiti is art and vandalism because vandalism is will full destruction of property when you draw some graffiti on the street or any places and, Also, I think is art because is the creations of beatiful or significant things through music,drawing,painting,sculpture,cooking,dancing and etc….
Me being a former “artist”,belive that graffiti is both art and vandalism. it all depends on how the artist displays it. If the creator of the art displays it as an intention to provoke the viewers to feel offended then its considered vandalism. On the other hand, any one who displays not only a skillful eye catcher but also a meaningfull work of art; is considered art.
It is art if you are not the one being hurt by it. I have seen its negative effect. Small businesses losing money by either habing to cover it up or not covering it and losing customers. If it is not your property or ypu do not have permission from the owner than you have no right to put anything on it. I don’t care if looks like something Thomas Kinkade painted. Look, I admit I think it is ugly. I also think about half of the paintings I see at museums are ugly. That is not the point. The point is the lack of respect for other people’s property. I also know this through personal experience. My parents house was vandalised when I was a child. Actually several times. I saw how much it cost my parents. My mom broke down and cried once. I had to clean it up. Should my parents and I just accepted this as art or seen it for what it really was, a violation of our persons.
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abstract large canvas art…
and if they have any oil painting books…
graffiti is art you may nt like but not all art is liked.