g r a f f i t i
“Tactics are the “art of the weak,” incursions into the
field of the powerful.”
I love this quote. The art of those not in a position of
power, making a mark in previously unknown and underutilized territory is truly inspiring.
Activation of spaces for the sake of experience rather than consumerism. The thing
that comes to mind is street graffiti. Rarely portrayed in high populated
areas, graffiti art is rebellious at its roots. Consisting of creative lines,
vibrant colors, block letters or edgy images, graffiti is a step into field of the
powerful. This recalcitrant art impresses itself into the invisible, yet repetitive
urban fabric. It generates new atmospheres of social interaction while activating
unused spaces equipped with an alternative program. Graffiti takes over hidden alleys, the under
side of bridges, train cars and subway stations, transforming the spaces.
Below: Hidden alley off King Street in Charleston, SC.
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Your post made me think about the transformations of urban interventions. Once an anarchic gesture - squatting (for example, Freetown Christiania in Copenhagen) transformed into gentrification at first as a bottom-up approach and after (when the advantages were considered) into official policy for cities and businesses (for example, Bricktown in Oklahoma). The same happened with "peacemaking", graffiti - in most of the big cities you can find big and beautiful graffiti, which were made officially to add to the aesthetics of the city. But mostly because any system likes to control everything. City and businesses are fighting illegal (but attractive to the public) activities into working instruments. This contradicts their congenital nature, but the illusion works.
ReplyDeleteI think graffiti is a beautiful representation of the main ideas and themes from this week's reading and lectures. It is visual and artistic expression of the 'hidden life' that will emerge among the imposed order.
ReplyDeleteThis is pretty awesome. I completely agree with Madison on the visual and artistic expression of the 'hidden life', in a way its is a representation of the souls and experiences of the individuals behind the art. It is also interesting to see the canvases of this street art, whether it be a whole block that is filled with graffiti or a dispersal of it.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with this post. There is something so special about discovering a hidden gem, and this is so hard to create as a designer. It seems impossible to recreate the kind of atmosphere that a space like this evokes because as soon as someone tries to design for this, it no longer seems genuine.
ReplyDeleteBut do you think that graffiti runs the risk of becoming mainstream? No longer being a form of rebellious expression but becoming part of the ordinary landscape. While the areas like Hidden Alley that are completely covered in graffiti are amazing and beautiful, the fact that they are all in the same place makes it seem planned. Like the artists were relegated to one space in the city that could be tagged.
ReplyDeleteGraffiti art is used for advertising and expertise in any business, brand, or any other thing in that particular market.People usually risk their lives by working with graffiti art. As graffiti art is entirely against the law, any person implementing that can go through some intense and harmful consequences.
ReplyDelete