GRAFFITI: ART OR VANDALISM?

Diana Carolina Terán Reyes

Course:
Upper-Intermediate II

Teacher:
Alex Culligan

Piura, November 24, 2023

GRAFFITI: ART OR VANDALISM?
What is the art? Is it all expression of creativity that seeks to generate emotions in people?
Or does it require some special features? Graffiti is often discussed with much
controversy, because it is almost always created illegally, which has led to debates about
whether it is an art form that should be appreciated or an act of vandalism that should be
combated. In this essay, we will define what graffiti is, its importance in society and
whether we should consider it a form of art or an act of vandalism.
Graffiti is an image that is created on public surfaces, such as building walls, trains,
bridges, and other urban spaces. It is characterized by the use of spray paint, markers,
stencils and other techniques to capture designs, letters, images or messages on these
surfaces. Graffiti can range from simple signatures and tags to highly elaborate and
colorful works of art.
The evolution of graffiti has been truly remarkable, its origin is found in the "cave
paintings" of long ago until its official birth in the United States in the 1970s. At first they
were only strokes and signatures, but they quickly escalated to works of Complex art that
incorporates a variety of techniques and styles.
Art as a form of expression and social denunciation
Art is a fundamental part of human culture and has existed throughout human history. It
is not limited to beautiful or aesthetic images, but also as a form of communication, social
criticism, and a way to challenge and question established norms and beliefs.
Graffiti, also called urban art, is a means of expression that allows urban artists to express
their thoughts, emotions and messages on the streets. In many cases, graffiti often reflects
the cultural and social diversity of a community, in addition to containing messages of
protest and awareness.
Famous Graffiti Artists
There are very famous graffiti artists whose work has gained international recognition.
Some of them are:
-Banksy, one of the best-known graffiti artists in the world, famous for addressing
political and social issues in his works such as war, wealth and poverty, environmentalism
and consumerism
-Keith Haring, pop culture icon for combining street art with pop art. He sought for his
works to be accessible and understandable to a mass audience and to be in harmony with
his environment. Many of his sculptures, for example, were made for people to interact
with, climb on, or use.1.
-Shepard Fairey, famous for designing Barack Obama's "Hope" poster during his
presidential campaign and considered one of the most influential today.

1
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (2021). Keith Haring: Ícono de la cultura pop. [en línea] [fecha
de consulta: 10 de noviembre de 2023]. Obtenido en: https://www.uc.cl/noticias/keith-haring-icono-de-la-
culturapop/#:~:text=Se%20convirti%C3%B3%20en%20un%20%C3%ADcono,las%20trepara%20o%20l
as%20usara
-Blu, Italian artist who has achieved worldwide fame because he makes graffiti against
capitalism and globalization2.
When graffiti becomes a problem
Despite the good reviews, graffiti has also been the subject of controversy. For example:
when carried out on private or public property without the permission of the owner it is
considered an act of vandalism and can cause damage to the property, this is even more
harmful when carried out at a historical moment or archaeological site, which not only It
can damage property, also damage the cultural heritage of a city and cause irreparable
economic losses.
In other situations, graffiti contains offensive and inappropriate messages or images,
some can be discriminatory, violent, which can generate conflict between people. Others
point out that graffiti can damage the aesthetic beauty of some buildings or natural places.
Other objections are that graffiti can be carried out in dangerous places, such as bridges
or places that make safety or circulation difficult, which could pose a risk not only to the
people who do it but also to citizens.
“For me, graffiti is a type of art, because it has a unique style of painting, and each person
has their own design when painting on a mural. However, graffiti that can be considered
art are those that make the wall come to life or the visual expression of what the graffiti
artists painted. On the other hand, vandalism is that just by painting anything without a
shape or a scratch,” said Eduardo Nafarrate, a student at Texas A&M International
University3
In my city, Chiclayo, Graffiti is not always considered a problem, since it has been
possible to create impressive artistic images with important social messages such as
inequality or Peruvian identity, for example through paintings that reflect the Inca and
Spanish culture, many Of them have been carried out legally, however there are others
that contain rude messages such as insults towards presidents or congressmen that damage
the infrastructure of the places and that do not beautify the city, on the contrary, they
degrade it. Therefore, it is not that Graffiti is a problem in itself, but rather some forms of
it, which are considered forms of vandalism.
Other types of art and street performances
In Peru, street performances are very important within the culture, these are performed
mostly in the streets, squares and public spaces, the most popular being:
-Live music concerts: On some occasions music and artistic groups hold concerts in the
streets, playing music of all types, Peruvian folklore or contemporary music.
-Traditional Dances: Folk dance groups perform in the streets, showing traditional dances
from different regions of the country, such as the marinera, the huayno and the tondero.
- Juggling and circus: Street artists often perform juggling, balancing and acrobatics
shows on the streets when the traffic light is red, entertaining the audience.

2
MERINO, M & PÉREZ, J (2022). Graffiti - Qué es, definición, origen y referentes. [en línea] [fecha de
consulta: 2 de noviembre de 2023]. Obtenido en: https://definicion.de/graffiti/
3
García, K (2022). Grafiti ¿arte o vandalismo? LTMonline [en línea] [fecha de consulta: 7 de noviembre
de 2023]. Obtenido en: https://www.lmtonline.com/lmtenespanol/article/Grafiti-arte-o-vandalismo-
17129152.php.
- Art exhibitions: Some artists create live artwork on the streets, such as plein air painting,
ephemeral sculptures, and live graffiti.
-Street fairs and markets: Sometimes gastronomic fairs are held where you can taste
typical dishes and sweets from the area, they also sell souvenirs and offer various
attractions.
These street performances not only entertain the population, but also help preserve and
spread the culture and traditions of Peru. The streets and squares of Peruvian cities are
living scenes where artists and audiences connect in a festive and cultural atmosphere.
Conclusions
Graffiti is a form of urban art that has significantly influenced contemporary culture.
Although it continues to be the subject of controversy, its ability to transmit messages,
raise awareness and beautify urban spaces is undeniable. It has gained strength especially
in young people who paint about the social and cultural moments that the country is going
through.
However, it is important to remember that sometimes it can become illegal when done
without the consent of the owners, causing damage to public and private property,
therefore, it is necessary to maintain an open debate about what type of graffiti can or
cannot be used, be admitted and how they should be done.
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