Graffiti started through the expression of drawings and paintings, scratched with animal bones and other natural pigments, producing images that tell a story of everyday life. It was discovered in the 1940s by Four teenagers. The Ancient Roman graffiti used a very loose cartoon style, often just scrawling words and symbols.
During World War 2 a familiar face was making its presence, enlightening peoples days in depressing times. Its comical slogan 'wot no' (British version) also meant it served a political use.
It was in the 1970s when the fundamentals of graffiti changed, Hip Hop culture affected the masses in New York. People were keen to announce their presence, using the spray can, broadcasting the 'Language of the streets'. People would often use modes of transport to exploit their artwork, it acted as a moving message to the more developed areas of the city. Most of these 'artists' came from the most run down and neglected areas.
Jon Narr, a photographer with a passion to capture the realism in graffiti, exploring and sympathising with the people.
Graffiti as an Artform
SAMO - Same Oh - Same Old Shit. (Poetic/Policital?)
Originally a comic character created by the artist Basquiat, it started as a private joke and eventually grew to the point where Basquiat copyrighted his work, making a statement to the world that this was ART.
Basquiat brought this graffiti style into his work, collaborating with Warhol, creating Neo expressionism and a piece for one of Americas largest corporations...
WordArt
1980 - John Fecker
1980 - Jenny Holzer (Creating short messages, making the audience contemplate her point. Truisms)
Tats Cru used the meaning of graffiti for another purpose, commercial reward. It was often about freedom of speech and voicing your opinions, messages and social issues, whereas they used the style to promote Coca Cola
The interest in Graffiti kept growing, video games were even promoting the process, even though it was publicly illegal. GTA 'San Andreas' is just one example of a worldwide game promoting the process.
People began taking the work to a whole new level, In France, a French Artist began his conceptual project of Montpellier, pasting pixel like Space Invaders in various locations around the city. A map was also released pinpointing the artists work. When the location dots were joined together they would produce a dot-to-dot version of his artwork as you can see below.
In the 21st Century there was a Re-emergence of graffiti, with more experienced artists and educated artists taking their shot at it. BANKSY and SHEPARD FAIREY took full advantage of this urban art form, Fairey was commissioned to produce a design for President Obama. The piece was almost a modern take of the WE WANT YOU posters, appealing to a mass audience, making Obama look more a man of the people and in touch with the citizens.
Social Issue - A Brazilian artist (Os Gemeos) and Italian artist (Blu) collaborated to create a substantial piece in Lisbon, targeting the issue of Oil, displaying how Oil barons are sucking the world dry.
Women
Fafi (French artist) Identifiable as a womens work through her use of colour and decoration. Miss Van, like many other female urban artists, would contain sexual references. There was an attention around being a female urban artist, their aim was to not feel alienated and patronised, saying such things as 'Isn't that cute'.
There's aspects of graffiti everywhere; streets, buildings, games, adverts, transport and even Film...an example of this is Banksys 'Exit through the gift shop'
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