Has Graffiti Been Exposed?

Has Graffiti Been Exposed?
Posted Fri, 18/04/2008 - 07:51

What do you think? Is this just advertising, or does it herald a true unearthing of graffiti culture? Increasingly companies, particularly car companies, are using graff as an indicator of the street, of young people and how their product will give you street cred - just like graff artists. Well that's my impression anyway.

Has graffiti finally been exposed? Is it a relevant form of expression? Does it speak of angst and frustration? Does it reflect that primal instinct for recognition and demonstrate a taking of power against the powerful? Are bombers still lurking in the night, scoping walls and creating a colourful resistance against the drab concrete jungle for no fame other than the respect of their peers and the satisfaction of tight lines and dense fills? 

Or are they creating a portfolio and brand to sell at market?

Whadooyareckon?

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Joshua's picture

from the community

Tue, 08/07/2008 - 17:19 — Joshua

Here's what some in the community are saying...  

http://www.flickr.com/groups/melbournegraffiti/discuss/72157604778856729/ 

 

 

Owen's picture

Yes

Fri, 18/04/2008 - 13:19 — Owen

A contradiction, but I reckon now that graf artists can now be divided into "true artists" and "sellouts" means that - yes - by becoming "exposed" into the mainstream it's now become  a "legitimate" art from!

(this post may contain some irony)

Tall Poppies

Sat, 19/04/2008 - 12:30 — Chihiro

 

'Sellout' Versus 'true artists'... individual perception versus social acceptance... wasn't it always going to happen?

Rap & Hip Hop started in the ghettos.. people who have art inside them will find a way to express.. Humans being human will find a way to express.. It’s the evolution process (again I know I harp on this) that "cream finds it's way to the top" for some reason.
Whether or not 'Graffiti Art' becomes iconic in our generation or travels towards a flash in the pan advertising tool.. remains to be seen. What is art anyway?!
Do the hours waiting, in the bushes in the dark rats crawling round your feet, for your moment of glory, your one brief adrenalin filled time snatch in which to do your BEST work make it more real, more authentic? Or is this the apprenticeship of the graffiti artist.. graduating to a studio with easel and time!
Love the questions.. what is the real .. correct one true authentic answer??

Ling's picture

I haven't seen those

Thu, 11/12/2008 - 18:22 — Ling

I haven't seen those billboards before. Anyway, I always thought that graffiti was random painting or drawing on public or private property to damage them. I always thought the concept of graffiti art was a strange concept because art is a thing of beauty in all its forms (in my opinion) be it visual art, music or writing. So those billboards are art in their own right, but are they graffiti? I guess it depends on how you define art and graffiti.

Joshua's picture

yeah it's difficult to get

Tue, 16/12/2008 - 14:26 — Joshua

yeah it's difficult to get into any sort of qualifying conversation about art and what may and may not be determined as such. Such conversations are akin to the D&M you overhear two cotton ball-mouthed, drugged-up douche bags having at 5AM on Peel Street. I guess the thing we're interested in with Commercial brands using an illicit art/not-art form to sell their products is the legitimising effect it has. Have you seen the street art campaigns around town selling McK Bourbon and Toohey's Extra Dry? Flippin ridiculous.