As discussed in the above video, Diego Gonzales shares his story and his ideas about the ways in which graffiti can benefit societies and in particular young people. He says that graffiti, which is often regarded purely as vandalism, has an incredible power that can bring people joy, or help to portray unique ideas and political statements in some of the most heavily trafficked places possible. In doing so, it takes art out of the exclusive ideas of gallery spaces and makes it accessible to infinitely greater numbers of people. But in doing so, many of these street artists are often in truth committing illegal acts of vandalism. As we saw in Exit Through the Gift Shop, many graffiti artists put themselves at risk and go to great lengths to showcase their art, often because the illegal nature of their practice makes their messages that much more powerful.
In his talk, Diego emphasizes the idea that public art has the power to change perspectives in a space or environment. He mentions the ever popular Banksy, and how his art has made an impact both on the street art world but also on a much grander scale. It doesn’t matter that it’s technically a crime, because the legality of the art making has nothing to do with the emotions it creates and the reactions it stirs from its viewers. He discusses how street art and murals in schools can help to positively impact the way students feel about their school and how they approach learning. In this sense, graffiti and street art creates beautification in areas that are otherwise unappealing to human senses. He also mentions Shepard Fairey, the street artist behind the incredibly iconic Hope poster from the Obama campaign, and how this one simple creation hugely impacted an entire democratic election, highlighting the unique social power that graffiti has that simply cannot be matched by today’s more “legal” forms of art making.
Personally, I’ve found the ideas and subculture surrounding the world of graffiti and street art to be interesting to learn and study. The social impact that street art has on societies as a whole is undeniable, but certainly questionable in light of our viewing of Exit Through the Gift Shop. Although the documentary shed a lot of insight on the philosophies of the world of street art and the subculture surrounding it, it seemed to take a pessimistic turn in light of the hollow but incredible success of Mr. Brainwash’s big show.
Below are some articles that further explore different aspects of the illegal art of graffiti, its subculture, and its impact on the communities where this art thrives.
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-22551669
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/art/graffiti-artists-come-out-to-spray-for-paris-after-attacks/
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/graffiti-art-gives-abandoned-miami-stadium-second-life/
Amberry Jam 