Graffiti, art or vandalism?

Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality

“After all, what is graffiti, art or vandalism?”

That’s a big question here. As the months and years go by, it gets even bigger as the generations alternate. Everything shifts, but they stay there. Graffiti doesn’t fade easily, not nearly at all. Their creators, most of the time unknown, lovers of the night, almost always finish them in the evening. Mainly on legal grounds. Perhaps to maintain the mystery that surrounds their identity, as they are often looked for by people who see their work the next day. So what is graffiti exactly? Is this a form of art like so many others? Or is it still a revolutionary movement of young people, and not only when they go through the adolescent phase?

The truth is that on this issue, I have an opinion that deviates from the formal and otherwise logical views on this matter. I believe graffiti is a form of art. An art form that is not afraid to manifest itself through a wide range of subjects, drawn from both history and human society’s everyday life. Perhaps it is one of the few forms of art that does not fear color and free design, and that’s exactly what makes it so special. The modern man, the unemployed, the indignant, the one who needs to speak, but above all, the teenager, is expressed through this. The desert, this teenager. “All around him has oppressed him so much that he is so desperately searching for a few “crumbs” of communication with his family.

nd we’re losing it somewhere here. Because, as I mentioned above, I can personally consider graffiti as an art form, but for the following reason, it is easily misunderstood by many people and eventually ends up being regarded (and done) as vandalism. The rationale in a single word? Uh. Law. This form of art, this unique way of expressing teenagers and young people, is being lost. And because of the laws of our state, it is lost. He says that graffiti is prohibited in public buildings, such as stadiums, arenas, gyms, schools, and is considered public property anywhere else. But we’re forgetting another fundamental law. One who refers, whatever form it takes, to freedom, both of speech and expression. So how dare we speak of freedom of expression while abolishing the freedom of creativity through graffiti at the same time? The greatest form of expression, the most direct, the most documentary, perhaps?

A very bad transition is taking place somehow. The transition to a very ugly form of vandalism from an art form. While teenagers are in a good mood to relax creatively through this process, producing literal spray miracles, due to these laws, they gradually lose their interest in fertile creativity and ultimately break the law. As a result, they graffiti monuments, shrines, houses and shops, which under other conditions would not even be considered as an idea, to attract attention but also to respond to the law that prohibits this activity.

But when we say they’re doing graffiti, don’t imagine the beautiful and beautiful works they’re creating under other circumstances. Hey, no. The graffiti done in these places under these conditions is usually, if not always, the worst one can see. The worst results of the imagination of young people come to the surface and this has a horrific, dare I say, effect, combined with their need to get attention from the world. Strange, obscene, and frequently embarrassing images. Images which, when they see them, shock even the most unconscious. Pure reaction images.

A vicious cycle begins like this. A chase between society and young people. To catch the violators of this law on the spot, the police start guarding those places where graffiti takes place, as if this would be our country’s salvation, the teenagers are still doing it and running in the fields at midnight to hide from police raids, and so on. Some are arrested, others manage to flee. They’re usually fined and kept in the truck in rare cases.

Time is passing, however, but the issue remains. What should we do, then? Will we continue to blind ourselves for a long time to the cry of agony of children seeking a creative relaxation activity? Are we going to continue to faithfully apply this law, giving birth over time to even more offenders?

Graffiti may exist in some public places, such as schools, stadiums and arenas. They would not disappoint us if we left room for freedom and creativity for children. On the contrary, they would thank us for the chance we gave them, while they would give their best at the same time, and it would be wonderful and commendable for the outcome. It would fill all of these spaces with color, life and imagination.

So is it time to reconsider these laws and reconsider them? Is it still time to change and stop considering our attitude towards graffiti as something negative?