Graffiti and Photography – Graffiti and Photography – Two Worlds MergingTwo Worlds Merging

Graffiti and Photography – Graffiti and Photography – Two Worlds MergingTwo Worlds Merging

Picture the Mona Lisa painting by Picture the Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo da Vinci. It is considered to Leonardo da Vinci. It is considered to be one of the greatest works of art ever be one of the greatest works of art ever to be done. Most of us would be able to be done. Most of us would be able to recognize it were we to stumble upon to recognize it were we to stumble upon it yet how many of us have actually it yet how many of us have actually visited the “Musee du Louvre” in Paris visited the “Musee du Louvre” in Paris and seen it first hand? Most likely we and seen it first hand? Most likely we saw a photograph of it rather then the saw a photograph of it rather then the original art piece. However, most of us original art piece. However, most of us were able to appreciate the photograph were able to appreciate the photograph just as much as the original, were we to just as much as the original, were we to see it. In the world of graffiti see it. In the world of graffiti photography plays the same role. It photography plays the same role. It delivers these magnificent works of art delivers these magnificent works of art to people all across the globe through to people all across the globe through the images it captures in its lens. the images it captures in its lens. Photography has transformed graffiti in Photography has transformed graffiti in several ways in a similar manner to the several ways in a similar manner to the way it has transformed the Mona Lisa. way it has transformed the Mona Lisa.

The name graffiti originated from The name graffiti originated from the Italian word “graffito.” the Italian word “graffito.”

Nowadays, the word graffiti has Nowadays, the word graffiti has received a broader meaning received a broader meaning referring to any wall writings, referring to any wall writings, pictures, symbols or marking on pictures, symbols or marking on any surface anywhere, no matter any surface anywhere, no matter what the motivation of the writer what the motivation of the writer was.was.

There are several types of There are several types of graffiti.graffiti.

This method of This method of art seems to art seems to incorporate two incorporate two seemingly seemingly different worlds, different worlds, that of the written that of the written word and that of word and that of picture.picture.

Most people associate this type of graffiti to Most people associate this type of graffiti to gangs marking their territory. gangs marking their territory.

This seems to be a misconception rather then a This seems to be a misconception rather then a proven fact. proven fact.

Graffiti is a victim of prejudice and Graffiti is a victim of prejudice and misconception by people who view misconception by people who view

it as a criminal activity.it as a criminal activity.

According to one According to one graffiti writer named graffiti writer named Kairos, most of the Kairos, most of the tagging done in cities tagging done in cities is by young artists is by young artists trying to establish trying to establish themselves for the themselves for the first time first time

Gang graffiti usually consists of poor quality scribbling and Gang graffiti usually consists of poor quality scribbling and

at times very poor drawingat times very poor drawing

The main purpose of these writings is to mark The main purpose of these writings is to mark gang territory gang territory

gang graffiti is only a small portion of all graffiti gang graffiti is only a small portion of all graffiti writings writings

WritersWriters

Writers are the people Writers are the people who write graffiti rather who write graffiti rather than paint it.than paint it.

They use words as a form They use words as a form of artistic expression.of artistic expression.

They usually start off with They usually start off with tagging but quickly move tagging but quickly move on to create “throwups.” on to create “throwups.” These are bubble letters These are bubble letters which demands more skill which demands more skill to create. to create.

“ “Graffiti is meant to be a public Graffiti is meant to be a public display.” display.”

Danger in graffiti comes in several Danger in graffiti comes in several different forms different forms

“ “When you become a When you become a writer, you know that your writer, you know that your stuff won't last forever” stuff won't last forever”

writers now tend to writers now tend to photograph their works in photograph their works in order to preserve them order to preserve them forever. forever.

Photography gives the Photography gives the paintings which were paintings which were once temporary a new once temporary a new dimension dimension

What was once a work of art that What was once a work of art that could only be viewed on a certain could only be viewed on a certain street corner is now possible to street corner is now possible to

view from every corner of the world view from every corner of the world through a variety of media channels through a variety of media channels

These photographers are usually fans of the These photographers are usually fans of the graffiti art form and photograph any new art graffiti art form and photograph any new art pieces they encounter pieces they encounter

Over the years a number of sites which instruct Over the years a number of sites which instruct on how to photograph graffiti have appeared on on how to photograph graffiti have appeared on the web the web

One such site can be found at One such site can be found at http://www.graffiti.org/faq/photofaq.htmlhttp://www.graffiti.org/faq/photofaq.html

““First of all, you are documenting an First of all, you are documenting an art form, and not creating art on your art form, and not creating art on your own--don't be creative with your own--don't be creative with your shot.”shot.”

Nowadays the internet provides a fertile ground Nowadays the internet provides a fertile ground for graffiti lovers to view new pieces of work and for graffiti lovers to view new pieces of work and for photographers to display the pictures.for photographers to display the pictures.

Two sites that offer graffiti photos:Two sites that offer graffiti photos:

http://www.hiphop-network.com/index.asphttp://www.hiphop-network.com/index.asp

http://www.drivenbyboredom.com/Pictures/graffiti.hhttp://www.drivenbyboredom.com/Pictures/graffiti.htmtm

The relationship between photography The relationship between photography and graffiti has had great impact on both and graffiti has had great impact on both art forms. Graffiti, due to many art forms. Graffiti, due to many circumstances, has come to rely on circumstances, has come to rely on photography to take it into the twenty first photography to take it into the twenty first century. With everything in today’s world century. With everything in today’s world becoming more and more global graffiti becoming more and more global graffiti cannot be, nor should it be, an exception. cannot be, nor should it be, an exception. Photography provides graffiti the Photography provides graffiti the opportunity to make the leap into the opportunity to make the leap into the future. It allows graffiti an escape from future. It allows graffiti an escape from the dark, crime filled dirty inner city the dark, crime filled dirty inner city streets and to appear on the global stage streets and to appear on the global stage that it deserves and that the internet that it deserves and that the internet provides. It allows graffiti to stop being provides. It allows graffiti to stop being the work of artists who decorate our the work of artists who decorate our cities but never compensated for it by cities but never compensated for it by enabling it to become a commercial enabling it to become a commercial product, and thus make a profit from it, product, and thus make a profit from it, for good and for bad. What was initially for good and for bad. What was initially a rebellion against the establishment is a rebellion against the establishment is now shifting towards the main stream. now shifting towards the main stream. The road that graffiti will follow in the The road that graffiti will follow in the future is inseparable from that of future is inseparable from that of photography and only the future will photography and only the future will show is where it goes. show is where it goes.