Street art is a controversial subject that has many people considering it art and an important part of the culture. On the other hand, many disagree and underpin graffiti as a sign of vandalism and crime in the city. In this article, we will explore some of the pros and cons of graffiti art and attempt to understand if it is good for cities or not.
Pros
- Art Not Crime
London is considered to be one of the largest locations for collectable street art in the world and local artists have decorated areas with captivating artwork. One of the most famous street artists to this day is the anonymous Banksy whose iconic artwork has been regularly featured in London. Most graffiti shops always advocate spray painting legally in a safe environment that does not disturb the people and break laws. To get started find a reputable spray paint shop in the UK and seek a location that permits graffiti work to be used on their property.
- Emotion, Inspiration, and Culture
In many parts of the world, graffiti can have a strong social and political meaning to an area, including reflecting its culture. For some artists, graffiti can be very inspirational and significant, attracting more people to the area to see the creative and colourful display. Graffiti art is heavily influenced by hip hop culture and is primarily found in urban areas. Its roots and evolution from crime to art has made it an important part of our history, encouraging people to embrace artwork in parts of their city.
- Property Value
One of the biggest arguments for graffiti art is that it can boost the value of properties in an area. Murals have been reported to increase the value of a property as it is a symbol of expression and can seem to be an appropriate reflection of a significant part of the history of that area. In North of London, you can also find art murals that scale the walls of building with bright colours and are adored by people from all around. Some of these buildings have risen in value and will continue to do so over time!
Cons
- Crime Not Art
Graffiti is regarded by some to be simply vandalism. The thought that one night you could wake up and see graffiti on the side of your wall without consent is enough on board with this idea. Not only is it seen by a large number of people as vandalism, but the cost to remove pieces can amount to millions for the public. The use of vulgar language is said to be a strong indication of it as a crime and infringes on people’s right to a peaceful life.
- Encourages More Crime
The presence of graffiti is seen to also encourage littering and stealing in a neighborhood as signs of the disorder attract more disorder. The research behind this theory is lacking, however, it is widely believed due to the roots of graffiti being used as tags by gangs back in the ’80s and early ’90s. Back then the idea was that if a gang member covers another rival, it can provoke violence and other street crime to occur in the area. Since these years the use of graffiti in this way has faded and now it is being used to create stunning art.
Conclusion
The debate considering graffiti as good or bad for cities is ongoing and will continue for some time. Despite the cons for graffiti, its future looks bright as the evolution from crime to art becomes increasingly acknowledged around the world. Nevertheless, if people do continue to ignore the concerns of others and engage in vandalism then the views will revert predominantly to negativity. Showing the positive side of graffiti and respecting others will promote the image of this art form and benefit cities, globally.