What is street art and does it
belong to public space?
Simo Sahlman
University of Jyväskylä
simo.t.sahlman@jyu.fi
History
o History of modern street art
began at the birth of graffiti in
the United States (Ganz, 2004).
o Tags and graffiti have since
developed in to a versatile and
widespread culture.
o Street art ”superstars”
emerged and street art
became part of popular
culture.
o Street art influences can be
found in movies, art and
especially in advertising.
o It uses public street as a
resource (Riggle, 2010).
o It is illegal.
o It is temporary.
o It can also be
performances,
installations, etc.
If street art is placed in
a museum, it loses
something essential to
it’s nature. Putting a
price tag on it, only
takes away it’s original
purpose of being public
art.
Street art as information
o Art is meant to be
received.
o Street art stands out
from the flow of
information.
o Street arts methods are
part of it’s message.
o Voice for anybody with
a marker or a spray can.
Street art as activism
“Art is the community's medicine
for the worst disease of mind,
the corruption of soul.”
(R.G. Collingwood)
o Can present individual or collective
values.
o Invading public space gives out a
strong message.
o Opportunity to reach a lot of people
while staying anonymous.
o Gathers a lot of subcultures under
one voice.
Methods
In my research, I will through a
questionnaire, analyze peoples
(from the age of 13) attitudes
towards street art and public
space.
My hypothesis is that people are
more accepting towards illegal
art that they concive of as
beautiful and for the most part
will condemn simple writings
etc. Exception for this could be
writings that are clearly forms of
activism.
I believe that Street art
can be seen as
vandalism, activism, art,
propaganda. I want to
research what are the
most commen
conceptions of street
art and public space
among different age
groups.
Conclusion
Street art is a part of public
space no matter how people
may feel about it. It is also a
part of communication
between peoples in space and
that is why it is important to
keep the discussion open both
ways. I hope that by mapping
some general attitudes towards
street art, this research can
lighten the results of this
conversation.
Thanks!
References
Riggle, N. A. (2010). Street art: the transfiguration of the commonplaces. The
journal of aesthetics and art criticism , 68 (3), 243-257.
Ganz, N. (2004). Graffiti world:street art from five continents. New York: Harry
N. Abrams.