Graffiti can be considered a form of art. I have admired colourful murals along subway tunnels or train tracks. It can also be understood as a mechanism for transgression. There is a saying in Spanish which states that “walls are the villain’s paper” (La pared y la muralla son el papel del canalla). In most places in the world, including Canada, Graffiti is banned as it is considered a form of vandalism and a violation of private property. Nevertheless, some very important statements have appeared in public spaces. There are voices that interact and coexist with passersby. Some pieces tell stories, raise awareness or communicate discomfort. Some others add mess, to an already chaotic environment.
Graffiti, from the Italian graffito, can be a form of writing, scratching and drawing. It is said to be as ancient as Western civilization but popularized with the advent of pop culture. Nowadays, there are some spots in the world where graffiti is welcome. The Hosier Lane, in Melbourne is one of them. The main image chosen for this blog comes from there. I was amazed by the beauty of the different images displayed along this lane, which I stumbled upon by accident.
I find Graffiti on the borderline between art as a form of expression and art as a voice of contravention. I would like to explore that aspect by creating a new tab on this blog called Graffiti. If Facebook has created a “virtual wall”, made available for us to “leave a message”. I hope that the graffiti section on Across Borders, would inspire our creative minds to cross the boundaries of meaning and message as well. Whenever I, or any of my friends pass by an inspiring graffiti, I would like to bring it back here for discussion.
(Courtesy of CBC’s video-journalist SP).
