Collection of World Graffiti Images

Tel Aviv - Israel

Tripoli - Libya

Recife - Brazil

Florianopolis - Brazil 

Cairo - Egypt

Buenos Aires - Argentina

Sao Paulo - Brazil 

Bethlehem (Israel - Palestine checkpoint)

Tel Aviv - Israel 

Graffiti at Cairo’s Tahrir Square

I would like to start this entry with a quote I found on the net written by LindsayT: “Some have used the can to disperse their message while others use their art.” In other words, some use spray paint for vandalism and some others to convey a message. Better still, some see it a form of disruption and others as a manifestation of creative talent. This idea was written in regard to graffiti work performed in Egypt in the second half of 2011.

The previous year was characterized by many revolutions that, in most cases, generated change despite their difficult course. Egypt’s activity was at times peaceful, at times volatile. A very genuine uprising whose epicentre was Cairo’s Tahrir Square. It inspired many, including women and men of all ages. Chronologically, Egypt followed similar revolts in Tunisia and served as a catalyst for other ongoing movements in the Middle East. Along with the spirit of change and the call for reform, “revolutionary” art sprung up on the streets and walls. Here is a selection of the most notable works I could have access to (courtesy of SP).

I would like to end this piece, with another quote from online Al Arabiya News: “In most countries, street graffiti is painted over almost immediately as it is technically a work of vandalism and authorities are quick to remove images that it deems as offensive. Graffiti in Egypt and Tunisia will probably suffer the same fate, but the art form is here to stay – until it finds its next canvas.”

True, these images might disappear, but not the spirit that inspired them. More photos can be found at UK’s Guardian site.

The controversy around the Lansdowne and Dupont mural

During the December Holidays I had the chance of visiting Toronto. My eye for street art was sharpened hoping to find some images to share on Across Borders. Along Dupont, Street close to the intersection with Lansdowne Avenue there is a railway under-pass where I found this collection of faceless figures and signs.  I first snapped the shots and then went home to try finding some info online regarding the murals.

I learned that this whole series of images were commissioned to artist Joel Richardson who was paid $2,000 by the city during the administration of Mayor David Miller. Interestingly, I also found out that the work generated some controversy as apparently the city itself painted over it after (likely as part of new Mayor Rob Ford's graffiti eradication campaign).  You can read a full article from the Toronto Star here.

Joe Richardson’s website says that he was born In Canada in1971 and grew up in Owen Sound. He “began his career as a portrait painter. His early work demonstrated a fascination with the fusing of extremes in ideas and techniques, all of this in an attempt to expand traditional portraiture into the realm of social documentation.”  You can fins some of his work and biography at www.joelrichardson.com and a gallery of his work at his Flickr account.

Additional image on old and new Toronto including the Lansdowne area can be found on the blog Lost Toronto by GBC. This blog compares historical archives with current images of Canada’s largest city.

Enjoy!

Graffiti Tour of Ottawa?

Thanks to friends and followers who have shared some of your best graffiti shots. I will be posting them over the next few weeks. Today’s photo was taken in the Gatineau area (Ottawa region) by Jari V.

Ottawa has three legal graffiti walls:

George Dunbar Bridge on Bronson Avenue, near Carleton University.

Ottawa Technical High School on Slater Street in Centretown.

A skate park at the Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex in Orléans.

These is some of the Graffiti work you can find in Canada's capital city… perhaps you would like to take a Graffiti tour of the city: http://web.ncf.ca/bf250/mural9.html

There is debate about the difference between graffiti walls and murals, the usefulness of them and the effect they produce. According to a CBC story about Legal Graffiti Walls “Official graffiti walls intended to reduce unwanted graffiti in neighbourhoods have had the opposite effect”.

Toronto’s mayor Rob Ford seems to agree with that report. He has apparently hired Graffiti police just to keep the city under strict rule. What are your thoughts? What should be the approach?

Hosier Lane, a place were Graffiti is encouraged...

A crisp cold morning in Australia’s second largest city. I go out for a walk without a Lonely Planet in hand. I like to explore “unknowingly” and discover things for myself, even if they have already been discovered by others and described on Wikipedia. Opposite to the entrance to the Atrium at Federation Square in Melbourne, I come across this interesting corner of the world called Hosier Lane. It is a much-celebrated landmark that I had never heard about. In the beauty of that August day, as the sun hit brilliantly above the cold breeze, the place opened up to me. There was my own fantasy book. If newly weds come to this spot to have their photos taken right after their service, why not me. I happily walked down that isle, taking my time to admire.

A few shots away and I was out of there. Photos are great time-immortalizers, but they cannot compare to the face-to-face experience. My images of Hosier Lane went into storage, until I unearth them the other day.

These are the only three images I could find. They are the reminders of that city installation of unique quality, of vibrant colours, textures and styles. That was an interesting spot worth stumbling upon, as I did. Here’s a link to a photography blog by Dev Wijewardane who also  “talks” about Hosier Lane. Enjoy!!!

Graffiti in Libya, opening a new tab on Across Borders

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.

I would like to start with this interesting collection of images from Libya, taken during the recent events. They reflect the images of the character who ruled the country for over 40 years. Thoughts?

(Courtesy of CBC’s video-journalist SP).