Little Angry DollGraffiti Archaeology - Art or Annoyance?
December 6th 2006 23:45
What are your views on graffiti as art?
Eyesore or Urban Art, a prominent mural on Erskineville Road was removed from a terrace wall yesterday. Personally, I’ve never really liked this mural but it had been there for as long as I can remember and I’m sure it’s removal will surprise a number of locals and commuters traveling along the busy back streets linking East to Inner West this morning.
Living in a graffiti heavy suburb, I enjoy watching new art emerge, literally overnight. Political statements or quirky stencils, there’s always something new to spot on the way to the park or day care. My favourite local artist has painted signature “Kill Pixies” all over Newtown. One of the best “Kill Pixie” site was recently painted over with some great fluro tags, but it made me wish I’d taken a picture of it for Graffiti Archaeology.
Graffiti Archaeology is a movement dedicated to recording the ever changing urban art landscape by photographing well known graffiti locations over time and posting them online.
Grafarc.org claim to be the originators, starting in San Francisco in the late 1990’s. Now there are hundreds of thousands of sites, with a Flickr photo pool boasting over two thousand members. Flickr Graffiti
I remember the fabulously dreadful 80’s movie “Beat Street”. Ramon was a gifted graffiti artist whose work is routinely “vandalized” by a tagger named “Spit”. In a desperate underground struggle with Spit, Ramon dies, giving his mate Kenny the motivation he was otherwise lacking to focus his own musical talents. Gangs unite and stop their rumbles then everyone break dances the night away at a tribute showcasing Ramon’s art and the Rock Steady Crew.
If only Graffiti Archaeology was around in 1984, this tragic onscreen death could have been avoided.
Does graffiti deserve appreciation as art?
Jean-Michel Basquiat, as Robert Hughes said, was one "dead hot" artist, who started out with graffiti. Here is an imitation of his signature "Samo Shit" graffito.
Is this graffiti imitating art or an artistic imitation of graffiti?
Eyesore or Urban Art, a prominent mural on Erskineville Road was removed from a terrace wall yesterday. Personally, I’ve never really liked this mural but it had been there for as long as I can remember and I’m sure it’s removal will surprise a number of locals and commuters traveling along the busy back streets linking East to Inner West this morning.
Living in a graffiti heavy suburb, I enjoy watching new art emerge, literally overnight. Political statements or quirky stencils, there’s always something new to spot on the way to the park or day care. My favourite local artist has painted signature “Kill Pixies” all over Newtown. One of the best “Kill Pixie” site was recently painted over with some great fluro tags, but it made me wish I’d taken a picture of it for Graffiti Archaeology.
Graffiti Archaeology is a movement dedicated to recording the ever changing urban art landscape by photographing well known graffiti locations over time and posting them online.
Grafarc.org claim to be the originators, starting in San Francisco in the late 1990’s. Now there are hundreds of thousands of sites, with a Flickr photo pool boasting over two thousand members. Flickr Graffiti
I remember the fabulously dreadful 80’s movie “Beat Street”. Ramon was a gifted graffiti artist whose work is routinely “vandalized” by a tagger named “Spit”. In a desperate underground struggle with Spit, Ramon dies, giving his mate Kenny the motivation he was otherwise lacking to focus his own musical talents. Gangs unite and stop their rumbles then everyone break dances the night away at a tribute showcasing Ramon’s art and the Rock Steady Crew.
If only Graffiti Archaeology was around in 1984, this tragic onscreen death could have been avoided.
Does graffiti deserve appreciation as art?
Jean-Michel Basquiat, as Robert Hughes said, was one "dead hot" artist, who started out with graffiti. Here is an imitation of his signature "Samo Shit" graffito.
Less than artistic imitation of Jean-Michel Basquiat - image from Wikipedia
Is this graffiti imitating art or an artistic imitation of graffiti?
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Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
here, I've only seen some that I've liked...
Comment by Little Angry Doll
Falling Haiku Leaf
Thanks for dropping by. The uber chic Montreal. Newtown is just uber urban.
I prefer pictures to tags myself, but where I live, everything gets covered with tags eventually, which has inspired me to join Graf Arc on Flickr
Comment by Jessicca
Health 2 Know
Learning Something Everyday
Daily History
Malaysia Found
I have seen some really awsome graffiti along the train station by the tracks in SunnyBank, Brisbane and they were awsome too.
The next really breath taking graffiti I saw was the walls by the beach in Sydney. I can't remember exactly where but I think they are pretty near to the Opera house....
Forgive me of my limited memory as it was in 2003.
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
I absolutely love graffiti. I know that it costs business owners a bit of money and all that but I don't care. I don't know why, but it has ALWAYS appealed to me.If I had a business, I would find someone to graffiti it for me. I love the personal nature of it. I love watching trains go by, -(when I'm not in a big hurry, that is) and seeing how much there is on each one. I think if and when I ever visit NYC that one of my biggest joys will be looking at all the graffiti! I definitely consider it art.
Awesome post,
Voices~
Comment by Kate 1
Poster Of A Girl
Comment by Little Angry Doll
Falling Haiku Leaf
Haven't been to NYC for a number of years now, but gee, isn't the street art there great! Especially the trains. I don't know how familiar you are with Sydney, but you could say that the Inner West - where Newtown is - is Sydney's Brooklyn. I'm sure I'm going to regret that comment!
Hi Kate!
Thanks for dropping by. There are several Little Johnny stencils in Newtown - most often as Mickey Mouse. I'll take some pics and forward them to you if you like.
Comment by Kate 1
Poster Of A Girl
I kick myself for not going to Newtown more often. It's a great place in so many ways.
Comment by Little Angry Doll
Falling Haiku Leaf
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
I used to catch the train into the city from Strathfield and obviously would see graffiti everyday. I also used to work in Newtown.
I don't know whether it is art or not, but is definitely screams inner west/city. It's what makes Newtown, Newtown.
Good or bad? I don't know. It never really bothered me, it just is what it is. Newtown would be weird with no graffiti.
It is part of the culture of the inner west. Perhaps then it is art.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Little Angry Doll
Falling Haiku Leaf
You would have to be familiar with one of my favourites then - the "Three Proud People" mural near MacDonaldtown station. I tried to Google it, to no avail.
Do you know the piece I'm talking about?
Newtown is Newtown.
Comment by Little Angry Doll
Falling Haiku Leaf
I'm a crap moderator! Sorry I didn't respond to your comment earlier!
Train stations are a dangerous must for graffiti artists.
Isn't it fleeting - that one piece that you wish you recorded?
Gone.
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
I don't know. I think so. It's been years since I caught the train. Usually now I take the car in now.
The funny thing with me is I don't think I really noticed what the graffiti was but if it was "cleaned up" that's when I noticed there was something different.
Does that make sense?
I would just look at it day after day that it just seeped into the brain.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Brenton
Dr Spin
Tales From The Other Side
Downwrite
Blip Blog
Gadget Museum
I'm planning on setting up part of one of my blogs for Sunshine Coast Graph, if i ever get some rechargable battereies.
Comment by Little Angry Doll
Falling Haiku Leaf
I'm kinda scared of you - but if you do the Sunshine Coast, I'll do Sydney.
Comment by Little Angry Doll
Falling Haiku Leaf
Yes it does. I'll try to get a snap of the piece I mean - it's an image from an Olympic Games medal Ceremony. Possibly Mexico, 1968.
I could be very wrong.
Comment by Brenton
Dr Spin
Tales From The Other Side
Downwrite
Blip Blog
Gadget Museum
I'm not, I promise,
Comment by Little Angry Doll
Falling Haiku Leaf
Um... yes - but it's all because of one small moment.
Getting back to graffiti - get a digital camera and start recording! Urban Art is fleeting.
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
Health Focus
Poetry Lighthouse
MS Paint Art
Very interesting reading and illustrations.
katyzzz
Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
I lived in Sydney for 13 years and remember your area well... my feelings are that where there are a lack of trees and only concrete (and I hate concrete)... then this is a high form of art and I think the idea of chronologging it for posterity is a brilliant notion.
I wish you and Brenton well wishes in your endeavours .. I will take my camera next time I catch the train to Brisbane if you want donations...?
Lilla...
Comment by Manjula
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
I will qualify though and say that I can't stand tagging. At least be artistic about what you're doing. Don't just spray paint your initials.
It's sad that the mural you're talking about will disappear
Comment by Little Angry Doll
Falling Haiku Leaf
Lilla - yes, it's all concrete! We're fortunate enough to have a huge peach tree in our pathetic little courtyard. I was just lucky to be walking past the mural on my way to NOS's day care Christmas Party while it was being removed. On the way home, it was all but gone.
Comment by Little Angry Doll
Falling Haiku Leaf
As I said, I've never liked the piece, but wasn't it a fixture? I've been here for about 15 years too. I'm sure the mural would have to have been around for much longer. I guess the new owners had objections - and it is a bit of a statement.
Comment by Little Angry Doll
Falling Haiku Leaf
Thanks for stopping by! If you think grafitti should be preserved, there's only one way - Grafitti Arch - have a look at the links.
As they say in Porpoise Spitt "You Can't Stop Progress!"
Manjula - thank you for your comment! I've often regretted not recording grafitti - art or not, it still inspires - or at least, it makes you think outside the square.
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Little Angry Doll
Falling Haiku Leaf
Comment by Ahmed
techy.Bytes
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Qwerk
Cinema Three
Intresting post.
Comment by Little Angry Doll
Falling Haiku Leaf
What an interesting comment!
I studied Art History and Classics at Sydney Uni. It's an interesting deviation - what we deem pornographic today, in comparrison to Pompeii.
Thanks for stopping by.
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Graffiti is great! When I lived iN Brighton (UK) I used to go down to the beach where they had a wall which was constantly changing with graffiti. It was a reknowned area for it and which was designated by the council as a place for people to use specifically for their art. As a result it would constantly change - it would be great to peel back the layers and see the work that has been left there over the years. This is a great idea and more cities should adopt it as they try to curb the problem. It is expensive to get rid of and people will do it no matter what so why not give them somewhere where they can feel free to express themselves in this way.
Ash
Comment by Little Angry Doll
Falling Haiku Leaf
There is a wall in Camperdown Park that has recently been made a council approved grafitti site - and was the site where one of my fav Kill Pixies was recently painted over. I'm going to try monthly pictures to Graf Arch at Flickr.
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
That`s great. I think we should all be allowed our outlet. We just have different surfaces we need to work on. We have been lucky enough to find Orble they should be lucky enough to work somewhere too!
I will be down Sydney way during the New Year period so look forward to having a look around these places! Will be on the look out for some in my area too and post them up!
Cheers
Ash
Comment by LaurenD
I think graffiti is like a blog. If it has something to say-- if it makes us see or think-- I like it.
LaurenD
Comment by Little Angry Doll
Falling Haiku Leaf
Lauren D - thank you. It is like a blog, isn't it? A record of then and there. Thanks for stopping by.
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
That would be great! I have to check on my map if I will be close to you otherwise if time permits a meeting! Look forward to it!
Ash
Comment by Hope
Gifted Parenting
Comment by Julie Vaux
Books Well Read
Strange Situations
The Purple Challenge
The good graffiti artists should be aid to do community murals.
As for taggers if you must spray something at least try to find a particularly offensive billboard!
Comment by Julie Vaux
Books Well Read
Strange Situations
The Purple Challenge
The good graffiti artists should be paid to do community murals.
As for taggers if you must spray something at least try to find a particularly offensive billboard!
Comment by Little Angry Doll
Falling Haiku Leaf
I agree! There is a hell of a lot of crap out there, but every now and then, you find pieces that are great. Annoying or artistic, Graf has been there since the Pryamids...
I don't know a a lot about crap, but I know what I like!
Comment by FOSL EGO