adminimages anonymously and mostly illegally on buildings and other objects.
In Italian, the word is derived from the word grafficar, which refers to drawings, markings, patterns, scribbles, or messages that may be painted, written, or carved on a wall or surface. In most places, graffiti is widely regarded as vandalism, as it is an unsolicited marking on a private or public property by a person or persons usually not wishing to be identified or be associated with the markings.
A major reason for one to engage in the practice is the prospect of fame and recognition of one’s artistic talent. The appreciation would come from a closed circuit of friends who may identify the style or technique.
Crucially, it may also come from passersby that acknowledge its aesthetic appeal. Such positive critical analysis gives the graffiti artist greater satisfaction as it is both unsolicited and impartial. Graffiti is also a form of self expression and a way to communicate with the general public. It converses an artist’s identity, expression, or ideas.
There are several forms of graffiti. The simplest and perhaps most widely used type is tagging, when one simply presents is his or her personalised signature.
Tags can contain subtle and sometimes cryptic messages. The composition may include the artist’s crew initials or other letters, or a simple “heart” shape.
Because they are so simple, they hardly carry any aesthetic appeal. This is, however, expected since they are not created for artistic purposes. All they do is to indicate the writer’s presence and communicate a simple idea. More complex forms of graffiti are statements, phrases or words, sometimes accompanied by sketch drawings, carrying slogans, slurs, or political statements. Workplace toilets and bus stops are arguably the most abused of public place for this form of graffiti.
The individuals responsible are not necessarily artists. Their drawing styles are undeveloped and the handwritings are not complex. The products are direct statements marking a public place the perpetrators in toilets are certain everyone, from management all the way down will likely view. Everyone is bound to go to the little room sometime.
Some of the statements are plain rubbish, sometimes strangely created using excrement. More dangerous ones are packaged as hate speech, insult and denigrating people institutions or groupings. Frequently, junior staffers mock or write frankly about what they think of management or general conditions of work. Management, particularly those without an “open door policy”, may not necessarily evaluate their “ratings” using this but, some of the content provides useful insights into workers’ genuine grievances.
Some are light-hearted and solely created for their comic relief. In South Africa, I came across one that said, “When you were eating all that food, did u ever think you would end up here? Well, here you are!”
Another form uses multiple paints and line thickness to present a colourful and technically sound composition aimed at adding aesthetic value to objects or buildings. They closely resemble artworks found on conventional surfaces such as canvasses.
Yet another form of graffiti consists of gangs marking their territory through visual presentations. These are almost always complex, taking considerable skill and expertise to complete. Graffiti art is unexpected, and is presented unconventionally. One criticism of it is that it is forced upon the public because people have no say in its production.
“Graffitists” counter with the argument that buildings, billboards, campaign ads, and flyers are also forced on the public in a similar manner. The other criticism is that it is illegal and a form of vandalism.
In Zimbabwe, a good number of structures are decorated with political graffiti. The graffiti extends to the repainting of traffic signs, compromising road communication for political mileage.
In most cases the message is a simple “vote so-and-so”. There is no artistic value, and the message has an expiry date. I know there is the biggest of differences between winning and losing, but here is no need for candidates or their supporters to deface functional road signs and buildings for and event will make the graffiti obsolete as soon as it passes.
Some of the red, black, or white paint is used to inscribe on private property such as pre-cast walls and buildings. This immediately identifies the owner as politically affiliated to the advertising party, which may not be the case. There are so many advertising platforms for political parties during the election period that just about every potential voter would know the difference between candidate A and candidate B, without the abuse of private and public properties.
Presentations of political messages on buildings are no different from the sticking of posters on the same structures. Both present a view, opinion or message that has a limited time of relevance, in contravention of basic laws. Lessons on content and meaning in graffiti art may be drawn from one form that has been a big part of the hip hop culture in America since the seventies. Graffiti is considered as one of the four elements of hip hop, along with playing and mixing records, rapping, dancing. Its messages as a part and parcel of the culture are diverse, and mirror hip hop music.
While some are vulgar, meaningless and offensive, others carry socially conscious message that preach societal obedience and positive existence. Just like hip hop music; one may get a distasteful, derogatory and insulting message when looking at graffiti art. On the other hand, the message may be a lot more cognisant of social ills and politically sound.
Online Reporter