Tag: Graffiti

Can-advertising-be-considered-an-act-of-vandalism?

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The best part of travelling to my uni – Western Sydney University – is the train journey from Central Station to Parramatta. Viewing ‘pieces’ created by graffiti writers on the walls that encase the railway tracks. The combination of text, characters and symbols that allow the names to jump out of the wall. A blur of colour – depending on the speed of the train – or a slow train that allows for the gallery of work to be exhibited with every detail viewed.

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“Lotso” |Artist Unknown| Photograph by the author| Sydney, September 2018

Recently, I saw an image on the train that caught my eye: a mural of a bear (which reminded me of Lotso from Toy Story 3). My initial thought was, ‘I want   this image for my instagram’ but I was too slow and missed the shot. I spent the day hoping it would be there the next day – always a risk when you research an ephemeral art form, how long it lasts depends on too many factors.

Whilst waiting on the station the next day,  I watched the train roll in and was silently outraged to see the carriages were covered in advertising – including the windows – making it difficult for me to look out and see passing artworks.

Continue reading “Can-advertising-be-considered-an-act-of-vandalism?” →

Girl Power-Review

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I recently watched Girl Power, a documentary on female graffiti writers (remembering that graffiti is a sub-set of street art which I have written about here).

The film was made by Sany, a Czech graffiti writer, who wanted to create the first female graffiti writer film. The film documents Sany’s double life as a female graffiti writer: negotiating work, life, friends and family and how she balances (and sometimes doesn’t balance) this double life.

The rawness of the film narrative, including the technique and vision captured by the cameras, captures how women negotiate this subculture, through the view point of the female graffiti writers.  The audience is taken on a journey through the eyes of Sany and other female graffiti writers . Some parts are terrifying, as the women are running from  authorities (including police, security guards and transport staff), being caught, questioned and held for hours.

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Street Art-My Definition

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The definition of street art is in perpetual debate – for the art form is varied in both media and imagery (MacDowall, 2014; Wacławek, 2011; Young, 2014). In fact, Dickens (2008) argues that street art can best be described as “post graffiti” (p. 472) – that is, an art form that has extended from the graffiti movement .

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Graffiti| Melbourne, 2017| Photograph Author

Another way to understand street art comes from Austin (2010, p.44), who describes it as “…a fresh and unexpected new skirmish line in modern art”.

To define street art I draw on these three specific qualities that best capture the subculture: artwork, location and audience.

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#Inspiringlocals

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ELK – Father Dave – Martin Place –  June 2016 – Photograph by author

During the month of June 2016, ANZ sponsored a street art project called Inspiring Locals – which highlighted locals who are making a difference within their communities. This project was coordinated by Melbourne art consultant, Alex McCulloch.

Four street artists where selected for the project, Luke Cornish (ELK), Kaff-eine, Adnate & Stormie Mills. Each artist selected a person who they thought aligned with ANZ’s vision statement of diversity, inclusion and respect as everyday priorities, both inside the workplace and out.

The four artists where assigned walls around Sydney;

  • ELK  – Father Dave in Martin Place and conductor Dr Nicholas Milton at Chatswood;
  • Kaff-eine – LGBTI activist Katherine Hudson at Bondi Junction;
  • Adnate – Aboriginal activist Jenny Munro at Haymarket; &,
  • Stormie Mills  – retired Parramatta Eels player and community activist Nathan Hindmarsh at Parramatta.

The project is important for many reasons but here I want to discuss just three: the creation of community, knowledge production and, pure enjoyment. Continue reading “#Inspiringlocals” →

Street-Art-A-Feminist-Playground

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What words come to mind when I mention ‘street art’? Vandalism? Free speech? Beautiful? Offensive? Colourful?

Whatever your thoughts are on the subject of street art, as with most things in life, we need to look at it from various angles: what is seen as vandalism by someone, is considered an art form by someone else.

What is clear is that more academic research is required to study this beautiful art form. The meanings behind some of these artworks, how they engage with current topics both in Australia and around the world, creating awareness of what is going on in our contemporary world and creating an alternative voice.

Street art has the ability to engage an audience and begin conversations between the artist, artwork and public – something that is both powerful and fascinating. Whether it is a protest piece or commentary on current issues such as society’s obsession with celebrity culture – something I discuss below – these works have the capability to create conversations that resonate through the streets visually.

Some important questions I have found myself asking: Have you ever thought about who paints the art work? Are they male or female artists? Would it change you attitude to the work if you knew the sex of the artist?

Street art is a male dominated movement. Why? Is it because of the frequently dangerous nature of the movement. Works often need to be undertaken at night and in alleyways. Or  is it because of the socially constructed gender role of society that makes this a masculine practice?

Through the article that follows, I discuss how street art creates conversations in the urban landscape, delve into the history of graffiti, introduce the first female graffiti artist, Lady Pink, and discuss how some of the female artists situate themselves within this masculine practice.

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Figure 1: Kim ‘the fat slut’ – photo by author

 

Kim Kardashian is always likely to get you a headline. Her most recent Instagramed nude selfie – or nudie – once again brought the Internet to a standstill as her endless self-promotion lit up discussion boards and gossip columns. Continue reading “Street-Art-A-Feminist-Playground” →

Street-Art-literature-Review

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Artist unknown- Adelaide 2016-Photo by author

Recently I undertook a literature review for my Masters of Research.

This allowed me to delve into my research field and look at the literature surrounding my topic. I found there was limited research particularly when looking at female street artists. There was information on individual artists, however, a discussion on the gender imbalance within the sub-culture seemed to be missing.

Common research surrounding street can be grouped into four key areas: the historical context and beginnings of the sub-culture  (Gomez: 1993); more recent research around the legalities (Young: 2013); art in a public space (McAuliffe: 2012); and, the engagement of street art within the community and how it is used as a tool for discussion (Hansen & Danny: 2015). Continue reading “Street-Art-literature-Review” →

Linguistic-Socialisation

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Melinda Vassallo discussing street art- artist unknown-Newtown 2016-Photo by author

Cheryl Giesler (1993: 23) discusses the meaning of linguistic socialisation and the importance of this concept when it comes to research.

What a great term: linguistic socialisation!

Essentially this translates to being able to speak and understand the language of your discipline. That is, to become ‘socialised’ with the specific linguistic conventions of your field and to be able to understand the language used in articles, seminars, lectures and other academic publications.

To be able to place the language of your academic field and put it in the correct context is vital to your research. This is essential as all areas of research have their own meanings of text and it has the capability of changing across disciplines. Continue reading “Linguistic-Socialisation” →