Vandalism Or Art? Banksy Dividing Opinion

// December 16th, 2010 // b-street // b-uncut

One of art’s most divisive genres, graffiti is a controversial topic. The question remains: Graffiti, art or vandalism?

Long before he was helping out Russian art activists and selling his prints for big money, Banksy was a street artist trying to make a name for himself. Tarnished with the negative perceptions of a graffiti artist, it took a while before people cottoned on to Banksy’s skill and biting, political, wit. In some areas local councils have actually told street cleansing teams to leave Banksy’s work up. In others, like London’s Westminster, they have asked for his work to be cleaned off.

When one of Banksy’s pieces in Southampton was given a fresh coat of gloss by the local council, the disappointment spread beyond the city’s artistic community. The local community were so disappointed that a local ad agency, LowRyders Advertising, have pledged to display a giant poster of the mural using bikes and a giant billboard. They also plan to open up the debate to the public and ask city centre shoppers and workers the question: “Banksy in Southampton: art or graffiti?”

Which leads to my question to you: Graffiti, art or vandalism?

Asking ‘art or graffiti’, the ad agency in Southampton seem to have already made their minds up. But do you see a difference between graffiti and vandalism for the sake of vandalism’s sake? Any street art can be classed as graffiti,both the less artistic and the kind that wouldn’t look out of place in a gallery. As with all art, some has more merit than others. Is it only good graffiti artists that deserve respect and acceptance as artists, like Banksy? Should councils leave pieces like those by Banksy on their streets?

Let us know your opinions on this, can graffiti ever be considered art?