If you’ve spent any length of time in the world’s bigger urban spaces, chances are you will have come across some form of street art (whether you realised it at the time or not). Far from being a malicious or negative act of vandalism, street art is gaining recognition as a legitimate form of artistic expression – whether or not councils and governments agree. It’s true that many forms of urban art (otherwise known as street art or graffiti art) are still forbidden or discouraged by law (and the incursion of fines and penalties are intended to dissuade artists), but this can often act to further encourage street artists to use public spaces as their canvas, particularly if the artist’s work is an act of protest or activism.
With the increased usage of the internet over the past decade or so it should be of little surprise to art fans and today’s youth that street art has been steadily growing in popularity. A large number of websites have sprung up showcasing galleries of urban street art in its many forms, and some artists have gained world-wide notoriety for their incredible pieces of artistic endeavour. What may once have been a city-bound or regional art phenomenon now spreads rapidly through the internet medium, meaning that new techniques or trends seen on the streets of Tokyo may be seen in New York only a few days later. Far from being a negative or harmful art form, street art is aimed at touching as many people as possible in the most disarming way – by jumping out from a street-corner, signpost or pavement.
With the increased usage of the internet over the past decade or so it should be of little surprise to art fans and today’s youth that street art has been steadily growing in popularity. A large number of websites have sprung up showcasing galleries of urban street art in its many forms, and some artists have gained world-wide notoriety for their incredible pieces of artistic endeavour. What may once have been a city-bound or regional art phenomenon now spreads rapidly through the internet medium, meaning that new techniques or trends seen on the streets of Tokyo may be seen in New York only a few days later. Far from being a negative or harmful art form, street art is aimed at touching as many people as possible in the most disarming way – by jumping out from a street-corner, signpost or pavement.