Haiku: VandArt For You…
“I don’t think art is propaganda; it should be something that liberates the soul, provokes the imagination and encourages people to go further. It celebrates humanity instead of manipulating it.” Keith Haring
Haiku: VandArt For You… Keith Haring’s vandart
Haiku: VandArt For You… George Lee Quiñones does subways
Haiku: VandArt For You… Jean-Michel Basquiat spray paint on canvas
Haiku: VandArt For You… Lady Pink’s Evolution Triptych
Vandalism Art…
Keith Haring did it well too
Graffiti Art, Flows…
I was looking at some truly magnificent graffiti art on Carl Milner’s blog post, Graffiti Factory, when in our exchange, the word VandArt came to me. In a creative flash, I had coined a new word – VandArt – as an abbreviation for Vandalism Art aka Graffiti. Don’t get me wrong, I love art and graffiti as an art form has always fascinated me; especially with its ties to hip hop culture. But, in its early days, graffiti was viewed as a form of vandalism… Of course, over the years, what used to be perceived as a nuisance or an act of vandalism evolved into more acceptable forms, and found its home in galleries and museums around the world.
“Graffiti is revolutionary, in my opinion, “and any revolution might be considered a crime. People who are oppressed or suppressed need an outlet, so they write on walls—it’s free.” Terrance Lindall
Haiku: VandArt For You… Banksy on Brick Lane East End, London…
Haiku: VandArt For You… Blek Le Rat…
Haiku: VandArt For You… Kenny Scharf, Mural on Houston
Haiku: VandArt For You… Keith Haring’s Crack is Wack…
Graffiti to You
Caged voices, defy the norm
Basquiat, Lee too…
People like Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Lee Quinones, King Robbo, Banksy, Kenny Scharf, John Fekner, Pixnit, Crash, Lady Pink, Alexander Brener, Dondi, Zephyr, Heathcote Williams, Blek le Rat, and a host of other artists elevated the form by going beyond defacing subway trains and public spaces. VandArt was not just about the external form but about the greater internal message; the inner stance of the artist. As Aristotle explains: The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance. What do you remember about Graffiti? More below!
“The artist’s world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep.” Paul Strand
Haiku: VandArt For You… Fekner, Overfeed.
Haiku: VandArt For You… Olinda Graffiti in Brazil
Haiku: VandArt For You… King Robbo
Haiku: VandArt For You… Dondi
Vandalism Art…
Wild artistic child dances
Free-flows. Forms. Colors…
When I think of VandArt, (which is, in my opinion, anther name for graffiti), I see it more as a form of defiance; an out of the box approach to the creative process, and a deliberate artistic effort to display art on all/any available surfaces… sort of following the notion that the personal is political = art is not separate from daily living. As Paul Strand suggests above, the artist’s world is limitless. I agree. Why should art be defined through narrow perspectives or limited mediums? The in-your-face forcefulness of VandArt/Graffiti made us all aware of this particular form of free flowing, explosive, colorful, passionate, abstract, politically charged, personally empowering art.
What are your thoughts? How do you view the subject from your experience and perspective? What has helped you? Do share! Thank you. 🙂
This post was inspired by a prompt from WP Daily Post: Daily Post Prompt #3 – Your blog just became a viral sensation. What’s the one post you’d like new readers to see and remember you by? Write that post. And Daily Prompt: Play Lexicographer. Create a new word and explain its meaning and etymology.
*Please bear with me as I catch up on your blogs and commenting… I’m back on track with reading and responding to your blogs; albeit at a slow pace. Thank you all for your patience! 🙂
Positive Motivation Tip: Art is more than the visual expectations we hold in our hearts… Explore and expand…
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos Crack is whack via Saurthompson.com Quinones Does Subway cars via Lapham’sQuaterly, King Robbo, Basquiat, Blek le Rat, Fekner, Olinda, Banksy, Lady Pink, Dondi, Kenny Scharf Mural on Houston Street Wall Made Famous by Friend Keith Haring,
via Wikipedia, via Flickr, or via my personal collection.
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
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I agree wholeheartedly, Elizabeth–VandArt is revolutionary. One of my favorites has to be David Choe.
TY Kozo! I appreciate the feedback and will check out Choe real soon! 😉
VandArt – yes, great word.
TY and I loved the sound of it too. 🙂
Good post, Elizabeth. I have very mixed feelings about graffiti. Some of it is very artistic indeed, and actually beautifies, whilst some is very ugly and defacing.
I hear you and that is the true variety of the medium; some mainstream and others reactionary… 😉
Fabulous graffiti! And hanks for adding to my vocabulary 🙂
TY too for enjoying it… Art is so personal that sometimes I hesitate before I tackle a topic. 🙂
When it’s done well, I like graffiti, but so often it is just…vandalism. 🙂
Sometimes it is… I hear you… Hope you checked out the artists I mentioned here… They all took it to another level. TY! 🙂
Interesting! had never heard of VandArt. Nice pictures!
I just invented the word… TY! and it’s just another term for graffiti art. 😉
Oh I love graffiti 🙂
Oh goodie… a kindred soul! 🙂
Amazing photos amazing post
Wow, quite an interesting variety of art!
Glad you liked it too… I was pretty impressed with the work. 🙂
VandArt has a bit of a nice ring to it. I refer to it as “street art” and I’m really obsessed! That Crack is Wack one is one of my favorites, especially growing up. I used to always pass by that in Harlem on my way downtown.
And you know… it is still there! I pass it sometimes when I’m in the area. TY for your feedback. 🙂
Art is not self-evident. One may look at a graffiti mural as defacement of property, while others appreciate the added beauty. Great pics Eliz. Hope you are faring well through the storms. xx
Aye! And one man’s art is another man’s trash. True! TY! 🙂
Doing better TY!
Hi. What does kismet mean please? I read it in one of your profiles. I had a restaurant down below my apartment here…on the street named Kismet for 4 years and I spent all of those years thinking that kismet meant a couple who kiss when they first meet each other and that that is how they met. L o l. It was a pretty good restaurant. They had frothy dandelion coffee!
Sorry it took me so long. Kismet is fate… as in destiny. I believe in positive fate and that our actions follow us through eternity. Was the restaurant Turkish? I believe it is a Turkish word. too. 🙂
TY! 🙂
Thank you. I do not think that it is Turkish, but they have the best dandelion coffee…
This is very informative! I learned a lot from it and enjoyed the art/artists you featured. I agree that we can’t put limits on the creative process. We can choose what we like but to define one thing as art and another as not art is silly. Art is whatever our creative mind contributes to the medium.
B
True… Everyone has a perspective on the subject and that is art. TY! 🙂
Amazing indeed!
Quite! TY! 🙂
Have you seen documentary “Exit Through The Gift Shop”? Really worth the watch. I think people are more and more accepting and appreciative of street art now more than ever. That’s also because street artists are getting better and better. And, they’re no longer that much of activist type of message, but more on the focus solely on art and expressions.
I will make sure to see the movie you mention. TY! 😉
A must! It features Banksy.
Will look for it on Netflix. TY! 🙂
I just wish this grafittis are in canvas so its maginificence and beauty can be appreciated by people all over when seen in person. This are unsung artists. Artists who express their passion without thinking what the material world has to offer. It kind of puts to shame the million dollar paintings in museums. I know they were made by great artists but unlike the unsung artists, they are sold commercially for a price.Great post my friend.
There are several in museums, galleries and private collections; the outdoor ones are permanent installations. Attitudes towards it has shifted a lot over the years, so I’m grateful for that. 😉
Banksy rules ok? 😉
Okay and so good ole Banksy rules! 😆
Great post on a little understood “art” form and subculture.
TY too for your feedback. I bet you’ve seen quite a few through your lens. 😉
Such talent and so free and wild…love it. Thanks for sharing and still thinking about you…take care. 🙂
TY Sunshine… doing better now. 😉
Those walls are insanely gorgeus!!
They sure are… I love the raw creative burst of energy in the medium. TY! 🙂
Years ago, an Afr-Am artist shocked me when he said that galleries and art institutions “legitimize” art. I can’t tell you how infuriated that comment made me. After working for several years in the art world, I understood exactly what he meant.
As you point out, there was a time when graffiti was considered vandalism. Not anymore. I still remember those NYC trains and buildings that were covered with graffiti. In fact, I have a book of photos of some of the graffiti that used to be on the subways.
I am in awe of graffiti artists – their work blows me away, especially since I can’t draw a lick! Thanks for this, Elizabeth.
when i was like 13 or 14, i painted on my bedroom wall to make it look like graffiti…when my father passed by and accidentally saw it, he had someone paint over it >< lol
I can imagine that happening… At least you tried. 😆
Love haiku and even better mural. the photos are so cool! Love it deeply!
All this art is so cool!! I love how it looks. So amazing what one can create when they invest their mind into something!