Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Street art can be defined as an artistic expression, often
anonymous and illegal, which is constructed in the public environment. The purpose of this essay is to provide a broad and balanced picture of what street art can mean. The aim is to examine street art as a phenomenon. What features has the phenomenon and in what ways is it important for the creators, spectators and place? This paper focuses on graffiti. The questions within this essay are answered through a literature review and in-depth interviews with different people involved.
Graffiti is inspired by the tradition to write ones name in key locations. Other forms of street art, and the late emergence of the concept, arose as a means to challenge the structures of power. To manifest the right to the city.
Street art can be associated with unsafe and rundown areas, while in other places, it can fascinate and create admiration. Street art can thus affect how we experience a place. Street art can also serve as a means to commemorate and pay tribute to people. Furthermore, street art often works as a political tool and can therefore be seen as a barometer of how our society works. The fact that people wants to take their place in the public sphere is an important aspect that city planners should consider. The public space must serve as an arena where conflicts can be shown. Legal “graffiti walls” should be constructed based on the fact that people should be able to express themselves with legal means. It should not be erected, as currently, as a means to reduce unwanted street art in other places. Much of the power of street art is that it is illegal, and hence will occur elsewhere, even if there are legal walls. Further on, one should consider the value of the things that are removed. Street Art are exciting cultural expressions that tells us something about our time. Street art can therefore have a cultural and historical value that should be taken into account.