Presentation of the Movements – Street Art

Street art, or urban art, is defined as modern. Even though this practice is considered innovative, it is worth considering what modern humans know about the origins of art. Namely, rock art. The oldest example dates back over 51,200 years, depicting a pig in Indonesia, in the Leang Karampuang cave.

During the Renaissance, numerous frescoes adorned monuments, homes, and places of worship, such as the Chapel of Eleonora in the Palazzo Vecchio. 

However, the fundamental novelty lies in the design. The purpose of prehistoric cave paintings is still unclear. Those of the Renaissance were almost all commissioned to artists, often for social recognition, political power, exaltation of faith, or expressions of philosophical ideas. 

A Double-Edged Art 

Street art truly took off in the 1960s and 1970s. At the end of the 20th century, this movement was transgressive and illegal. The terribly shy artist Cornbread declared his love to a woman named Cynthia by writing “Cornbread Loves Cynthia” on a wall in the 1960s. This act is considered the true beginning of the street art movement. 

At that time, any form of art in urban spaces without prior authorization was considered vandalism. Over the decades, artists and their practices became increasingly respected. In the 1990s, big names like Banksy, who remained anonymous, appealed to the public. His images even appealed to galleries. Around 2000-2010, municipalities became more flexible and allowed this practice. Museums and galleries took over certain works. Many cities now designate specific locations where street artists can legally produce their works. Of course, monuments and private property should not be used as a backdrop.

Nevertheless, this movement arouses mixed opinions. Some appreciate the innovative side of the approach. The motifs are simply decorative or embody social and political demands. Some degraded buildings have been embellished with these illustrations. Other spectators are more reluctant. They consider it visual pollution, a degradation of architecture and street furniture. The stylistic, iconographic, and technical research does not resonate with them.

Moreover, another criterion comes into play today: the notion of ecology and visual pollution. The size and placement of billboards and signs are regulated so as not to "disturb" the landscape. The same is true for street art, with one exception. Billboards can be found in rural areas, while street art, as its name suggests, is found in urban areas.

The main techniques 

• Graffiti:

The word graffiti has its origins in Greek and Latin roots. In Greek, it is the word "graphein," meaning to write, paint, or draw. In Latin, "graphium" refers to the technical means, stylus, and punch used to write on tablets.

Graffiti is mostly executed using enamel or aerosol paint and has the advantage of being quick to execute. It encompasses both tagging and writing.

• Stencil:

Stenciling is still quick to do. First, the artist creates one or more masks onto which they project the paint. Only the empty area is printed onto the surface. This technique allows the design to be defined with smooth contours. The advantage of making several stencils for a work is to be able to represent shadows or details in several different colors. Stenciling originated in the world of advertising and the press, particularly with printing.

• stickers

Stickers use the preparatory method of stenciling. Artists can create these self-adhesive labels at home and apply them to any surface they choose, either in an organized or random pattern. The only drawback is finding a material to which the sticker can adhere. This is why they are more commonly found on street furniture.

• mosaics

Modern mosaics are based on the ancient principle of small stone cubes, pebbles, and tesserae. The designs created by contemporary artists are simpler and more geometric, often inspired by the Pop Art style.

• Yarn Bombing

Yarn bombing involves covering monuments, sculptures, and sometimes even trees, with fabric. The materials used are often knitted. Wool, cotton thread, acrylic, polyester, recycled fabrics, or even more uniquely, ropes are used. The rather old-fashioned image that the collective imagination has constructed is dismantled with this new use of fabric. Moreover, the ecological aspect, such as the reuse of the Cambridge Bridge weavings for solidarity actions, reinforces the popularity of this technique.

• Mural painting

Mural painting is a rather slow practice to execute. It approaches the frescoes of the Renaissance. However, the iconography and materials are significantly more diverse. These paintings sometimes cover tens of meters. The artists create committed works mostly using aerosol cans, acrylic paint, and markers.

Ephemeral 

Cities are constantly changing. It's therefore to be expected that street art won't last forever. Furthermore, legal spaces for creation aren't large enough to accommodate all the artists who sometimes have to cover up the work of others. Thus, museums and galleries create reproductions of street art to preserve their legacy.

Nowadays, the digital age is greatly contributing to the survival of these motifs. Whether it is personal photographs of the artist concerned on social networks, to those of professional photographers who exhibit them.  

Similarly, new techniques emerge combining technologies and plastic techniques. The GIFs available in messaging conversations are derived from Street patterns. Night light projections are also produced. 

Fun Fact

The seats of subways, trains, buses, and other means of transportation are decorated with vibrant patterns, partly to discourage those who might cause damage or graffiti.

For more information on Street Art, tune in on Sunday from 6pm on Museum TV and replay on our video-on-demand platform. 

Take advantage of the summer to (re)discover the great artistic movements on Museum TV. Every evening in July and August, immerse yourself in the world of your favorite artists.