Graffiti: From the Streets to the World

It's not uncommon to walk through cities and be struck by colorful, interventionist, and often socially and politically critical street art. This is the case with graffiti, an urban art that is becoming increasingly popular.

However, there is still a lot of prejudice and controversy surrounding graffiti. Is it art, is it vandalism? Is it different from tagging?

In this article, we'll talk a little about the origins of graffiti and its characteristics. But first, let's take a step back and understand what urban art is.

Urban Art and its Impact on the City and People
Urban art is an artistic expression characterized by interventions in public spaces, such as walls, squares, and street signs.

Because of this, urban art interacts directly with the people who pass by or use these public spaces daily or occasionally.

The most common manifestations of urban art are:

Graffiti;
Artistic performances (music, theater, etc.);
Living statues;
Posters and stickers;
Projections on walls or buildings;
Art installations.

Therefore, it's almost certain that you've been impacted by some type of urban art in your city at some point.

The importance of these manifestations is precisely to make art more accessible to everyone, removing it from galleries and private spaces. Furthermore, urban art brings with it many social and political reflections, which creates strong public identification.