Summary of Street Art and Graffiti: History and Techniques

## Introduction Street art and graffiti are visual practices that occupy public spaces. While they share tools and origins, they differ in intent, form, and public reception. This guide breaks down the main techniques, history, and practical aspects so you can understand, identify, and discuss both forms confidently. ## Key Definitions > **Street art:** An open, rule-free form of public art that uses walls and urban surfaces as an explicit part of the work's conception. Common techniques include fly-posting, stenciling, stickers, freehand drawing, and video projection. > **Graffiti art:** A form of public visual expression that originated in 1970s New York, often using spray paint to create text-based tags, stylised monograms, and bright graphic images known as wildstyle. > **Tagging:** The practice of writing one's name, initials, or logo on a public surface in a unique handstyle; the earliest modern form of graffiti. > **Stencil graffiti:** Artwork made by cutting shapes or designs into a stiff material, placing it on a surface, and spraying through the cut-out to transfer the design. > **Stickers (slaps):** Pre-drawn or written adhesive pieces placed in public; include name-tag stickers such as the classic "Hello my name is" labels. ## Main Techniques and Tools ### Tools used by writers and artists - **Spray paint and markers:** Primary tools for tagging, throw-ups, and pieces. - **Paint markers and dabbers:** For detail and alternative textures. - **Scratching tools (etching):** For incising surfaces. - **Stencils:** Provide repeatability and fast application. - **Stickers (Label 228, name tags):** Fast, portable, and easy to affix. ### Techniques explained - **Tagging:** Quick signature writing that prioritises unique handstyle and visibility. - **Throw-ups:** Fast, larger bubble-letter pieces often using two colors for speed. - **Pieces (masterpieces):** Large, complex works with multiple colors and shading. - **Stenciling:** Allows rapid reproduction of a detailed image with crisp edges. - **Fly-posting / wheat-pasting:** Applying paper posters with adhesive to walls. - **Sticker art:** Designs created beforehand and applied quickly in public. ## Comparison: Graffiti vs Street Art | Aspect | Graffiti | Street Art | |---|---:|---| | Typical focus | Text-based (tags, monograms, wildstyle) | Image-based, conceptual messages | | Permission | Often illegal | Can be illegal, commissioned, or permitted | | Intent | Mark territory, name recognition | Communicate ideas, provoke thought, beautify | | Materials | Spray paint, markers, scratching | Stencils, posters, stickers, projection, props | | Relationship to space | Uses surface as canvas | Uses space as an integral part of the concept | ## Historical Context - **1970s New York:** Emergence of modern graffiti with spray paint on trains and walls; tags and wildstyle developed. - **1990s onward:** Street art rose alongside graffiti, adopting stencils and provocative imagery; some artists gained international fame. Fun fact: Banksy is a pseudonymous England-based street artist and political activist active since the 1990s whose satirical stencilled works often appear on public surfaces and are sometimes removed and resold. ## Case Study: Banksy (brief) - Uses stencils for speed and recognisable style. - Often creates satirical, politically charged images. - Typically displays work in public, occasionally creating temporary installations or physical props. - Has never publicly confirmed his identity; his works are frequently re-sold or removed from their original sites. ## Practical Examples and Applications 1. Urban renewal projects sometimes commission street artists to create murals that reduce vandalism and enhance neighborhood identity. 2. Political or social campaigns use stencil graffiti and stickers to quickly spread a recognizable message across a city. 3. Graphic designers study wildstyle and lettering from graffiti to develop unique typographic treatments.