Meu Fado Meu

While I’m on the subject, here’s more about art:

Talking about what is and isn’t art – I present…Street Art.

I consider that, done well, street art has got a lot more going for it than some art of a more traditional aesthetic.  And I don’t mean graffiti.  I’m talking about art.  Something that enhances it’s home in terms of both look and intelligence.

Really good street art considers it’s habitat whether by complementing its surroundings or creating a thoughtful juxtaposition.  Yes, other art can do that (Antony Gormley’s work, as an example) but, often, the consideration doesn’t really extend far beyond the frame – after all it’s got to sell and fit in any collector’s hallway.  Street art, once sprayed, pasted, or glued up is there for the duration – however long that is.

Although street artists do produce work to sell, they’re not street artists unless they’re giving a large proportion of their work away too.  There’s a refreshing generosity in street art: much of the great street art takes a lot of creating; it’s installed in locations chosen with care and, once out there; it’s totally out of the hands of the artist.  At best it will deteriorate through weather and age, at worst it will be ripped down or daubed over within hours.  But while it is up there we can enjoy it and use it as brain fodder.

Not all street art is great, not all is well placed and not all is generously given.  Some is ugly, unoriginal, insensitively placed and entirely self-promotional.  Tagging and scribbling, pseudo-sagacity (and pretension…moi?!) in stickering and spraying, commercial fly posting are entirely self-centred – for me a key test of whether something is art I want to see or not.

Just take a look at the detail in work by Swoon, C215, Elbow-Toe, Jef Aérosol, FKDL, Jérôme Mesnager, Judith Supine, Faile and many others.  Whether it’s sprayed, drawn, sculpted or pasted; whether it’s a one-off or repeated, the breadth and quality of the work is stunning.  Just look at an FKDL collage up close!

As well as free-hand spraying and intricate stencil cutting, we’re given original drawings and collages, woodcuts and hand screen prints – FOR FREE.  The only drawback – we can’t keep them for ourselves.

Of course, this isn’t a world that escapes commercialisation – whether through use in viral marketing or by artists and galleries simply selling work (whether on canvas or T-shirts).  No problem with that; art has been made to sell for a very long time.  And, in common with art and collecting generally, a fair amount of buying and selling isn’t about artistic but monetary appreciation.  Some people soon show their true motivation on web forums and in galleries – it soon becomes apparent that kudos, buying price and potential sale price are more important than actually liking a piece.

Removing street art from the street is also attempted in an effort to make money out of our common art collection.

There it was…

Gone…!

Artist collaboration and paying homage is common, whether at initial creation or years later.  These ‘conversations’ between pieces often bring a new interpretation or at least a smile to the face.  Jef Aérosol’s Jimi Hendrix joined Némo for a boat ride and then someone else brought some music to the party.

Finally, isn’t all street art vandalism?  No, not if it’s sensitively placed.  You’re right, I wouldn’t want it on my house but there are many shared and industrial places that would benefit from aesthetic amelioration.

Paris – a city that depends heavily on its look and feel for the billions that tourism brings – generally embraces its street art (not its graffiti) and many pieces are afforded an element of protection; street art is a part of the caractère du quartier.  OK, no-one is going to welcome stencils on the Arc de Triomphe but throughout the city, street art contributes to the rich landscape.  The 11th arrondissement has given over a huge billboard – le M.U.R. – to showcase artists – which changes about twice a month.  Perhaps not as ’street’ as some would have it but it’s a big improvement on commercial advertising.  The video below (follow the link), the story of a superb paste-up by JR on the rue de Rivoli, shows how well classic architecture and street art can work together – it doesn’t all have to be in grubby back alleys!

Anyway – what do YOU think?