Graffiti refers to writing scribbled,
scratched or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public space. In
Urban areas of Trinidad, these graphic images are seen as barbaric in nature to
the general public, but upon further reflection, these images contain a great
sense of emotion, history, trends, and even brotherhood. To the reader who may be looking
at graffiti and its implications of it, the question remains, is graffiti a
form of art, a form or social commentary, or is it a pure act of vandalism?
These relic drawings and paintings around Port-of-Spain, not only
gathered the attention of government, as they tried to get rid of these profound
images, but also caught the eyes of international artists, and soon became a
national spectacle. March 26th, 2012 for example, Trinidad attracted
one of the biggest street art projects under the German embassy in
Port-of-Spain. These Urban heartbeat projects
are the stepping stones to the acceptance of street art in Port-of-Spain and by
extension Trinidad.
What I find to
be very interesting about
Photo credits Brendon Taylor
street art, is the ability of a single piece to have
thousands of different meanings, trigger many types of feelings but can still
be limited to one type of message the artist wish to depict.
Take for example
the pieces of graffiti found in the Beetham in Trinidad, as such in the picture
on the left. Although they are several stigmas and ideologies attached to areas
such as the Beetham, the residence of these areas depicts outstanding talent in
their ability to sketch
well identified images of their
surroundings and tell a 1,000 page story in just one piece of art. Amazing!!
Without even going far away
from our very own University of the West Inides, e see how street
Art can be used to tell
many commentary stories on the professional level, and how these stories not
only hold a special place in our hearts as current students, but will touch and
revolutionised the hearts of individuals to come in the future.
So before you criticize
profanity, gang signs, or even markings “about nothing “.. stop and ask
yourself, what story did the artist wanted to tell me, and what did the artist
felt when he told this “story”? By doing this, there is nodoubt
Photograph by Joseph Weekes
that we
Caribbean people will have a greater understanding and respect for this Urban
Art.
References
·
Guardian.co.tt ”Threading a
thin line between street art and Graffiti”. Accessed 2nd April,
2016.
The problem is that there is graffiti-style art, like what is at the university, and may be commissioned for parks and community centres to reflect a street-youth vibe and attract young people to the area/facility - that is not graffiti as revolutionary or protest. You have to be able to distinguish in your blog.
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