Community Gallery: Street Art on Film

Originating in vandalism, modern street art has been regarded as a contemporary art form with extended purposes aside from its origins. It no doubt gives character and life to any location, giving us insights into the consciousness of a place.

In this community gallery, we're showcasing a few street art photos taken by our community members on film, and discussing briefly the importance of this art form and of photographing it on film.

Artistic and ideological expression hand-in-hand, street art at its core serves as the response of individuals and communities (often marginalized) to existing socio-political milieus.

Initially regarded as a rebellious and subversive act, its cultural impact has brought street art to its current evolution as a complex contemporary art form involving different artistic disciplines, and encompassing many purposes.

Prominent figures such as TAKI 183, Darryl McCray a.k.a. Cornbread, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Keith Haring elevated graffiti through their work, which concretized street art and tackled contemporary issues such as racism, LGBTQ+ rights, AIDS awareness, the impacts of war, and more.

Photography plays a big role in this cultural movement by being a way to keep records. Since street art is often painted on public property without permission, and kept only for a short period, its impermanence compared to other forms of art makes it important to take photos to preserve memories and keep the ideas behind these artworks in the public consciousness.

Street art helps us understand the existing states of mind of different individuals, in response to social or political turbulence. Like any other method of making art, it's a form of self-expression rooted in the need to make one's own beliefs and opinions known.

Do you have photos of interesting street art in your city? Share it with us below!

written by sylvann on 2025-01-10 #culture #graffiti #street-art #community-gallery