travelswithalice

September 27, 2016

London Street Art

Roa

At the start of the Impressionist movement, artists began to paint outside the studio, en plein air. They painted fast; they had to, in order not to lose the light. They employed a totally new painting vocabulary: quick strokes, stubby brushes, incorporating movement and changing light. They were rebels, outside the traditional art world, outliers.

In today's art world, graffiti artists are the outliers. They too are rebels. They work fast, under cover of darkness, in order not to get caught by the police. They work in the open air, out in the streets, but surreptitiously. They have invented an entirely new painting or writing vocabulary, one that is totally alien to most people outside their shadowy, illicit, subversive, hazardous world.

Goar

Stik

But the big difference is, whereas most Impressionist artists struggled to make a living out of their art, graffiti artists don't do it for money. Their art is free. It's meant for public consumption, to be seen by as many people as possible.

In the beginning, at least.

End Less

Mr Cenz

Otto Schade

Roa

As in most movements, the genre has evolved into a wide range of methods, characters, degree of success, as well as ways of viewing success.

Zabou

Jimmy C

Jasper Goodall

A host of practitioners has moved into the mainstream. We now speak almost reverentially of street art. A new philosophy has been ascribed to what was once mere vandalism.

Invader

Ronzo

Defect

While some are vilified, even hounded into oblivion, a few are glorified. Assiduously researched and much hyped, a whole new constellation of superstar graffiti artists has emerged. To be interviewed, chased by fans and paparazzi, feted by art galleries, and most importantly to be made a commercial success.

Which is, according to a strict code of conduct, to sell out.

Goar

Banksy

In London, a good way to get introduced to the world of street art is through Strawberry Tours' Street Art and Graffiti Tour. It's a daily tour, it's free, and if you're lucky, you'll get the very personable Ben Alderton as guide. He knows his stuff, a genuine enthusiast, and he speaks from the heart.

https://strawberrytours.com/london/tours/free-street-art-graffiti-tour

Tour guide Ben Alderton

Labels: London

posted by Alice Dimalanta Jones # September 27, 2016

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