Art Meets the Streets
Is graffiti art or vandalism? Of course writing your name on the side of a building could never really be classified as art, but about the works of graffiti artist’s such as Banksy. Is his work really any different to that of a teenage boy with a spray can, or could he being compared to the likes of Blek le Rat? I’ll be observing on artwork which is “Thug for Life”.
“Thug for Life” is one of most admired pieces he has. It is uncertain what techniques he uses to create the images in his stencils. Stencils are traditionally hand drawn or printed onto sheets of acetate. When he was asked about his technique he responded that as he was starting to do graffiti, he was always too slow and was either caught or could never finish the art. So he figured out a series of complicated stencils to shorten time and overlapping of the color. This image shows four elderly guys holding their canes while they’re dressed all thuggish. It is currently found off the wall of Clerkenwell Road, London.
The importance of this image was to show anti-establishment. He was inspired by local artists that motivated him to continue on doing what he loves most. Most of his artworks are from England cause that’s where he is from. “Thug for Life” was made in July 2007....