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Any type of history is a discourse in its own right. What is more, when talking about art history, the discourses seem to flourish immensely from one into another, and so on into many more. In the context of the beginnings, one cannot but firstly reflect upon the artwork of graffiti. Later on, by the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st, street art has evolved into complex interdisciplinary forms of artistic expression. From graffiti, stencils, prints and murals, through large-scale paintings and projects of artistic collaboration, to street installations, as well as performative and video art, it is very much safe to say that street art has found it's way into the core of contemporary art. And rightly so.

Where Did it Come From?

Some of the earliest expressions of street art were certainly the graffiti which started showing up on the sides of train cars and walls. This was the work of gangs in the 1920s and 1930s New York. The impact of this subversive culture was extraordinarily felt in the 1970s and 1980s. This cultural movement was recorded in the book The History of American Graffiti, by Roger Gastman and Caleb Neelon. These decades were a significant turning point in the history of street art - it was a time when young people, by responding to their socio-political environment, started creating a movement, taking the 'battle for meaning' into their own hands.

Soon, this subcultural phenomenon gained the attention and respect in the 'grown-up' world. From the fingers and cans of teenagers, it had taken a form of true artistic expression. One of the most respected names in the field of documenting street art and artists, who would gladly testify to this, is photographer Martha Cooper. Soon enough, photographs weren't the only medium for capturing and 'displacing' street art into different contexts. Essentially an illegal activity, a process of creation through destruction began its evolution into numerous forms of artistic expression which found it's way to galleries and the global art market. Although still subversive, and in its large part an illegal movement, through art enthusiasts and professionals, street art earned its place in the contemporary art world.

What about Street Art Today?

This is not a story just about graffiti. Although street art owes a part of its glory to this kind of artistic expression, it is a marvelous art form in its own right and it is amazing to follow the evolution and diversity of street art in the 21stst century. For example, stencils have been a part of history parallel to graffiti and have been vessels for socio-political activism for those in power, and even more for those who resisted. The evolution of street art became evident through such artists as Banksy, who transformed views of this art form with his documentary Exit through the gift shop. With the emergence of artists such Vhils or BLU, street art became a ground for experimenting with different kinds of methodology, but never giving up on its rebellious position in front of the hegemonistic patterns and structures of popular culture and mass media reality.

Thus, street art gave birth to artists who create breathtaking murals, and those who have incorporated video art and other performative aspects to creative work 'on the streets'. To understand the history of street art, one must immerse oneself into the energy of this sublime cultural phenomenon, as an admirer, but perhaps as a creator as well.

Editors' Tip: The World Atlas of Street Art and Graffiti Hardcover by Rafael Schacter

From painted murals in Latin America in the early 20th century through Latino gangs spray-can graffiti in the 1950s, street art has traveled a long way to become what it is today. Omnipresent globally, it has evolved into a complex art form encompassing various practices. The World Atlas of Street Art and Graffiti is a survey of international art scene and brings together the world's most influential urban artists and their work. This illustrated volume also features specially commissioned "city artworks", as well as the evolution of street art and graffiti within each region. Organized geographically, the book presents the work of more than hundred important street artists such as Espo in New York, Shepard Fairey in Los Angeles, Os Gêmeos in Brazil, or Anthony Lister in Australia.

The Influences of Street Art

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Any type of history is a discourse in its own right. What is more, when talking about art history, the discourses seem to flourish immensely from one into another, and so on into many more. In the context of the beginnings, one cannot but firstly reflect upon the artwork of graffiti.

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From the end of the 20th century until now, street art has evolved into complex interdisciplinary forms of artistic expression.
It can be said that street art is in the core of contemporary art nowadays.

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1920 / 1930: graffiti was one of the first expressions of street art created by gangs.

1970 / 1980: these decades indicated a turning point in street art. A movement responding to the social political environment of that time started.

It was an illegal activity that started to evolve into numerous forms of artistic expression and earned its place in the contemporary art world.

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Click on the following picture to see an example of the street art origins.

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From the 21st century, this art has evolved and its diversity can be seen (e.g. stencils).

It is still a vessel for socio political activism.

Street art is now a ground for experimenting with different kinds of methodology.

It has always a rebellious position in front of the hegemonistic patterns and structures of popular culture and mass media reality.

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Click on the picture to see an example of street art today.

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Click on the following image to discover the influences of street art.

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The birth of graffiti can be traced back to the ancient times to the first scribbles and carvings on the walls. Even though the etymological root of the word graffiti suggests scratching of the surface the first thing that comes to mind when we think about those graffiti works made today are aerosol, spray paint and markers as those commonly used materials that never go out of fashion. Those are the necessary and indispensable supplies that any graffiti artist simply must have if he wants to leave his mark on the wall. The modern graffiti history cannot be imagined without the spray paint or the marker pens and even those graffiti writers who have moved their practice off the streets and into the gallery world depend on these materials still. But things have somewhat changed in the 21st century.

New Era in Graffiti History

But we are now witnessing the whole new era in street art. In spite of enormous selection of various products and supplies of best quality paints available in shops and specialized stores worldwide, for some artists these supplies of spray paint and markers are simply not enough. That is why some of them have decided to leave their bags filled with cans at home and release their creativity into our public spaces through different kinds of materials. The field of possibilities when it comes to choosing the preferred graffiti materials is greater today then it ever was in the history. There are many new ways of creating art in public spaces and in the following couple of paragraphs, we are going to take a walk through the world of street art that has moved beyond traditional supplies into the less explored field of alternative, unusual, sometimes even peculiar graffiti materials.

Unconventional Street Art: Rock, Paper, Chisels

Let's start our journey with some of the classic works of your favorite artists made in the unconventional way. Since the mid-nineties has been tagging the walls with his pixelated video game characters made of tiles, and I think it is safe to say that he was one of the pioneers in the field of alternative usage of graffiti materials. Another artist, although she doesn't consider herself a part of the street art scene, is using a similar approach in the creation of public artworks. Carrie Reichardt is well known for her extensive mosaicked murals made from decorated tiles and ceramic details. On the lighter side, we have artists who work with paper materials. For example, Argentinian artist creates murals in the technique of paper collage and French artist Mademoiselle Maurice became known for her pubic pieces made of carefully assembled little origami figures.

Additional Tools

What about the chisels?, you may ask. Well, here is a hint. If you haven't guessed by now is the artist who gained international praise for the invention of graffiti carving technique. Or shall we say reinvention since it was the initial form of graffiti in the ancient times. Rather than painting on the walls Vhils carves into their facade creating astonishing large scale portraits from the material of the walls themselves with some help of the chisels, hammers, drills and bleach. This scratching of the surface isn't unfamiliar to the Spanish artist who uses similar techniques applied to glass and also creatively experiments with variety of materials from grass and hay to 'painting' with candle smoke.

Yarnbombing and Moss Graffiti - New Thoughts on Traditional Practice

A relatively young discipline in the field is yarnbombing or yarnstorming (as British branch likes to define it). Also known as graffiti knitting this kind of art deploys some traditional crafts like knitting and crochet, bringing colorful wooly artworks to the streets in order to enhance the looks of the urban spaces. It originated in Texas in the mid-2000 but was soon widely accepted as a non-destructible way of making art on the streets. Perhaps, one of the most famous graffiti knitters today are Polish artist and the Knit the City collective from London. Even younger initiative, which is getting even better treatment in the eyes of the public and local communities is eco-graffiti or environmentalist street art recognizable for the usage of moss as yet another option when it comes to the practice of tagging the walls. The use of moss is the trademark of UK designer Anna Garforth, although many new artworks inspired by the same genre are being made worldwide.

Reverse Graffiti - Street Art Without Materials

Reverse graffiti , also known as clean tagging was introduced by the British artist Moose who accidentally got the idea while working as a dishwasher. The main concept of reverse graffiti is what the actual name suggests. Rather than painting the wall, using markers or planting any other material on it, the artist just scrubs the dirt from the wall leaving clean surfaces. The result is a visual appearance similar to the one that is often achieved through the use of stencils. This kind of art is gaining popularity in the art community as well as the world of advertisement and it is accepted as an environment friendly alternative to spray paint.

Questions of the Extremes: Edible Graffiti and Street Art Answer to Animal Abuse

Well, we couldn't finish our alternative tour of graffiti materials and skip some really eccentric pieces. For example edible graffiti. That's right, they exists and they are made by a Canadian artist Shelley Miller who uses cake icing and handmade sugar tiles to create her delicious pieces of art. Some other interesting initiatives can be followed through the work of Neozone collective which uses discarded animal fur coats and turns them into public artworks, addressing the issue of animal abuse.

Personal Thoughts on Modern Graffiti Culture - Do Details Matter?

In the end, we need to accept the fact that street art, like any other, is changing through various points in history. For better or worse only time will tell... Those who keep their art practices closer to the aerosol graffiti roots may not enjoy some new and emerging genres, but eventually art, and especially street art, shouldn't be about the supplies and the material from what it's made of but a celebration of creative freedom and message that is spread around communities. And don't worry, the old style graffiti art isn't easily going to be replaced and you know the walls will stay wide-open to everyone no matter of their preferable techniques, methods or materials.
Street art is evolving every day and if you want to follow recent achievements sign up for My Widewalls today! You know it is free of charge!
Images in Slider:

Borondo - Fire Experiments JAZ - Collage on Wall, 2015 - Rio San Juan, Dominican Republic Yarnstorming in Italy, Un Ponte di Lana Vhils in Shanghai, 2012.

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Graffiti Materials - From Supplies to Unconventional Street Art Materials

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The birth of graffiti can be traced back to the ancient times to the first scribbles and carvings on the walls. Even though the etymological root of the word graffiti suggests scratching of the surface the first thing that comes to mind when we think about those graffiti works made today are aerosol, spray paint and markers as those commonly used materials that never go out of fashion.

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Add any question or comment related to the readings!

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With unpredictable weather conditions and improvised workspaces, street art isn't that easy to do. In fact, it's extremely difficult, and that's precisely why these street artists deserve so much respect.

Over the last couple of years, we've featured many great street artists here at the MET. All of them have different styles and approaches, but they all share one thing in common - their art has left a lasting impression. In this post, we pay tribute to these incredibly talented urban street artists.

Our list of 10 street art mavericks you should know.

1.) Banksy

Banksy is the gold standard when it comes to urban street art. His legendary reputation has only grown since the 2010 release of his intriguing movie, Exit Through the Gift Shop.

Three years later, in NYC, the mysterious British street artist took the city by storm with his unexpected Better In Than Out project. Installations sprung up across Manhattan, taking the world by surprise and creating a frenzy has the world waited to see what piece would pop up next.

More recently, Bansky has focused his work around world crisis. From his powerful works in at a refugee camp in Calais, France to his participation in the #WithSyria campaign, the iconic street artist shows no signs of slowing down.

2.) Vhils

Portuguese-born Alexandre Farto aka Vhils is an amazing, super-talented street artist. Using tools like a power drill, chisel, and different types of paint, Vhils literally scratches off the surface of buildings to create his masterpieces.

His explosive viral video, in which small explosives set off a chain reaction, carving the image into the wall, helped catapult him to international success. In 2014, he was one of 11 artists invited by the band U2 to create music videos for their album Films of Innocence.

3.) Above (Tavar Zawacki)

Originally from the United States, Above is now based out of Berlin, where he continues to crank out innovative urban street art.

Regarding the above piece, the artist says: "When I was in Lisbon, Portugal three months ago, I would walk by this homeless lady who was begging for money everyday. I found it sadly ironic that just six feet away there was an ATM machine where people were literally lining up to withdraw money. With an obvious visual clash of 'Rich' and 'Poor' being in such a close proximity evoked me to make this stencil, Stealing from the Rich, and Giving to the Poor."

4.) Roa

I think it's fair to say that street artist Roa is on top of his game. What really separates him from the rest of the field is the way he adds different layers into a piece, giving his viewers multiples perspectives of the biology behind his animal subjects. It's almost like we have x-ray vision.

5.) C215

French street artist Christian Guemy aka C215 travels around the world beautifying the streets. He usually paints local faces because, in his words, "faces reflect the personality" of a city. Another continuing theme through his stencil art are portraits of his daughter Nina, who we've seen evolve from a little girl to a young woman.

Through the years his work has become a symbol of stencil art. He exhibits his work widely in France and abroad, also portraying local heroes to support social causes.

6.) Mentalgassi

You have to stand at the perfect angle to see this piece by Mentalgassi. Spotted in Berlin, their pieces are sometimes wheat pasted in places you'd probably never look - like on the side bars of metal fences. In the past, they've paired with Amnesty International, using this technique to bring attention to social causes.

7.) Hyuro
Hyuro is an Argentinian-born street artist that is currently based out of Valencia, Spain. Her works are full of movement, like animations that unfold directly on the wall. She often deals in themes of motherhood and her work from a female perspective is refreshing on the male dominated scene. Simply stunning!
8.) Titi Freak

Hamilton Yokota, aka Titi Freak, is a São Paulo native with Japanese ancestry whose art combines his cultural backgrounds. After making his way over to Japan, he kept himself busy by painting the streets of Osaka for three whole months. Seamlessly coinciding with Japanese culture and landscape, his brightly colored koi fish really sets the bar for other street artists.

9.) SpY

Hailing from Madrid, SpY is a famous urban artist that uses many different mediums. His work consists of playful reappropriation of urban elements, that he replicates or transforms, and then installs on the streets. SpY's pieces are meant to shake up the equilibrium of an urban dweller. His work is full of irony and a positive sense of humor, seeking to inspire a smile and a thought.

10.) Laguna

This piece by Laguna is one of the most incredible pieces I've seen. Completed in Almagro, Spain, a couple of men are seen riding a gargantuan fish, reminiscent of an epic tale. Viewers must stand in the perfect spot to see all the individual pieces connect.

*BONUS* 11.) Blu

Blu completed these amazing large scale murals in Europe. Using the facade of high-rise buildings as his canvas, Blu sends very relevant political messages through his works. If you look at "War" closely, you'll notice that the soldiers are being controlled by puppet strings and their badges flash dollar signs. "Global Warming" is extremely clever and features a melting iceberg in an hourglass, which is dripping water into a flooding city below.

This post has been updated.

(*Please find photo sources through the artists' links.)

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With unpredictable weather conditions and improvised workspaces, street art isn't that easy to do. In fact, it's extremely difficult, and that's precisely why these street artists deserve so much respect. Over the last couple of years, we've featured many great street artists here at the MET.