[DumnEuronoumn]

There are some really amazing pieces of graffiti out there, but do you consider it art?

Take Banksy. A graffiti artist from the UK who has done some really brilliant pieces, it's not just the quality of art, but how he uses the environment and makes it a part of his picture, great stuff. If you know of any outstanding works of graffiti, then post them up and say why you think it is art or it isn't.

[VipInoLo]

I live in bristol, where he lives.. I see a lot of his stuff all the time, it's really cool I like that now he has become "famous", most of his art is kept and admired

[iNYZgxNC]

one of banksy's works is on a building directly across the street from my apartment (pic). curiously, the phonebox disappeared a few days after it went up.

[broksaksaak]

When Graffiti is Great Never....[thumbdown]

[thushioli]

I've always been a big supporter of Graffiti art. Gotta love this stuff.

[scewDeasp]

http://abduzeedo.com/awesome-light-graffiti-pictures

There some "Graffiti". Some kickazz pics there.

[NickGrass]

Never....[thumbdown]

In the wrong place yes. But some graffiti can be quite artistic. Unfortunately, for me, "graffiti" usually means this sort of mess [no]:

[casinochniks]

In the wrong place yes. But some graffiti can be quite artistic. Unfortunately, for me, "graffiti" usually means this sort of mess [no]:

I guess i will be a tight-ass, but i don't care how "artistic" it may be, it is still defacing property. There are some with real skill - if they had half a brain, they would use it in the right way,...

[NEWyear]

So is Banksy well known? I mean does everyone know who he actually is or does he have to sneak around at night doing his work and remain faceless?

[daasayse]

I guess i will be a tight-ass, but i don't care how "artistic" it may be, it is still defacing property. There are some with real skill - if they had half a brain, they would use it in the right way,...

That's what I meant by "the wrong place".

[Natashasuw]

I can barely call that graffiti, it's more... Paintings on walls.

(I guess I agree with Bungle.)

[ergyuu]

wow that one with the double yellows is a great idea, i'd love to get a decent sized image of that

[gogona]

If you ever travel on the railways near the big cities in Switzerland there is some amazing grafitti

[Attarderb]

I think graf is always art.

To be honest though, when it is on the street, it is what anthropologists might call low c [low culture].

When you take it out off the street and put it in a gallary or a book it becomes what is called high c.

You are right Banksy is good.

My general thoughts on graf:

I'm down for free expression; however I think people need to think about what they tag before they tag. I mean what you use as your canvas is half the message your sending, its not just what you spray. Sometimes tagging can be very disrespectful. Others it can be very appropriate. Yet still sometimes it is actually very meaningfull. For example some people may want to stay out of neighbourhoods in NYC with a blackhoodie painted on the wall.

I took a semiotics courses in university for fun and wrote a major paper on graf; also I used to write a bit myself... Now I mostly collect books on it, but occasionally I find myself completely taken by a piece I stumble upon in an alley downtown now and then...

Some of the best art and creativity the world will ever know is almost completely hidden.

Apparently many writers want it that way, and even when it is visible often it is so heavily coded that it can not be understood unless you are familiar with the style. A lot of graf is obvious and intended for everyone to enjoy...

Most of it though seems to me to be quick throw ups done by kids who need a creative outlet or want to make a name for themselves... I dont think there is anything wrong with that either as long as they are respectfull of the neighbourhoods they tag in.

All and all graf is kind of complex, and even more complex to study... But I guess I love it.

[BalaGire]

Graffiti = Destruction of Property

There were a couple of businesses in Los Angeles that were tagged often, so the owners put out requests for the taggers to submit "art", with the winner getting to "paint" the building.