The Benefits of Street Art
Welcome back to the kARTwe Kronicles. This blog is designed to give you bite-size and timely updates on the development and evolution of the kARTwe Project. If you are new to this blog, please check out my introduction to and explanation of the objectives and context of the kARTwe Project HERE
Many people say to me “Why are you teaching them to do art. Is that not insensitive? Surely, they have more pressing needs, like food and housing.” I remain patient even though this conversation irritates me profoundly. It presupposes that because people are poor, they don’t need beauty and creativity. This is untrue at both a personal level and at a community level. In this blog I will present 7 benefits of Street Art.
Street Art is Freedom
Art is about expression, creativity, freedom, asking and raising questions, protesting, analysing, and even beautifying. A way to step beyond convention. There’s freedom with putting work in the street. Street art is a remarkably diverse form of expression for people from all over the world. There are street artists in nearly every country in the world who are influenced and inspired by a multitude of cultures and styles. This has resulted in a wide and diverse body of urban or street art found all over the world.
Mystery and Intrigue
With the invention of Instagram, and similar platforms, it is now easier than ever to find artists’ official profiles and learn more about their work and why they do what they do. However, a lot of street artists prefer to remain anonymous or use aliases for both privacy and legal reasons. There are also still artists who do not even tag their work, so the intrigue and mystery live on.
Social Statements
Graffiti and street art have always had a history of being influenced by the present social issues. A lot of people have painted on the walls and buildings in their cities as a form of anonymous protest or social commentary.
Some political statements are quite controversial; scrawled illegally and boldly in various countries and for various reasons. When people feel they have no power or influence but want to express their anger, hatred or defiance towards political injustice, this kind of art happens. But it is still a peaceful kind of protest.
Colourful Surroundings = Happier People
Art in the street makes people happy and can cheer them up. Street art makes their day and their commute more interesting and adds character to what would otherwise just be grey and boring. Art reminds people to feel alive. It is there to beautify a space. It wakes people up, inspires and motivates them. And sometimes it can make people think.
It may have some broader social commentary or just be there to bring some chaos to the establishment. Street art takes the ‘normal’ and makes it a thousand times more interesting. Even if you live in poverty, there is something about bright colours and beautiful art that seems to fill the area with a contagious, buoyant optimism.
Sense of Community
Street art is important to keep urban areas and informal settlements, and their residents energized and inspired. In some areas artists and building owners come together to foster the creation of artwork that can be viewed as beautifying and reviving a city, rather than destroying it.
In some cities, independent murals are designed and implemented by artists with a personal connection to the neighbourhood. They will have the permission of the building owner. This relationship can then help develop positive interactions between businesses and members of their community. It is a very cost-effective way, both to keep surfaces free from vandalism, and to create visual cues to residents that the place they call home is desirable.
Street Art and its Transformative Capability
With the power of imagination and a wall as their blank canvas, street artists question, fight, and rebel against unacceptable norms of the society. They can influence thousands of people, whether it is for the greater good or expressing personal opinions. Street art as a tool possesses transformative powers, it transforms the object– definitely, but it also impacts communities.
For the poverty-stricken, street art acts as a tool to express their thoughts and communicate their stories to the world. Street art has also been used to spread the health care message related to covid. It can be used similarly for other public education messages.
The Street’s Newfound Character
These pretty, funky visuals are pleasing to the eyes but that is not the only reason why the artists painstakingly craft these masterpieces. Almost every piece of street art adds a definitive touch to the community residing there. The beautiful street art helps communities establish their identity and portray their essence in front of thousands of commuters.
The vibrant, often overlooked, vibe of communities is now put in front of the world in a way impossible to ignore. Its public and visible nature are what makes street art stand out as a transformation tool. Every bystander sees it, in contrast to art museums, where people pay for a ticket, street art has no charge. Through this type of art, the public becomes free to participate in the artwork.
Many communities globally are using street art to voice their opinion and transform the thinking of the entire community.
One person cannot change the world
but YOU can change the world for one person.