Why I Like Street Art
by Richard ~ August 8th, 2009. Filed under: Questions.I’m always looking for ways to expand people’s understanding of what Israel is all about, introducing you to the Real Israel, behind what I call the “CNN curtain” on the lives of real people there.
My pal Sarah Peguine, who writes a great blog about the intriguing art scene in Tel Aviv, has written a post about why she loves street art, and what it all means, here:
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People often ask me, “why are you so obsessed with street art?” or “Do you make street art?” The answer is no, I just admire it, look for it, and look at it. It is part of my daily life here in Tel Aviv. In fact it enhances my day to day experiences. When I go to the grocery shop for example, I am always surprised to see on my way a new piece of art decorating buildings, bins, pavements, light spots, doors and so on.
I also enjoy thinking about the link between the notion of “time” and street art. I find it so fascinating that street art is ephemeral, often repetitive, and that it keeps changing like most of our life experiences. In the past, I have written a post about this relation:
“The possible link between time and street art came to me when I was walking (actually cycling…) around Tel Aviv. Everyday, I see plenty of the same images and graffiti across town and I know that they are bound to be destroyed, removed or replaced at some point. We could perhaps suggest that repetition helps to overcome the images’ ephemeral nature. Maybe, because of all of these reasons, some artists seem to have chosen to record what can be read as the time of the day, next to their images (this is just my own interpretation), like in these two cases:”
Finally, it is the message behind those paintings that makes me curious and obsessed with street art.
Is it political?
Ironic?
Simply decorative?
Where did the artists find their inspiration from? What are WE the viewers, the inhabitants of this city suppose to see and understand from this piece of art. Lastly, can it be considered as art?
For me, it is most definitely art. Because it affects us, it brings all these questions to the fore, it moves us, and at the end of the day, or at the end of the walk to the grocery shop, it can change our mood, our perception of Tel Aviv and even our way of seeing the world.
More information:
Favorite street artists in Tel Aviv:
Klone: http://www.flickr.com/photos/klone/
Ame72: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ame72
INSPIRE: http://www.idiotthewise.com/
Know Hope: http://www.thisislimbo.com/
Tel Aviv Street Art blog: http://www.telavivstreetart.blogspot.com/
Tel Aviv street art Flickr group:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/telavivstreetart/pool/29088723@N00/
Wine and street art:
http://www.montereyherald.com/food/ci_12559416?nclick_check=1
August 9th, 2009 at 6:44 am
Hang on…these are generalisations and platitudes about street art anywhere. They are not specific to Tel Aviv in any way. Why don’t you give your opinions? What about Banksy’s contributions in that country? Any comments. Israel is a very charged place. What have graffiti artists done to reflect that? And how do they, if at all, show us more than the “CNN curtain?”
August 10th, 2009 at 7:54 am
Hang on… this was meant to be a post that gives a general idea why I like street art- hence the generalizations. Not everything that you read about Israel needs to be about the “charged” political background here. You are reading a blog about wine, it is not a blog about politics. The point was to give my view on MY daily (and according to you “flat”) life.
August 19th, 2009 at 1:03 am
Well at least you are honest Sarah and acknowledge that you have no particular insight in to the Tel Aviv street art scene. And actually wine can be as political as you like – whether its about negotiating access to EU or US markets, government duties on wine, remuneration for labour in the wine industry or indeed the vexing question of land reform in wine areas ( eg in South Africa). But I guess if you were to write why you like wine, it would be that you like the taste?
August 19th, 2009 at 1:17 am
I like the term CNN curtain and not only exclusively that. Many documentaries of Israel that have been aired in Europe for instance, are clearly behind the very curtain.
And to state that Banksy isn’t political or even to wonder if it is, is a bit naive. Graffiti is one of those forms in modern art, that was definitely ignited by various social collisions. If we discuss the society of Israel, we can’t really skip politics. Israel is all about politics.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:23 am
Great concept!
I also live inTel Aviv and cannot get enough of the street art. So much is outt here if we just remain open to it!
Any word on why it is usually anonymous?
September 15th, 2009 at 6:01 am
SR, yours must be a difficult life if even wine only brings political associations.
Personally, having seen tens of films and hundreds of other works that speak about Israel in political terms I am happy to see other perspectives. Having been to Israel, I discovered to my surprise that especially in Tel Aviv a lot of people lead what I consider “normal lives”. You can judge that as you wish, but that is another issue.
But if you have a different point of view, I’m sure many people would love to read about it – why don’t you go to Israel and write about it yourself?
(This does not mean I don’t have an interest in what has been happening in Israel in terms of politics and culture!)
October 1st, 2009 at 9:59 am
Thank you all for your comments!