Tuesday, February 19, 2013

GRAFFITI IN PARIS AND SWTIZERLAND

One of the unusual things that caught my attention as soon as I arrived in Paris was SEEING SO MANY GRAFFITI ALL AROUND!

I was not expecting to see it in all walls, whether at the highway, trains, subway boxcars, train stations, subways, tunnels, bridges and even in the rooftops of dilapidated buildings. 

I guess, in my mind I was associating Paris with the Masters in the field of Arts. Until someone told me that Graffiti is a wild expression of Art itself!

Here is what I gathered about Graffiti from Wikipedia:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graffiti

Graffiti (singular: graffito; the plural is used as a mass noun. Also known asGraff) is writing or drawings that have been scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place.[1] Stickers and other adhesives are not considered graffiti.[citation needed] Graffiti ranges from simple written words to elaborate wall paintings, and it has existed since ancient times, with examples dating back to Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and the Roman Empire.[2]
In modern times, paint, particularly spray paint, and marker pens have become the most commonly used graffiti materials. In most countries, marking or painting property without the property owner's consent is considered defacement and vandalism, which is a punishable crime.
Graffiti also may express underlying social and political messages and a whole genre of artistic expression is based upon spray paint graffiti styles. Within hip hop culture, graffiti has evolved alongside hip hop music, b-boying, and other elements.[3] Unrelated to hip-hop graffiti, gangs use their own form of graffiti to mark territory or to serve as an indicator of gang-related activities.
Controversies that surround graffiti continue to create disagreement amongst city officials, law enforcement, and writers who wish to display and appreciate work in public locations. There are many different types and styles of graffiti and it is a rapidly developing art form whose value is highly contested and reviled by many authorities while also subject to protection, sometimes within the same jurisdiction.

I'd like to share some of the graffiti that I randomly took photos of...

Just at the walls along the highway from the Airport to Paris...

At buildings, especially old buildings even at the topmost part of the place... you cannot imagine why they would climb up the highest point just to express themselves!
At bridges...
 At the train stations...
Just as soon as we went out of the train station...
In fact, even in the deepest and darkest part of the subways, which I cannot take pictures of, there are murals of them. One would wonder about their safety while painting the walls.

I would also like to share the photos of the graffiti as viewed from the train window when we left from Gare De Lyon railway station in Paris on the way to Zurich, Switzerland...






These are some of the insights I learned about graffiti...
*    Graffiti is the plural of graffito!
*   There are many street artists and some of them have gained popularity as graffiti artists.
* I always thought this was considered as Vandalism, but in other cultures, they are considered as expressions of Art.
*    The authorities also have controversies on how to deal with graffiti...
*    Some graffiti just appear as random writings but there are other graffiti which have leveled up as artworks!

Soon, I will also share other graffiti in other places in the world!!!

38 comments:

  1. Here, if we saw such in different walls, it was considered as vandalism.

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  2. They are vandalism here in our country, because they were made ramdomly and basically without the sense of art.

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  3. I saw similar styles of graffiti in Bacolod, but yes we label them as vandalism. I like your adventures. I wish I can do the same. =)

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  4. Ang dami! Most of them are pretty good, though. I wonder how they were able to do graffiti on a bridge!

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  5. I saw a document on this while channel surfing and yes, it was considered art in some countries.

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  6. parang vandalism lang dito sa atin ano? I have noticed you've been into different countries na pala.. I wish I could be like you in the future....:-)

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  7. Graffiti vs vandalism? I suppose the beauty is truly in the eyes of the beholder.

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  8. i prefer to have this one rather than the posters of candidates this coming election.

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  9. I remember when I was in College. There's a freedom wall in our University where anyone can post their sentiments.

    Mommy Maye

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  10. I was just explaining to my little boy what graffiti is while on the way to school this morning. Actually there are walls here in Baguio covered by graffiti too, but some are artistically done, made by artists like Kidlat Tahimik and the Baguio Artists Group. There was a time they even painted sidewalks and made art using broken glass (on the sidewalk too)

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  11. I have mixed feelings about graffiti as well. How can you differentiate them from vandalism? Thanks for sharing about it being the plural of graffito by the way. Never knew that.

    -Jemm
    http://thedracoprincess.blogspot.com

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  12. agree, here in our country graffiti is viewed as vandal because of the form and can't figure out the meaning; mas maganda kung may clear message like the one in baguo as described by marie

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  13. There are graffiti that are artfully done and you really stop and appreciate the beauty...then there are some that are just purely mess that leaves you shaking your head and have the compulsion to whitewash the surface.

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  14. This is certainly considered vandalism here in Singapore too but there are certain walls which they are allowed on and the drawings can be quite artistic.

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  15. I hate vandalism but the graffiti that you featured are quite artful

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  16. Some graffiti are really nice works of art and improves the look of a place but some are just doings of bored teenagers with nothing to do.

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  17. maybe that type of graffiti i might be able to tolerate... but not the unsightly frat names or "boy <3 girl" writings we commonly see in the philippines or the messy political campaign posters

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  18. A good idea, let me say, vandalism in a form of art. At least they will be able to express themselves.

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  19. for me, there's this aesthetic way of vandalism to be consider it an art. It also depends on where and how you execute it. Just be mindful of the place also. Not all places can be used just to write on anything.

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  20. Sa France, Switzerland Graffiti sa Pilipinas Gang Member's hand writing!=) But I guess art does not choose where it settles.

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  21. Wow. how i wish I can go to Paris too to see it in person.. hehe :)

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  22. I do believe that graffiti is a kind of art. But that depends on it's aesthetic quality. But also, beauty is in the eye of the beholder so I guess it depends pa rin sa person.

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  23. They were wonderfully done.I wouldnt count them as vandalism as well.ang gaganda eh.

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  24. ganda naman they can express their art kahit saan.

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  25. Hi there! That's a lot in Paris ha! And I envy you for being able to travel there already. Anyway, graffiti can actually be controlled if the government would recognize the artists and encourage them to paint on some walls in the metro. Instead of making an art of just about anything, there could be theme like "Filipino Heroes" or "Proud to be a Filipino" There are some countries who had done this. It's beautiful. :)

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  26. Looks like vandalism to me. Pero artistic. We just don't what the words meant... ano kaya?

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  27. My mother will be horrified by the sight. I'd be gawking.

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  28. i love grafitti but it depends, some grafitti kase are just too dirty to look at and some naman are very artistic.

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  29. This is an interesting read and ice pictures of graffiti, too. I also used to think that graffiti is a sort of vandalism and I personally dislike it. I never knew that is is being considered as an expression of art in other countries.

    Thanks for sharing!

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  30. The husband of a friend is a known graffiti maker in Zubic, and I admire his creativity. Grabe galing! A plain wall can turn out to be exciting after painting. Awesomeness :)

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  31. Graffiti decorations seems like some sort of becoming a culture for other parts or countries around the globe. UK and US do have lots of graffiti decors at their streets.

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  32. It's vandalism and it's not good but I like it. :)

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  33. I call it VandArt and it has become an accepted art form in NY. However, we don't have the walls and trains covered with it like we did back in the 80s... It has gone the way of galleries.. ;-)

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  34. You're so blessed to have traveled the whole world! Thank you for sharing these pics parang nag travel na rin kame. Iba ang graffiti nila in fairness.. pero ung iba parang dito lng sa pinas

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  35. I agree, sis. These graffiti are pieces of art itself. :)

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  36. Oh these are awesome graffitis! :)

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  37. There is no art to this, no study, no beauty. It is defamation, attention seeking, and deplorable. It is a blight on the world. Too bad they aren't putting the same effort into beautifying their country, cleaning, making things whole and new. I don't see how the Perfumerie is be in any way helped by the "art" all over the front of their building. They should be made to scrub it off, and that would stop this foolishness.

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  38. There is no art to this, no study, no beauty. It is defamation, attention seeking, and deplorable. It is a blight on the world. Too bad they aren't putting the same effort into beautifying their country, cleaning, making things whole and new. I don't see how the Perfumerie is be in any way helped by the "art" all over the front of their building. They should be made to scrub it off, and that would stop this foolishness.

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