To what extent can street art be a counter-power?

Theme: To what extent can street art be a counter-power?

Street art is an artistic movement and a mode of artistic expression. It is a strictly visual art developed in public spaces or in the street. A counter-power is a power, which is organized against an authority. Otherwise, the counter-power is a way of denouncing a political decision or an ideology.

We can ask ourselves how street art can be used as a counter-power?

First of all, we will work on its origin and its objectives. Then, we will see that it is a practice that brings people together. Finally, Street art is spreading all over the world.

Street art was born in the United States in the 1970s. Subsequently, it travelled to Europe in the early 1980s.

In fact, urban art or “street art”, is a contemporary artistic movement. Besides, it brings together all forms of art made in the street, in public places, on walls, sidewalks, streets, in parks or on monuments. So, artists use various techniques such as graffiti, stencilling, mosaic, stickers, display, collage or installations. The first tags signed Cornbread and Cool Earl appeared in Philadelphia in the late 1960s. This is how in 1969 we see the real beginnings of graffiti in New York, with Taki 183, Frank 207, Phase 2 and many others. Street art developed in France from the years 1968 with the artist Gérard Zlotykamien and Ernest Pignon-Ernest.

Street art is inspired by graphic disciplines such as comics or posters. Artists use their works to express their ideas, their points of view, their opinions...

The objective is to provoke, to represent what everyone is thinking but never say. Therefore, the street allows for more visibility. Artists can say whatever they want with their work.

Street Art can also be a way to mock or criticize official figures such as the government or the royal family. Like the representation of Theresa May turned into a Simpson character.

By conveying messages against the current power and the government, that is why we can say that art sometimes acts as a "counter-power".

Many sticker artists trade with other sticker art artists to have their stickers distributed around the world. The exchanges are sometimes arranged in person or with social media. Furthermore, this brings together a variety of artists for example designers, photographers, stencils, painters, graffiti artists, etc...

Many artists work together for specific causes such as September 11, the war, media and convergence. Artists fight for the poor, the rights of gays, women. In order to make people think and react.

At last, this art brings together artists who share the same ideas. Moreover, they can show their agreement or disagreement with the government.

Banksy with his graffiti and epigrams satirically, he promotes political views different from those in the media. On top of that, he is constantly involved in all kinds of social facts. As well, his artistic works with strong political and social messages are presented in the streets, on the walls and on the bridges of many cities around the world.

After the art of stencilling

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