Fase at Planet Prozess and Why Only North America Hates Graffiti

Check out this awesome projection production by Fase at Planet Prozess in Berlin:



Planet Prozess is a huge street art exhibition held in Berlin. Hundreds of artists show up to collaborate and display their artistic talents. I admire street artists because it seems like they're always doing something new and original, like the piece above. Street art is great because of the incorporation of so many elements, and then the destruction of the barrier that separates artist from onlooker by utilizing everyday buildings and surroundings. Banksy is making millions of dollars doing stencil graffiti, and his pieces are actually protected by the British government. Banksy is arguably the next Andy Warhol. But would his graffiti be welcomed on American walls?

Overseas in such places as Germany, Spain, and the U.K. graffiti is looked at a bit differently than the general consensus here in North America. Large scale open exhibitions where the continent's greatest graffiti artist come together to celebrate and share their art are often held and attended. While the overseas nation's governments still view graffiti as vandalism and a detrimental to society, the public and critics alike often maintain the view that well done graffiti is indeed art. Thankfully this is even happening in America, as the Brooklyn Museum has hosted a graffiti artist gallery in the past. Is this the beginning of a reformation for the world of United States graffiti, or will artists still be doomed to see their masterpieces buffed to oblivion?

I believe if graffiti is going to be considered art by the American public, then it obviously needs to be artfully done. Bombing an entire train may get you street cred, but it's not going to earn you culture cred. So to all you aerosol/sticker/ink artists out there, keep it tasteful and always push yourself as an artist.