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GRAFFITI: ART OR VANDALISM?When Brentwood gallery owner John Brandler was faced with a bill to clean his Coptfold Road premises of its graffiti, he declined to pay because to him it was art. John was approached after a new graffiti removal scheme was piloted by Brentwood Borough Council. Graffiti on homes is cleaned off for free, while businesses such as John’s are asked to pay £300 for the service. If the police catch the graffitist responsible, he or she removes the ‘taggings’ as they are called. A 15-year-old has already been made to clear up 18 of his graffiti designs round Pilgrims Hatch bearing his signature tag ‘Sertz’. But to John they are art because of the effort which goes into them, often enhancing the surface they are on. Where this is not the case, John is happy to concede it’s vandalism rather than art and criminal damage proceedings should follow. He trades in art by graffitists such as Banksy, who originates from Bristol but is now active in the capital. Banksy’s latest spray-painted stencil is an anti-capitalist message on a bank in Finsbury, North London. In the US Banksy’s work has fetched over £200,000. During the graffiti: art or vandalism? debate on Phoenix FM on May 19, John chose music including Foreigner, Elton John and Status Quo. Article by Oliver Rowe, 20 May 2007 |
05/07 Linkin Park 12/07 Super Furry Animals 19/07 U2 26/07 Madonna 02/08 Coldplay 09/08 Robbie Williams 16/08 blink-182 23/08 Rolling Stones 30/08 Placebo All times UK. |