I agree 100%. But I wouldn’t hold you breath waiting for a display of humility.
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Except these aren’t entirely her words. One panel appears to be a misquote from a Tupac lyric:
“Hahaha, that’s right
I know it seem hard sometimes
But uh, remember one thing
Through every dark night, there’s a bright day after that
So no matter how hard it get
Stick your chest out, keep your head up, and handle it!”
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/2pac/meagainsttheworld.html
But what really worries me is where next? She says she’s already found her next “spot” aka target.
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Well we have (a) the evidence, then there is (b) the confession. One would hope that even our local plod could connect A and B together and do something to spare us any more of this sort of thing. However, I am not holding my breath on that one either.
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It won’t happen and even if it does it will just give her publicity. Maybe a more honest daub would be: “It’s all about me”.
I have nothing against her work per se. It’s not to my taste, but as a young teenager I admit to having posters with quotes on them from things like The Prophet. But I did no damage to anything other than by sellotape damage to my Dad’s paintwork in my bedroom.
But she sells on Etsy and loads of other places. She really doesn’t need to behave like every other tagger that doesn’t have her business acumen.
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My first visit to the top of One Tree Hill was only a couple of weeks ago. Lovely, if not a bit crowded.
From an aesthetic perspective her work improves greatly on the tags underneath with messages as relevant today as it would have been during WW2 posters or graffiti. Do I like the execution of the pieces? Not wholly. But when I take a walk up there this afternoon for my health break I’ll appreciate it more than then the tags underneath it.
You’d be suprised how much of London’s loved urban art pieces aren’t. Even many of our loved local street artists still seek blank canvasses without permission. Some also make a decent living out of it with commissions. But those commissions would never have come if they had not explored their art form, and promoted their brand through this type of work. Even the most famous British street artist working today never seeks permission for his art. But then again, Southwark Council probably won’t be selling it, or if they did achieve the price of an uncommissioned Banksy.
Now we’ve heard both sides of the argument, an obligatory straw poll about this new art/graffiti
- Love it
- Like it
- Don’t feel strongly
- Dislike it
- Hate it
0 voters
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On the topic of street art, there is an ongoing effort to create a School of Muralism (read street art) right here in Lewisham and in association with Goldsmiths. They are raising funds to start this and are so close to reaching their target.
If anyone knows where this one is let me know. I’ve enjoyed photographing the many supportive urban art that is popping up all over the place and am in desperate need of new routes for walks.
Perhaps ask the excellent @Love_SE4 on Twitter?
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Tommy I hope you’re right , Penge and Sydenham seem to more outbreaks popping up . There always seems to be someone making you the bad guy for objecting . I really hate the post-Scarman look - you never see it in places that are well looked after and broadly law-abiding . Wonder why?
Cheers Nigel
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I’m not a fan of any graffiti \ street art in the location on One Tree Hill, I’d be happier if it could all be painted over again which IMO would suite the surroundings much more.
It is at least a positive message, I’ll give the person that.
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I’ve never understood this thing about Tupac. Maybe it’s just me and I’ve missed something, but did he ever even apologise for the sexual abuse he was jailed for and all those violent lyrics? As I said, maybe I’m just not across it all. But whatever the words, whoever is doing it, however skillful or not, I just think it’s wrong to do this graffiti/street art or fart or whatever people choose to call it without permission of the owner or guardian. Taste is subjective and probably the people whose tags were painted over valued their stuff as much as Harky values her stuff.
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I don’t know, her company paid dividends of £28k last year, mainly to her, which isn’t too bad going in itself.
I think Banksy gets away with it because he has a much better sense of location, originality and wit and would be unlikely to daub plagiarised Tupac lyrics at a historic nature spot.
Enjoy your walk later - it’s a lovely day.
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On the contrary, I think you have understood this thing about Tupac all too well marymck.
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My comments there were not specific. But great to hear she makes a living from her art.
Art is subjective and some artists will attract more love than others. Yours is a good example of much public debate on public art often split between “I don’t like that, get rid of it” and “That’s quite good, it should stay.” I’m also minded that true street art (not commissioned) is meant to be transient.
I wouldn’t get too mired down in accusations of plagiarising… even Banksy copies other artists. Though if that was a direct quote it would have been best to attribute it rather than claim “my words”. In that context you are right, though I think I know what she meant.
No, I think it’s plagiarism without due credit or improvement.
“Go a little bit out of your depth. And when you don’t feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom, you’re just” / “about in the right place to do something exciting.”, which is credited to Harkiran in the first pictures, is a Bowie quote for example.
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I don’t know what I find more depressing about graffiti: the lack of respect for place or the lack of imagination and originality.
These aren’t Banksy. They predate Banksy. They’re Blek le Rat. He in turn was “inspired” by spray painting vandals who made such a horror of the 1970s New York subways. Le Rat went on to spray paint his derivative “art” on the fabric of UNESCO World Heritage Site Volubilis. There’s not a lot of respect or the sense of feeling for place that I would have hoped for in an “artist” in some of these people.
It all seems to be about who is more clever at monetising. It’s way beyond making a living. I find it really sad.
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You’re getting close to presenting an art history. Blek le Rat has been Banksy’s inspiration and is often acknowledged when he is interviewed.
With respect to all, surely this discussion of art versus graffiti and Banksy versus Micky Mouse or whoever he is called, is what makes the application of paint without permission so wrong .
If someone is play deafening music next door it matters little whether it’s Bartok. (it never is ) or Bieber M - fact is nobody chose to experience it , just the person who’s playing it, or this case. spraying it . I don’t see how this risk goes away if we simply allow anyone with the means and motivation to just do it . Our strategy seems to be " I hope too many people don’t do it ".
I’m sorry if that’s “running your mouth on peoples feeds” .
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I’m reminded of the battle between Mobstr and Tower Hamlets council up on Fish Island:
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