Graffiti Is Art

Looking through my RSS feeder, I came across an interesting article from Rolling Stones website. This article talks about how a graffiti crew from South Bronx is suing Jennifer Lopez and Fiat because of copyright infringement. If you haven’t seen the commercial, check it out here. The dispute is over the graffiti murals that are shown throughout the commercial. It appears that graffiti artwork is trying to take an important step in becoming a more legitimate form.

The plaintiffs, the TATS Cru, claim that Fiat’s commercial blatantly uses their artwork throughout the video. If the paintings were sanctioned work by the building’s owner, then I would have to agree with their argument. Typically, graffiti work is done underground and behind the scenes. Only until recently has it started to get a bit more glorified. Ever since Banksy blew up, graffiti work has gotten bolder. I have been to hip-hop shows where they have blank walls for people to tag. What was once viewed as a brazen form of rebellion is gaining ground as true art form and is even encouraged.

I hope that this suit is handled properly and that these murals are viewed as a legitimate form of artwork and self-expression. Even if they were not sanctioned pieces, they still add to the culture of the Bronx and how that area expresses itself. It could be viewed as a branding dispute as well. TATS Cru has helped develop an atmosphere in that area and to not show these artists the proper respect, well, that’s just wrong. There are some very talented artists out there and many of them are from low-income households. If more attention can be shown on graffiti work, only positives can come out of it. This could pave the way for troubled teens and others to find a creative avenue for venting. Many kids who would have otherwise been performing illegal acts are now benefitting the neighborhood by spreading their work across a city that needs a little brightening up. Who knows, maybe this could spread to more cities and show that graffiti murals have a place in city landscape and truly add to its spirit.