What's the Difference Between 'Street Art' and Graffiti?

More often than not, the cities we find ourselves exploring are dull and the same colour, street after street.

Yes, the architectural value may be there, but the majority of young people aren’t simply in awe of the build of an old clock tower; they crave the burst of colourful pattern and deep meaning behind a piece of art.

Artists, most anonymous, display their lives, stories, emotions and dreams on these walls. Their hearts are thrown on the street for everyone to see.

Although the Victorian Government believed ‘tagging’ needed to be a punishable offence and brought in the Graffiti Prevention Act in 2007, artists, taggers and protesters disagreed, even spiking the vandalism 57 per cent (an increase of 4,400 reports per year to 6,900).

Many displays, however, are professional; photographed, posted, liked, shared and re-produced by tourists, locals, young and old people alike. The art made by these talented individuals is beautiful and passers-by are often surprised when they turn a corner and are face to face with a two-storey picture.

Having these works of art and individual designs by various artists in our line of sight as we walk by brings a sense of joy and makes us feel like we are a part of something. We stop and gaze in awe of the wall, filled from top to bottom with inspiring messages, powerful sayings and even some political views. Painting, gluing and spraying onto these walls is a way of expressing beliefs and current happenings in the world; it’s an outlet of sorts. Every piece has a history and meaning behind it, whether for the individual artist or for the viewers.

Should we consider this art, or just graffiti? Well, I guess it just comes down to individual opinion and attitudes towards these amazing displays.

Graffiti is often the uglier version of this; tagging and symbols. This type of graffiti is unwanted and expensive for the government to remove, using taxpayers' money. It’s even less amusing when the ‘artists’ attack trains, fences and shops. Whereas, the street art displays on Hosier Lane in Melbourne, for instance, is craved, photographed and talked about. It is ever-changing, with consistent improvements and more than two thousand hashtags and checked in locations on Instagram.

More and more street art is popping up around cities, changing individuals’ perceptions of the concept, bringing to life the walls that were once dull and ultimately sad.

But taggers, please, leave this to the wonderful artists who embrace the streets and use their city as a canvas for new designs and beautiful displays. Perhaps one day, there won’t be a wall untouched and our grey cities will become a rainbow of colour for everyone to see.

Jess Pabian is one of Student Edge’s student contributors. See more student contributions here.

Photo: Jess Pabian