Forget about street art as a synonym for tagging. Quite the contrary, all its visual forms – from the technical to the horticultural – are in full bloom around the world. We investigate.
By Anissa Tijani
Mural: Creation in all its strength, this is the type of art that excels at turning the heads of bystanders and catching the eyes of street photographers. Depicting scenes or characters, sometimes both, a good mural can become a real landmark, making this art form truly recognisable. Artist: KOBRA
Stencil: Often seen as an on-the-go artwork compared to a mural or a work of graffiti, the basics of the stencil technique might sound accessible to any beginner, yet they require a lot of dexterity when combining cardboard and aerosol spray in the quest to depict the fine details. Artist: C215 [Photo: rh2ox/Flickr]
Paste-Up: A photo printed on computer paper, some flour and water mixed to create a paste (that won’t leave the slightest trace when the artwork is removed), and a dose of imagination for a temporary creation – this magic recipe can give you the unique chance to be exhibited in some of the world’s most iconic buildings. Artist: JR [Photo: Wikicommons]
Carving: Who hasn’t wondered what’s behind those walls? Carving artists play with layers and surfaces, whittling at them to sculpt shapes and faces – sometimes ultra-realistically, as depicted above. Needless to say, patience and a good drill are key. Artist: Vhils [Photo: Andrew Priest/Flickr]
3D Graffiti: Confusing, often amazing, and somewhat reminiscent of the marvels of Renaissance art, 3D graffiti pushes the limits of perception in what seems to be a floating work of art. When the rain washes out the chalk, the memory of an incredible piece remains. Artist: Dave and Nick [Photo: Bill Hunt/Flickr]
Light Projections: Performing temporary art by “painting” with lights without leaving a trace: this is the work of street artist Philippe Echaroux, who subtly mixes graffiti and light through his photographs, where reality sometimes meets fiction. Each and every work highlights our natural surroundings in a striking way. [Photo: Philippe Echaroux]
Stickers: Better known as mini-format advertising and kindergarten rewards, the modest sticker can deliver other messages, whether textual or visual. From the subway to electrical boxes and street signs, they can be displayed anywhere, making you raise your head (or eyebrows) at every street corner. Artist: Clet [Photo: Project-128/Flickr]
Sculpture: Just as graffiti artists often attempt to bring their creativity outside the usual walls, sculptors – sometimes ones with renowned reputations – keep on leaving concrete marks on their cities, making viewers question their true meaning. Artist: David Cérny [Photo: Chris Waits/Flickr]
Yarn Bombing: The yarn revolution, like every revolution, started with a movement – and a leader. Here, it was textile artist Magda Sayeg who had the genius idea of using yarn rather than paint to embellish her daily surroundings. The result is an explosion of colours, a Holi festival of wool. [Photo: Joe Poland/Flickr]
Pixel Art: We’ve been used to seeing the invaders landing on our TV screens since the ‘60s, but turns out they’ve also been teeming on our streets since the ‘90s. Spotting the mosaic tiles on the corners of Parisian avenues is lucky, tracking them down is a real treasure hunt. Sometimes, you even end up finding a surprising pixel art installation. Artists: Invader, Kelly Goller
Light Painting: Not long ago, Picasso experienced it during a visit with photographer Mili. Armed with his light pen, he drew centaurs and other figures, captured in the beautiful motion of light. Today, more and more photographers are trying to catch images in moving light sources at night. Case in point: Cenci Goepel and Jens Warnecke connecting light to nature in all its forms, creating striking pictures.
Guerilla Gardening: Taking a neglected space and transforming it into a better place – in the name of the environment – is certainly a thoughtful initiative. This “flower power”, sometimes seen as urban activism, has a few more tricks up its sleeve to make the world’s cities and their surroundings pretty and green.
Street/Art Installation: Different from its cousins depicted on walls, this art form uses 3D objects and other creative stratagems to play with our minds. Short-lived or permanent, it’s up to the artist, and often, the city, to leave the street installation as it is.
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