[Field-Homework 3] Contradictory City: Graffiti

Video Essay: https://youtu.be/8q0tFaBy99I?si=Urub7_etTix_U7Ym

 

Introduction

The theme I have picked is the temporary and permanent nature of graffiti. Graffiti, as a unique art form, exhibits two characteristics that make it independent in terms of time – temporary and permanent. Although graffiti itself is difficult to preserve for a variety of reasons and will disappear with the loss of time, the meaning conveyed by graffiti works as a form of art will live on forever, and graffiti works are both a reaction to the social situation of the time, and their cultural value can also influence society. Firstly, the expression of graffiti art usually refers to artificial and intentional markings on walls, and this public nature is conducive for artists to use it to reflect some social issues or personal expression, and this kind of artistic expression can reflect the historical and social issues at a certain moment, and this characteristic reflects the permanence of graffiti, and the significance of graffiti will be left in the long river of history. On the other hand, graffiti is an art form that is on the edge of the law, legal issues, methods of preserving paint, and some radical graffiti can lead to their transient existence, therefore graffiti is also transient.

Furthermore, the combination bewteen Graffiti and urban space presents a unique dialogue. The city serves as the backdrop for graffiti art, providing countless places to create and spaces to view. Graffiti artists often choose to create in public spaces such as city walls, streets and tunnels, thus integrating their works into the daily life of the city. By interacting with urban spaces, graffiti works not only give cities a richer visual experience, but also add a unique artistic atmosphere to the city.

Therefore, I believe that graffiti’s unique coexistence of temporary and permanent qualities constitutes its unique artistic value, which makes it not only a response to a part of urban space, but also a record of urban culture and social change. In the ever-changing social environment, graffiti is also replacing the old with the new, and in the long course of time, graffiti also guides the development of society and the progress of human civilization.

 

Methodology

On our field trip, we walked through scenes from the movie Walker and strolled through the streets of Mongkok. In the process, my roommate and I discovered colorful patterns on the walls – graffiti. Graffiti art transforms urban space into a creative platform for artists, making the otherwise monotonous cityscape colorful. Through graffiti, urban space is given new meaning and life, becoming an extension of art, and at the same time making art closer to people’s lives. And in the process of thinking afterwards, I determined the theme of this time – the temporary and permanent nature of graffiti.

In order to create this themed video, I first identified the topic I wanted to discuss – the temporal dualistic qualities of graffiti. In order to enrich my knowledge base to better understand the topic I wanted to write about, I firstly chose to learn about some graffiti related backstories through some online resources, such as online libraries and video materials. Secondly, I conducted fieldwork. I made several trips to Sai Ying Pun, Sheung Wan and Central to observe and photograph the graffiti, which helped me to have a more intuitive feeling of the charm of graffiti and the values it conveys. I walked all the way along Sai Ying Pun to Central (Yee Lai Fong, Lyndhurst Terrace, Staunton Street) to feel what graffiti brings me from the streets. Finally, I conducted a random survey on the residents and tourists in the neighborhood to collect their views on graffiti, and also had an in-depth dialogue with the teachers of the Department of Fine Arts, which helped me to provide more dimensional and in-depth information. After collecting enough information, I made a video production using adobe Pr, integrating the content shot in the field, my conclusions from the interviews, as well as some necessary text descriptions and video editing to make it vivid and attention-grabbing. After the first draft, I showed the results to the residents, professors, and some of my peers that I had interviewed, and I made several rounds of revisions based on their feedback to ensure that the video conveyed the message well.

 

Conclusion

The temporary and permanent nature of graffiti constitutes a unique art form. They reflect the static and fluidity of real life in Hong Kong, the compatibility and diversity of cultures, and the reflection and expression of social issues. It is precisely because of the contrasting nature of graffiti itself that it constitutes a beautiful and diverse contradictory city.

 

Reference

Valjakka, M. (2015). 4. Urban Art Images And The Concerns Of Mainlandization In Hong Kong. In G. Bracken (Ed.), Asian Cities: Colonial to Global: Colonial to Global (pp. 95-122). Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/9789048528240-007

Li, W., & Liu, P. (2023). Evoking Nostalgia: Graffiti as Medium in Urban Space. Sage Open, 13(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231216600

Zeng Yuequn. (2019). talk about graffiti and cultural phenomena in Hong Kong. Tian Jiabing Chinese Cultural Center Communication, (3), 26-31. https://www.airitilibrary.com/Article/Detail?DocID=P20211014001-201903-202111240013-202111240013-26-31

Wang Shen, Xie Ya hui. (2010). Graffiti Boom – ubiquitous street art. Journal of Art Appreciation, 6(5), 46-53. https://doi.org/10.29479/AA.201010.0009

Chan, H.M., Ku, K.C., Li, P.K.T., Ng, H.K. and Ng, S.Y.M. (2016), “Piece by piece: understanding graffiti-writing in Hong Kong”, Social Transformations in Chinese Societies, Vol. 12 No. 1, pp. 44-62. https://doi.org/10.1108/STICS-05-2016-006

Crazy for Art in Old Town Central. Time Out Hong Kong. https://www.discoverhongkong.cn/china/explore/neighbourhoods/old-town-central/crazy-for-art.html?_gl=1*1okomrp*_ga*MjA4NjEzMzk4Mi4xNzA5OTkzMzE2*_ga_LF2X7S3NQM*MTcxNTc0NTM3Mi40LjEuMTcxNTc0NTQxOS4wLjAuMA..

The Stories Behind the Hong Kong’s Street Art. Sassy Hong Kong. https://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/explore/arts/the-stories-behind-hong-kongs-street-art.html

Graffiti Art. https://web.archive.org/web/20110429073500/http://cn.cl2000.com/history/beida/ysts/ysts15_02.shtml

Christopher DeWolf. (2017). Hong Kong Street Graffiti Trend. https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/zh_HK/inspiration/hong-kong/rise-of-hong-kong-street-art.html

Wang Shuang zhou. (2022). Peeling Paint in Hong Kong Reveals Work of Newly Relevant ‘Kong’. https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20220719/hong-kong-king-of-kowloon/zh-hant/dual/

 

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