Urban Art

Urban Art (street art, in English) refers to art found in urban environments, whether through interventions, artistic performances, graffiti, among others. Note that this public artistic expression that interacts with human beings is found where the average citizen can come across the cultural diversity that urban centers house, without necessarily having gone to a cultural center. In effect, Urban Art represents the encounter of life with art, or rather, the fusion of both.

Origin of Urban Art

This type of artistic expression spread throughout the world, emerged in the United States in the 1970s, and has a dynamic and ephemeral character, which can be immortalized by photography.

However, scholars claim that this art dates back to very ancient times, since the Greeks and Romans already transmitted messages through the city streets and had many artists in urban centers (music, theater, dance).

The central proposition of urban art is precisely to move away from the so-called “consecrated” places, that is, places intended for artistic exhibitions and presentations (cultural facilities: theaters, cinemas, libraries, museums), to give visibility to everyday art, spread throughout the streets. The themes used by street artists are quite diverse, however, many works are based on social, political and economic criticism.

It is important to analyze the growth of urban art in recent times, so that it has come to be seen as a very important “cultural value” for minorities who live in urban centers and are eager to show their art.

Thus, these popular manifestations allow the encounter with independent art, although many street artists have become renowned worldwide, recognized by the media, industry and various mass media.

Urban Art in Brazil

In Brazil, street art emerged in the 1970s, more precisely with the graffiti works on the walls of the city of São Paulo. Interestingly, it emerged at a turbulent time in the country's history, with the advent of the Military Dictatorship.

Note that at first it was a marginalized art form, however, it has acquired a prominent position in the art market, with several artists from the country becoming renowned around the world. Even though the work of street artists is not recognized by many, it is important to highlight the importance and relevance of the artist to society.

In the meantime, it is important to note that many problems are faced by street artists, such as the prohibition of artistic manifestations in public places. However, according to article 5 of the Constitution of our country, every citizen is free to express themselves artistically:

“Art. 5º All are equal before the law, without distinction of any nature, guaranteeing Brazilians and foreigners residing in the country the inviolability of the right to life, liberty, equality, security and property, under the following terms:

IV – the expression of thought is free, and anonymity is prohibited;

IX – the expression of intellectual, artistic, scientific and communication activities is free, regardless of censorship or license;”

On this subject, some laws were introduced in Brazilian cities with the aim of freeing up the streets, so that artists could work and present their work. Thus, on July 19, 2011, Decree No. 52,504 regulated the practice of art on public roads in the city of São Paulo, and Law No. 10,277/11, through Decree No. 14,589, regulated these manifestations in the capital of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte.
Examples of Urban Art

Street artists use several techniques, although the intervention “graffiti” is the one most associated with the theme of street art. Below are some examples of urban art.

Graffiti: stylized drawings usually made with spray paint on the walls of buildings, tunnels, and streets. There are many graffiti techniques and currently 3D works are attracting the attention of critics.

Stencil: similar to graffiti, this type of technique uses cut-out paper as a template and spray paint to fix the illustrations and drawings on streets, posts, and walls.
Poems: any type of literary expression that appears in the urban environment, whether on benches, walls, or posts.
Stickers and Collages: called “sticker art”, this type of art uses stickers to be applied around the city.
Posters: This type of urban intervention is very common, also called “sticker posters”, where posters (paper and glue) are fixed around the city, whether on posts, squares, or buildings, either hand-made or printed.
Living Statues: often found in large cities as a form of tourist entertainment, living statues perform important work with their bodies, which remain static for a long time, making small movements. They are usually painted and characterized.
Performances: these street performances can be theatrical, musical, or circus-like (jugglers, clowns, etc.), and can be solo or group work.
Installations: there are numerous types of artistic installations as examples of street art, whether they are objects or different materials, with the aim of provoking a change in the existing scenario.
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