On this whole notion of the freedom of the individual to use his spraycan wherever and whenever...

Who defines the notion of the canvas? Is the surface that is sprayed genuinely a blank canvas or is it already an artwork in itself? Is a wall a wall or an existing artwork?

If someone has spent time painting the outside wall of their house, is this not in a sense a work of art?

If a wall is bare brick, is that wall a blank canvas or an exhibition of the art of bricklaying? etc etc etc.

Does the spraypainter consider this when they are wielding their cans so expertly? Does the spraypainter consider the location (as Banksy would appear to) when he rips off the cap and palnts his first daub?

Because surely even to the lovers of graffitit art has the right to impose itself over existing art. This is surely vandalism by any other name.


These are all important elements in squaring the debate about whether these fine upstanding fellows are indeed artists - or just urban pillagers posing as artists.

Not that I care of course.

Oh and if anyone has the time, camera and inclination I recommend a walk around the old Panathinaikos stadium on Leoforos Alexandros. Some interesting stuff there mixed in with basic attempts to spell.

Barney

Photos: Thanks to Evi