The origin of graffiti
Graffiti, originating from the word graffito in Italian, translating to scratch, is a term used to describe street and public art markings. Ancient civilizations such as ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt used to engage in graffiti through marking their writings on walls. Whether it was a political message or a signature, one cannot deny the simple gesture of leaving a mark of remembrance for humans that date back to our ancestors.
How old is Graffiti?
Graffiti is a reflection of diverse cultures, a visual language that transcends boundaries. It's a melting pot of styles and influences, creating a unique fusion that resonates with the cultural diversity of the streets. In this way, graffiti becomes a tool for cultural preservation, an art form that embraces and celebrates the multiplicity of our world.
Graffiti has a long history and can be traced back to ancient civilizations. The practice of inscribing or drawing on walls and surfaces has been a part of human expression for thousands of years. Here are some of our ancestors who made sure to leave a mark in this world:
- Ancient Civilizations: Graffiti-like markings have been found in ancient civilizations, including Rome, Pompeii, and Egypt. In Pompeii, for example, there are inscriptions and drawings on the walls of buildings that date back to the first century AD.
- Cave Paintings: Some consider prehistoric cave paintings, such as those found in places like Lascaux in France, to be a form of ancient graffiti. These paintings, created thousands of years ago, were a means of artistic expression by early humans. An interesting piece would be the Cueva De Las Manos, or the cave of hands that dates back to the paleoindians. One can only fathom that this could be one of our ancestors, laying their footprint on this earth thousands of years ago.Mayan and Aztec Cultures: The ancient
- Mayan and Aztec civilizations in Central America also left behind graffiti-like markings on structures, showcasing their visual communication.
What is Graffiti looking like today?
Today, graffiti is primarily used for political statements and artistic murals, often commissioned by municipalities to add an artistic touch to the streets of their city.
This graffiti represents the victims of the beirut blast in 2020. The graffiti artists are conveying their faces to remember them, after 4 years of the tragedy that occurred to beirut.
This mural represents the pandemic and its struggles, where people were obliged to wear a mask to better contain the COVID 19 virus that has spread worldwide. As displayed, the message behind this mural was to always remember the smiles beneath the mask, all while trying to communicate through a string and a can.
While graffiti has been existing all throughout history, it is important to remember the innovative nature of these artists, who chose to risk getting arrested for displaying such meaningful messages. Indeed, these artists were simply putting their mark on the world to better enhance our perception and have us stop every once and then to look around, admire their work amidst heavy traffic or a rainy day. Those serve as a reminder that perspective is everything that what unites us is our innate instinct to leave a mark in whatever we do. At SPEAK RT, we aspire to be the leading change the world needs.
After reading this piece, how would you like to leave your mark in this world?
