About graffiti events in the UK

Art has always been of immense importance for a lot of people. Hadn’t it been for the incredible work done by veteran artists, people would have never seen the beauty of mind in real life. Art is not just a medium of expression but also a lifestyle for many. When it comes to artwork in the UK, this country has always been the cultural ambassador of different colours. Gone are the days when governments would ban graffiti art. In today’s time, people are looking for creative energies to draw inspiration from. However, before we move on to discuss graffiti in UK elaborately, it is important to introduce this art.

What is graffiti?

In simple words, graffiti is the artwork done via brushes and paints on different surfaces in public. Graffiti art ranges from simple written words to comprehensive paints that speak volumes. Graffiti has an interesting history, which dates back to ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire. Gone are the days when people would only make the best possible use of traditional paints. In today’s time, artists are obsessed with marker pens and spray paints. The fancy part about graffiti is that there are different styles for it.

How has Graffiti evolved in the UK?

Although, graffiti is only a medium of expression, but many see it as an anti-social eyesore that gives out a toxic message to society. The shocking thing to note here is that graffiti is illegal in the UK because under the criminal damage act of 1971, anyone caught spraying the walls in public is liable to pay more than £5000 in fine. However, this doesn’t stop people from expressing themselves. The UK has given some of the most iconic artists to this world like Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon, David Hockney, John Constable and many more.

Despite strict regulations, young artists don’t seem to throw away their brushes. This is why there are multiple graffiti events held in the country every year. Graffiti art bloomed in the 1980s when young people started adding colours to the streets. Of course, many people often paint inappropriate anti-social slogans on the streets, but that doesn’t give the right to generalize graffiti art has hateful and bad. Following is a list of graffiti events that have taken place in the UK with many of them expected to happen next year;

1. Brockley Street Art Festival

This is the third year of this festival and is expected to become a franchise in the coming years ahead. Brockley street art portrays street art scene with multiple colours and dazzling designs. The ethos behind running this festival is to highlight the cultural importance of street art and instil colours in the lives of many aspiring artists. The area where this festival is conducted is rich in artistic history and is near to the Goldsmith’s College that itself is a cultural hub of at. This festival welcomes thousands of newcomers every year. They have a specified area where young artists can play around with colour and allow their imagination to flow out of their brains with markers and pens.

2. LeakStreetLive Graffiti Workshops

This festival is about to begin from December 5, and the tickets have already sold out. Graffiti workshops are ideal learning centres for people who inspire to join the creative world in the future. Leak Street Live will be a festival where veteran professionals will share their artistic techniques with young people. The interesting part about this workshop is that it welcomes people of all age groups and from all walks of life. So if you’re planning to learn something unique and substantial, don’t forget to attend their next workshop.

3. Boneca with Street Guest, Majdo

They say art imitates life. This event does justice to this quote. Boneca is an upcoming event that is expected to begin operations on December 20. Tickets are still available for this event, so you must book yours. The intriguing part about this event is the theme chosen by the organisers. The festival will commence on Leake Street near the iconic Graffiti Tunnel. So if you want to play around with colours without restrictions, go forward and book your tickets today.

4. Urban Environment Solo Exhibition

There is no escape from the fact that the current climate of the world has changed in terms of technology and rampant globalisation. This is what was depicted in this event. Although this event has already happened and gone by, there are pictures and videos available on the web. Held on Nov 26th, Urban Environments Solo Exhibition shed light on prominent issues of the modern world with beautiful wall art and a unique blend of mind-boggling colours. This event highlighted the importance of instilling art in everyday life and related it with staying happy in a beautiful manner.

What is the future of Graffiti in UK?

Just like other countries in the world, graffiti too has a promising future in the UK. The beauty of art is that it cannot be restrained. This is the main reason why so many legendary artists have been able to inspire people with creative work. Although, graffiti is punishable by law, but artists always find a way to instil colours in the streets of the UK every day. Graffiti is not just a medium of expression but also plays a vital role in blending intercultural diversity in different places. Hadn’t it been for this art, a lot of artists would have never come out of their cocoon.

However, graffiti is not the same as it used to be many years ago. The introduction of modern tools has allowed artists to avoid archaic procedures of painting. In today’s time, people use glitters, markers, spray paints, toothbrushes and many other tools to tell a different story with the help of a paint palette. As long as there’s even a single artist in the UK, no one will be able to put a full stop to this amazing style of art.