Is it art or is it vandalism? Or maybe both? I'm not sure, but there's no doubt that Venice has a graffiti problem. There's way too much of it, it's all over the place, and most of it is ugly meaningless eyesore gibberish on so many of those beautiful historic buildings.
Someone told me that the city of Venice does have a graffiti removal team but that its entire budget goes towards keeping the Piazza San Marco area clean. That explains why there's graffiti in other parts of the city that lingers for years. Like this guy - I've seen him every time I've visited Venice!
This insect (?) with a red heart in a net has been there for years too.
So I guess I lean more towards the vandalism side of the debate but even so, I do sometimes see graffiti that catches my eye or makes me smile.
There's something poignant about this guy. Who? And why is so much of this graffiti in English???
And while it's crazy that anyone would even consider putting graffiti on a church, I have to confess that I laughed when I saw this on the deconsecrated church of San Toma.
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Comments (24)
The side of Venice we are never shown I would suspect! Thanks so much for this - very poignant!
Denise ABC Team
Posted by Denise | February 28, 2012 1:18 PM
Posted on February 28, 2012 13:18
Grafitti can be very artful but I think its vandalism when it desecrates someone elses property. If its not yours keep your hands off....
Posted by photowannabe | February 28, 2012 1:48 PM
Posted on February 28, 2012 13:48
I have mixed feelings about graffiti, maybe because while some works are very cool or telling, others are often offensive.
Posted by Meryl | February 28, 2012 1:54 PM
Posted on February 28, 2012 13:54
So sad. I understand some of it has a social meaning but demonstrating it this way to me is incomprehensible. I know some students look upon graffiti as art. In their places, sure! JMO
Posted by menehune | February 28, 2012 2:01 PM
Posted on February 28, 2012 14:01
The line between graffiti and art is very thin. I like that 1st guy, but the signatures around him, not so much.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
Posted by Roger Green | February 28, 2012 2:05 PM
Posted on February 28, 2012 14:05
I like urban art on large empty walls, but not on monuments or historical buildings. Great take on the theme!
Posted by Mar | February 28, 2012 2:42 PM
Posted on February 28, 2012 14:42
I am not very fond of graffiti but there are some exception.
Gold and Green
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team.
Posted by chubskulit | February 28, 2012 2:59 PM
Posted on February 28, 2012 14:59
What a shame that so much potential beauty is covered in graffiti!
Posted by EG Wow, Canada | February 28, 2012 3:13 PM
Posted on February 28, 2012 15:13
I don't think that the line between art and vandalism is thin at all. Would you want any of it on your house front? There's always somebody who'll say 'Yes', so the second part of the question is: Would you want it there forever?
Posted by Bert | February 28, 2012 4:05 PM
Posted on February 28, 2012 16:05
I am not a fan of graffiti. I wonder when they do the painting. Does anyone ever see them?
Thanks for your visit today.
Gigi Ann ABC Wednesday Team
Posted by Gigi Ann | February 28, 2012 4:14 PM
Posted on February 28, 2012 16:14
Great shots of the graffiti. I like graffiti and am tolerant unless it's part of gang wars or hate speech. It also depends a lot about where it is and what type of building. When it's under bridges and on boring concrete buildings it can add to the visual. Carver, ABC Wednesday Team
Posted by Carver | February 28, 2012 4:27 PM
Posted on February 28, 2012 16:27
There is a group in Venice (i nostri masegni, puliti e splenditi), who, along with Venessia.com, are working hard towards dealing with this creeping menace. The former group has had meetings with the city architect, and it sounds like efforts in a few directions: detection, cleaning, education in schools, and so on will be underway.
Posted by Yvonne | February 28, 2012 8:43 PM
Posted on February 28, 2012 20:43
Cool pics! I've encountered beautiful graffiti that I would definitely name as art. I like when cities offer wall space to graffiti artists, or muralists. Halifax has a couple large "concrete canvasses" that often have very intriguing images painted on them. Still...am not a fan of graffiti as an act of vandalism or destruction. And not at all sure I'd welcome it on my own space. Tough question, what to do about it.
Very thought provoking post, thanks!
Posted by Anne | February 28, 2012 9:33 PM
Posted on February 28, 2012 21:33
I agree with Roger that the line between the two sides (art or vandalism) is fine. Some I enjoy, but other times it's just messy junk.
Leslie
abcw team
Posted by Leslie | February 28, 2012 10:30 PM
Posted on February 28, 2012 22:30
I like seeing them when they are artistic. I hate it when write their names and love and other messages.
Posted by Rajesh | February 28, 2012 10:48 PM
Posted on February 28, 2012 22:48
A couple of them are artistic...but, I am against graffiti which is to deface buildings. I do like the artistic ones...
Posted by Janaki Nagaraj | February 29, 2012 2:23 AM
Posted on February 29, 2012 02:23
Hi Annie, a great take on this week's theme. Very thought provoking too. I remember seeing some graffiti during my 2007 trip. I think it takes away from Venice's beauty.
Thanks so much for sharing.
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | February 29, 2012 2:26 AM
Posted on February 29, 2012 02:26
Thanks to everyone for your comments. I really enjoyed reading them and seeing all the different thoughts.
Posted by Annie | February 29, 2012 2:31 PM
Posted on February 29, 2012 14:31
I love graffiti. I love the idea that art can be public - done by regular people, for regular people. I love that it is often amusing, often political and often makes you look (and think) twice. I also chose graffiti for my "G" submission to ABC Wednesday. I totally enjoyed seeing the graffiti of Venice!
Dyanna
www.berkeleytoday.wordpress.com
Posted by dyanna | March 1, 2012 1:08 AM
Posted on March 1, 2012 01:08
Annie, I'm not sure if it's art or vandalism -- but if this is any comfort, graffiti has very long history in Italy, dating back to the ancient Romans. The Italian word graffiti basically means "scratched" as designs were scratched into hard surfaces.
Did you see the HBO series Rome a few years ago? Each episode opened with some very cool shots of ancient graffiti which then came to life on the screen!A lot of it was pretty crude but some beautiful.
Posted by sandrac | March 1, 2012 3:16 PM
Posted on March 1, 2012 15:16
Sandra, I knew that it was an Italian word but didn't know about the Rome series. That sounds very cool.
There are a few places in Venice with some centuries-old graffiti scratched into marble; there is even some on the oolumns on the facade of San Marco!
Posted by Annie | March 2, 2012 1:02 PM
Posted on March 2, 2012 13:02
quite common to popular cities such as Venice I suppose...visiting from abc wednesday.
Posted by Mel Cole | March 7, 2012 7:35 PM
Posted on March 7, 2012 19:35
The other day I actually happened upon some (very dull) graffiti being scrubbed off a wall in Campo S. Anzolo. I was shocked--I'd never seen any being cleaned off before, and your post explains why. But perhaps this is changing a bit...
Posted by Steven | March 9, 2012 7:08 AM
Posted on March 9, 2012 07:08
Steven, I would have been shocked too! That's great to hear.
Posted by Annie | March 9, 2012 10:09 AM
Posted on March 9, 2012 10:09