Greece – Athens street art (2)

Multi-faceted street art

Street art is by no means monolithic. Militant street art advocates frontally against cultural hegemony, which paves also the way for a plurality of cultural expressions. Opposing commercial publicity and cultural public policies, some street artists create artwork in public scenes with no particular financial objective. Some of them engage into political or societal militancy, others do not. However, all militant street artists remain out of commercial sphere.

Athens 2017
Athens 2017
Athens 2017

A growing number of street artwork entails a commercial dimension. The visual impact of street art and more particularly its capacity of attraction are increasingly acknowledged by the business sector. Thus, street artists are invited to paint and create on commercial places – restaurants, shops. In Athens, shop awnings are much used for street art, which opens a fascinating art gallery outside business hours.

Are we witnessing a contemporary form of cultural philanthopy or a pernicious merchandising of culture ? Let’s face it : street artists face living expenses like you and me. Furthermore, corporate or private philanthropy has helped major artists to grow and to blossom since centuries. Thus, I can live with the trend as long as artists are able to safeguard enough independence in the creative process.

Athens 2017
Athens 2017

For sure, street art is getting more and more popular. There are organised tours of street art, including in Athens, during which some artists or connoisseurs present and explain pieces of street art. I did not attend any of them in Athens, to rely on online research and foremost on in-depth crisscrossing of selected neighbourhoods.

Non-militant street art draws nurtures a deep sense of visual attractiveness, including aesthetics. It calls for your attention to an evocative facet of our lifestyle. It may further invite you to a fantasy world – different, better, nicer then our own lives. To do so, it draws on a variety of inspirational styles including folk and conceptual arts.

Athens 2017
Athens 2018
Athens 2018
Athens 2018
Athens 2018
Athens 2018
Athens 2018
Athens 2017
Athens 2017
Athens 2017
Athens 2018
Athens 2018
Athens 2018
Athens 2018
Athens 2017
Athens 2017

Love

Topic-wise, love occupies a pivotal role in street art. The latter calls for keeping love in the heart of our individualist societies. In Athens, the theme is treated with much sensitivity. I allowed myself to add some additional touches of humour.

Athens 2017
Athens 2017
Athens 2017
Athens 2017
Athens 2017
Athens 2017
Athens 2018
Athens 2017
Athens 2018
Athens 2018

Cheers,

By Bertrand

Trotting the globe with vision, values and humour