Graffiti artwork - The Korea Times

By Choe Chong-dae

Graffiti artwork is an imaginary creation from all genres to express distinctive identity, activity, feeling, emotion and creativity.

There are many similarities between ancient cave art and modern-day graffiti. In their form of symbolic expression, both use abstract ideas and shapes to communicate a message. Although this message may be different to that depicted in the ancient era, it is the same mechanism and process.

In a sense, graffiti originates from ancient drawing and painting on walls or surfaces during prehistoric times, such as the famous Lascaux cave paintings in France, the Coa rock engravings in Portugal and the Bangudae rock engravings in Ulsan, Korea. These ancient petroglyphs depict hunting and fishing scenes. They help us understand the ancient lifestyles, customs, hunting rituals and religion.

Recently, I had the pleasure of viewing an exhibition titled “The Art of Banksy ― Without Limits.” It is currently being held at Seouliteum in Seoul. It opened on Aug. 20 and runs until Feb. 6, 2022. The cozy gallery, nestled in Seoul Forest in Seongdong District, has been transformed into an interesting street graffiti scene. The exhibition provided a fine opportunity to view a wide range of Banksy's distinctive artworks. The displays include "Girl with Balloon," “Bomb Hugger,” “Esso (Exon Mobil, U.S),” “ True Love” “Laugh Now,” “Di-Faced Tenner,” “Trolley Hunters,” "Laugh now, but one day I'll be in charge,” ”Game Changer” and “CND Soldiers.”

In particular, "Girl With Balloon" is one of Banksy's most iconic artworks. With me, it evoked a sense of nostalgia and strong emotions. It portrays the innocence of children and cherishes hope and love and the desire for a better world. Remarkably, a two-part version, i.e. a set on two canvasses, of this painting was sold at auction in London for $4.3 million recently. In addition, Banksy's artwork titled “Game Changer” honoring Britain's health workers in the COVID-19 pandemic, first painted on a hospital wall, was sold for $23.2 million at auction on March 2021. It is known that the sale will be dedicated to fund health organizations and charities across the U.K.

Quite unlike other artists, Banksy has never revealed his identity. So he remains an enigma! He created a variety of distinctive artwork such as street graffiti, wall paintings, installations and film. His reputation as the world's most prominent graffiti artist developed after he spray-painted trains, buildings and walls in his home city of Bristol, U.K., in the 1990s. What inspired me most at the exhibition was “CND Soldiers.” It portrays two soldiers acting as graffiti “vandals” painting a peace sign on a wall; it is a great anti-war metaphor.

I was excited by the aesthetic value of Banksy's artworks. However, to my disappointment, the majority of works on display were replicas with only a few originals. Banksy has been outspoken on social and political issues such as war, capitalism, hypocrisy and greed. Accordingly, his art works are characterized by striking images and they frequently combine eccentric, subversive, satirical and anti-establishment views on controversial subjects. Nevertheless, it is an incredible art that reflects a colorful, straightforward, poignant, distinctive and ironic message ― despite the fact that some critics call it just plain vandalism.

Although graffiti art makes places and spaces more vibrant, there have been controversies over whether it is art or vandalism.

Whatever it is, I long for more graffiti that speaks out against war and that paves the way for peace throughout the world.

Choe Chong-dae (choecd@naver.com) is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International Co., and director of the Korean-Swedish Association.