Tags
Anna Garforth, Art, Banksy, community, culture, Design, E M Crane, Exit Through The Gift Shop, Graffiti, Green Graffiti, Guerilla Gardening, London, Moss, Social Commentary, Street art, Typography
‘Park’ by Banksy (Los Angeles)
(Image from here)
A wall is a very big weapon. It’s one of the nastiest things you can hit someone with.(Banksy)
The word ‘graffiti’ stems from the Italian word graffiato, meaning scratched. It can range from simple written words to elaborate wall paintings and it has existed since ancient times. It often has a reputation for being part of a sub-culture that rebels against authority, and certainly, artists like Banksy have used it as a tool to spread their point of view in a clever and satirical manner*.
While I am certainly a fan of Banksy’s work, I’m loving this new trend of ‘green graffiti’ installations. It ticks all the boxes for me – quirky, clever, the tiniest bit subversive AND it’s environmentally friendly.
Anna Garforth is one artist who is worth a squizz when it comes to the growing art (ha!) of green graffiti. An artist who works with a diverse range of mediums, I reckon’ her wonderful moss typography pieces are just sublime.
Her ‘Grow’ moss typography adorns the wall of a secret spot she found in London behind locked gates in a disused plot awaiting the arrival of new flats…
‘Grow’ – Green Graffiti by Anna Garforth
(Image © Anna Garforth)
‘Grow’ (Close Up) – Green Graffiti by Anna Garforth
(Image © Anna Garforth)
‘Spore Borne’ was Garforth’s first experiment in moss writing. She is quoting from a poem written by Elenor Stevens…
‘Spore Borne’ – Green Graffiti by Anna Garforth
(Image © Anna Garforth)
‘Spore Borne’ (Close Up) – Green Graffiti by Anna Garforth
(Image © Anna Garforth)
Although I suspect there is slightly more to Anna Garforth’s gorgeous installations, if you are just the slightest bit tempted to try your hand at green graffiti, wikihow has a great wee tutorial on just how to do it!
You can learn more about the very talented Anna Garforth’s typographical work here.
I shall leave you today with some good, old-fashioned bathroom wall graffiti…
I was here but now I’m gone
I left my name to carry on
Those who liked me
Liked me well
Those who didn’t can go to hell
(E.M. Crane)
* If you haven’t seen Banksy’s ‘Exit Through The Gift Shop‘, it’s an absolute winner. Seriously clever.
