When people draw or spray-paint pictures or words onto a wall, under bridges, or even on the sides of buses and trains, these pictures or words are called graffiti. It comes in all shapes and sizes, from simple words to detailed paintings. Some love it, while others hate it. The question is: Is graffiti a form of art or just a mess?

Graffiti is obviously art. First, it takes a lot of time and hard work. It is not just scribbling. Graffiti artists are like other painters. Their art starts as sketches and outlines, perfected with vivid pictures and various details later. The only difference is that they paint on walls rather than on paper. Second, like other art forms, graffiti is about expressing one’s feelings and being creative. Banksy, for example, is a famous graffiti artist who paints to show his opinions. Many of his works contrast the horror of war with the innocence of children. In one of his pieces, a young boy places a flower into a soldier’s gun. The gun represents violence, whereas the flower stands for peace. Works like this call attention to the need for positive change in the world. Isn’t it art?

Graffiti makes a mess. It is nothing but visual pollution. Most graffiti is “tagging,” which is more like just scribbling someone’s name. These ugly paintings make cities look messy. In addition, most graffiti is done without permission. A lot of money and effort are needed to get rid of it. The city of Los Angeles, for example, has a huge problem with graffiti, spending millions of dollars every year cleaning it up. Each month, workers wash away hundreds of thousands of square feet of it. Even worse, graffiti harms communities. Many people believe that graffiti is associated with criminal activity, feeling that it is unsafe to walk around or live in areas with graffiti. If graffiti causes all these problems, can we really call it art?

Which side of the wall are you on when it comes to graffiti? Is it creative or destructive? Now, it’s your turn to express yourself and share your thoughts about it!