Art or vandalism: what experts say about the state of street art in Russia

The Russian Creative Week is taking place in Moscow from July 7 to 10, within the framework of which the discussion "Don't erase - it's art" was held.

The experts discussed how to distinguish street art from vandalism and what role street art plays in the beautification of urban spaces.

The moderator of the discussion, Yuriy Omelchenko, noted that today street art is one of the “fantastically demanded” trends in art and “from a once marginal occupation” is turning into a new, vibrant kind of painting.

At the same time, according to art critic Anastasia Postrigai, street art appeared in some forms in primitive times, and its meaning has changed over the years.

In the 20th century, street art raised acute social issues - in New York, for example, street art often became an act of struggle.

“Artists from the ghetto left messages on the trains to the prosperous center of New York.

This is how they expressed their protest and attitude towards social inequality,” she said.

Experts note that not everything that is now found on the streets can be considered street art - there are clear examples of vandalism, for which Article 214 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation provides for fines, correctional labor or arrest for up to three months.

However, it is not difficult to distinguish one from the other. 

“If murals, tags or other manifestations of this art have an idea behind them, help to visualize the cultural code of the city and make it an open-air museum, then they can be called street art.

If this is a spontaneously expressed emotion, usually negative, by a young person who painted a train car, this is vandalism, ”explained Anastasia Postrygay.

However, street art artist Victoria Weisbrut claims that no artist would call their work vandalism.

For him, this is creativity, and other people, for example, art critics, put the meaning into the works.

According to Weisbrut, what is now considered art was once perceived as vandalism, and young artists are forced to illegally find spaces for creative implementation.

Weisbrut herself prefers to work at legal sites.

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• © Ilya Pitalev

It is interesting that sometimes the attitude of the public towards specific works of street art changes over time, and what was considered vandalism is recognized as art.

The organizer of the Cultural Code festival, Dmitry Lyovochkin, cited as an example the artist John “Crash” Matos, who began his journey to art by painting subway cars and dilapidated New York buildings, and now his works are sold at large auctions. 

Street art as an element of landscaping

Street art today is interesting not only from the point of view of the creative self-expression of artists - such painting plays a role in the improvement of territories throughout Russia, and in some cities its significance is especially great.

According to Dmitry Lyovochkin, street art can transform the urban environment. 

Ekaterinburg can be considered the capital of Russian street art, where there are many famous murals, and there are guided tours related to street painting.

Urbanist and urban and transport planner Alexei Radchenko noted that street art is a unique part of the city brand and the language the city speaks with its citizens.

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However, Dmitry Lyovochkin is sure that the desire to improve the territory should come from the city authorities and residents.

In his projects, the artist adheres to a clear rule - to work only in dialogue with the authorities.

This will help avoid misunderstandings on the part of administrations and citizens.

In addition, before starting work, the facades of buildings must be prepared and the urban environment put in order, which is also not easy to do without cooperation. 

Alexey Radchenko cited St. Petersburg as an example, where discussions about street art are often held.

Victoria Weisbrut recalled how in 2019 she took the initiative to paint a portrait of Yuri Gagarin at the entrance to Kaluga.

The proposal was accepted, the girl showed her creative imagination and presented the astronaut's spacesuit in bright colors, but many residents did not like it.

Such clashes, when the artist's idea is not approved by the public, are inevitable, says Alexei Raskhodchikov, co-chairman of the Gorod urban center.

In his opinion, the reason is that people are used to striving to pass on the accumulated values ​​to the new generation, and art looks to the future.

“Artists feel the time faster and try to convey it, but they are not always understood,” says the expert.

He recalled that in France in the 19th century, local residents criticized the project of the Eiffel Tower, which is now a symbol of the country.

Another aspect of such conflicts is that, according to the expert, there is a lack of dialogue in Russian society.

Raskhodchikov explains the rejection of street art by the townspeople by the fact that a street, courtyard or other public space "although always common, but at the same time - personal."

“If we introduce something new into this space, no matter what size and scale - any, such an invasion is an interference, including in the personal space of people,” the expert says.

He stressed that it is necessary to rely on the communities of the yard or district and follow the path of dialogue.