Graffiti: A form of beautiful, rebellious art

Since it exploded onto city walls, highway bridges and the sides of trains in the 1970s, graffiti has been considered a rebel’s form of art – with said artists labelled as the “bad boys and girls” of the art world.

But since those catch-me-if-you-can years of dodging the police and equally begrudging neighbourhood watch officials, graffiti as an art form has garnered commercial success for its artists and cemented its place in pop culture and contemporary art circles.

Global brands such as Sprite and Disney quickly bought into the idea that, when conducted by truly skilled artists, graffiti had the power to transform otherwise drab public spaces.

Enter local graffiti artist Charles “Riot” Keylock, whose talent won him the Sprite Uncontainable Graffiti Artist of the Year title in 2014.

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“The interest in street art is definitely growing. I can confidently say there is a growing interest in my art since winning the Sprite Uncontainable title,” Keylock told The Citizen.

That same year, Keylock was also commissioned by The Walt Disney Company Africa to complete a unique graffiti project in Cape Town and Johannesburg in the lead-up to the release of their Star Wars Rebels animated series.

Keylock says this kind of backing by reputable global brands is helping graffiti to finally claim its place in the spotlight as a respectable art form. “At this current moment I’m busy with the EFC gym in Sandton as well as working on a man cave for a client in Woodmead.”

However, in spite of the path paved by world-renowned British street artist Banksy, taking graffiti from the streets into the museum or gallery setting remains a difficult task and Keylock says it is part of the reason he hasn’t yet showcased his work in formal exhibitions.

“I rely on the odd commission to make ends meet. I just don’t think we have the correct platform in this country in order for graffiti, not street art or art, but real graffiti to sell or become something big in a gallery,” says Keylock.

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Until all street artists can receive the recognition that Bansky has, artists like Keylock continue to use their skill to beautify spaces under bridges and in some of Johannesburg’s less than pretty areas, such as the township of Westbury where drugs, unemployment and gang wars run rife.

Keylock says it is his and many other local artists’ way of inspiring young children to get into graffiti as a creative outlet rather than falling prey to drugs. “To the youngsters out there, keep it clean, stay off drugs and have plenty of fun.”

You can follow Keylock’s art on Instagram at @riotmhc or contact him on Facebook at Graff-Worx to commission his work.

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