SHANA LUCAS: I like graffiti, I think that it is a great form of art as I am an art student myself. I love the culture surrounding it and the form of expression that it represents.
Many times, graffiti is seen as an act of vandalism, especially in the eyes of the police and concerned community members.
While graffiti on private property is illegal, some urban areas have been specifically sanctioned to display legal graffiti many would consider art.
There is no doubt that graffiti is something that is deeply embedded in urban youth culture.
The Northcliff Melville Times spoke to students at the University of the Witwatersrand in Braamfontein, to see if the youth feel this is the case and why graffiti is important.
MOHAU MAROGA: As someone who is very interested in art, I think graffiti is a way for artists to express themselves. I think that without graffiti, we would not have some of the beautiful artwork that we see around us. I think that graffiti brings life to an urban landscape.
KIRSTEN LEEDHAM: I think that graffiti depends on the person who does it… Some forms are very artistic and improve an environment, and others can be taken in a very negative light… But most of it is there to prove a point.
NALEDI MODIPA: I really appreciate graffiti as I am an artistic person, I can see the beauty in it, even though some people might see it as problematic. Sometimes it moves away from artistic and can look vulgar, but I do believe in self-expression.
LONWABO TSHEFU: I do believe that it is a great form of expression, but I also believe that it needs to fit in with the laws of the country. On private spaces, I disagree, but in an approved space, I think that it looks great.
GERALD CLOETE: I have been based in Cape Town for almost seven years, and graffiti is a culture in Cape Town. There, it is part of a culture of self-expression… It is a form of protest.
