Have you ever heard of street art or did you happen to see it? If you ever had a chance to experience street art, did you feel thrilled to see it? Well, this was about street art but have you ever heard of poetry and art? If not, let us tell you that poetry and art go hand in hand. There was a time when poetry was confined to fancy books but time has changed. You can even see poetry making its way on the streets and creating a whole new vibe. How about we explore this evolution in a more detailed manner?
Poetry was once a strong combination of just words and emotions, but then many poets realized how powerful visuals can make a great impact. Since then, they began to create artistic graffiti to blend their poetry with them. They started with wall painting for both visual appeal and expression of words. For poets, it became a way to communicate, share stories and connect with people through their poems.
When it all started, it confused a lot of people. They found it difficult to understand whether it was art or destruction. Well, nobody had an understanding of what was being portrayed. But this kind of response didn’t stop the persistent poets from showing their art. They even started to incorporate certain elements to take it as props. They started making neat, powerful pieces with stencils. They wrote about their aspirations, hardships, and lives. It resonated with people because it was honest, genuine, and raw.
Birth of Poetry in Street Art
Are you wondering how poetry merged with street art? Well, it is not that difficult to understand the origin of poetry in street art. It was a slow but exciting and fun process altogether. The street artists back in the 1900s wanted to make their act more powerful. Therefore, they started adding some words and phrases into their art to make it look more impactful. The idea was to blend the words with their visual art to express themselves profoundly. This approach to street art and poetry worked really well. Later on, they were known as street poetry that resonated with people. These street poems were precise but quite effective.
In the early 2000’s, street poetry gained a lot of popularity and was recognized as a legit art form. This presentation of poetry was enjoyed by many people during this time. It was a creative way to depict and address certain issues. This helped a lot in expressing emotions and people started to feel an emotional connection with this art. Gradually, street art gained global popularity and was accepted by several countries. For instance, street poets in Latin America started creating lyrics that echoed the history of tenacity and audacity in the area. European artists were influenced by the Romantic and Surrealist movements, which gave their street poetry a contemplative and wonder-filled quality.
Impact of Poetry in Street Art on Communities
Street poetry was not only about play of words and appealing visuals. It was also popular and loved by many people because it had an impactful effect on many communities. It started as just a piece of art and made remarkable effects on the communities. A well-drafted poem has all the potential to make commendable changes in the communities. It is not only of choices of words but these words hold power to touch various lives. It can bring people from different communities to come together for discussion on some subjects regarding the poetry. That community forum is like a living, breathing entity, situated directly on a building's surface.
For instance, in London and Los Angeles, street artists came forward to confront issues such as homelessness, racism and police brutality through their poems. This helped in bringing the attention of the people to such topics. This also helped in starting the awkward conversation that would not happen most of the time. Street poetry gained enough power to bring people together and in some communities, it is a regular habit to come together and organize events related to poetry. They create and discuss poetry together. They also like to share their poetry work with each other.
These events bring both the artist and the audience together to participate. In fact, this is an open space for anyone who shares a love for poetry and art. This allows them to explore various kinds of poetry. This also reflects a sense of creativity and belonging among these people.
Conclusion
The way poetry has developed in street art is evidence of the influence that words and images have on the world. It serves as a reminder that art is not limited to exhibit spaces or museums. It can be discovered in unexpected locations, just waiting to amaze and motivate us. Thus, the next time you're strolling down the street, stop and observe your surroundings. You never know when you might come upon a poem or a poet.