When we arrived in Zurich, I was amazed by all the graffiti in the city. At that stage, I perceived graffiti as a form of vandalism. However, graffiti and street art’s role in society has changed significantly. Art in public places offers opportunities for artists to showcase their talent and share social opinions.

Banksy

Banksy played a significant role in making graffiti more acceptable. The artist’s street art highlights social and political issues directly and beautifully. The honesty of the art and the fact that the artist is anonymous contribute to Banksy’s fame. Banksy’s style is minimalist and often uses other items from the street to form part of the image. Banksy managed to promote the creativity and place of graffiti in the artistic community.

People discovered various Banksy art in Ukraine since the outbreak of the war. Recently, an exhibition, “The Mystery of Banksy – A Genius Mind”, allowed people in Zurich to learn more and appreciate Banksy’s art.

When I think of Banksy, the girl reaching for the heart-shaped balloon comes to mind. The image has many emotional interpretations. Some see the girl as losing the balloon, while others see her as about to catch it. It symbolizes hope, love, and freedom.

BANE

I recently became aware of BANE, a famous Swiss street artist. Fabian Florin, aka BANE, lives in the Swiss town of Chur. Many of his creations are in Chur but his works also now decorate walls in other world cities. An impressive mural is on the wheat mill tower in Chur. Next to a river in Chur, there is also a beautiful 3D picture of a fisherman.

BANE’s life story is very inspiring. At fourteen, he became addicted to drugs and lived on the streets for 14 years. His lifestyle put him behind bars several times. In his late twenties, he reached a low point. He was threatened with three and a half years in prison but chose long-term therapy. The hard withdrawal lasted two months, and the therapy two years. During this time, Fabian started spraying murals.

For him, his art was like a small “flame” that burned within him.  BANE said,

“Call it hope or the will to survive. But this little flame managed to make the difference at that moment.”

BANE has opened doors for other graffiti artists as well. Damage to property by graffiti is illegal in Switzerland as elsewhere. However, the city of Chur has decided to support graffiti as a form of art and has released numerous walls for creative artworks since 2014. The city officials ask the artists to tag their artwork on social media with the hashtag #streetartchur or #churkultur and recognise them for their participation.

Street Art Festival in Frauenfeld

Wanting to see BANE’s work in person, I visited Frauenfeld. The town held a Street Art Festival at the beginning of June. Sixty national and international street artists transformed Frauenfeld into an open-air art gallery and visitors can have a look at the artwork for the entire summer. I think it is a very creative way to attract tourists.

I love BANE’s artwork with the title – Cutting through History. The building carrying the mural of a young girl sewing used to be the shop of the town’s tailor. My mother used to sew all our clothes herself, and in my childhood picture of her, she was in front of her sewing machine or had a needle or scissors in her hand. This work of art stirred something in me and cut through my history.

Street art plays an important role

I look at street art differently now and can see the benefits it brings. There is a tourism benefit because people may travel to see murals and other street art, which can generate income for local businesses. Street art has become a tourist attraction in many cities around the world. There is even a Street Art Application that you can download that will help you view works of art in a particular city.

Street art can also serve as a platform for social commentary and awareness. It can draw attention to important issues and stimulate conversations within the community. Street art reminds me of the expression by Albert Einstein. He said Creativity is intelligence that is having fun.

I close with words from Banksy.

Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.

I’ve learnt from experience that a painting isn’t finished when you put down your brush – that’s when it starts. The public reaction is what supplies meaning and value. Art comes alive in the arguments you have about it.

Kind regards

Emsia