Street art meets pop Art: symbiosis or competition

the art forms street art and pop art differ in terms of origins, techniques and goals, but there is a closer connection between them than it appears at first glance.

In this article we will examine how the two styles can combine and connect to create unique works of art. Is it a harmonious symbiosis or competition? Together we will get to the bottom of this question.

Many modern artists have started to combine elements of both styles to create new and unique works of art and new design forms. However, others see competition between the two styles, as they often fight for the same space and the same attention.

Definitions

In order to talk about the relationship between street art and pop art, we first have to understand their definitions.

Street art

Street art - also often urban art - is an art form that arises on public areas such as walls, streets, buildings, trains and bridges. It is often political and socially critical and is said to reach a wide audience. Pop Art , on the other hand, is an art direction that was created in the 1950s and focused on mass culture.

It often uses pictures from advertising and popular culture and is known for its bright colors and clear lines.

Numerous examples come in the form of guerrilla art , which is supposed to make a personal statement about society in which the artist lives.

The work has developed from the beginnings of graffiti and vandalism into new forms in which artists are working on conveying embassies to an audience or just beauty.

Some artists use "intelligent vandalism" to awareness of social and political problems , while other artists use urban areas as an opportunity to show personal works of art. Artists may also appreciate the challenges and risks associated with the installation of illegal works of art in public locations.

A common motive is the creation of art in a format that uses public space as a platform to make your works accessible to a wide audience away from galleries, trade fairs and exhibitions.

At the end of the 20th and early 21st century, Street Art developed into complex correlative artistic forms of expression. From graffiti, stencils (so -called stencils ), printing and wall paintings to large -format paintings and projects of artistic cooperation to street installations - street art has found its way into the core of contemporary art .

Some of the earliest forms of expression of street art were certainly the graffiti that appeared on trains, cars and walls. This was the work of gangs in the 1920s and 1930s in New York City. In the late 1960s, Cornbread and a group of friends, including Cool Earl , began to make graffiti in Philadelphia by writing their nicknames to walls all over the city.

The movement spread back to New York City and developed into a modern graffiti movement, which reached its peak in the United States in the late 1970s and early 1980s and then spread to Europe. Blek Le Rat , born in 1951 as Xavier Prou ​​in Boulogne-Billancourt, Paris, was one of the first graffiti artists in Paris and the founder of the stencil graffiti art.

After the graffiti art in Europe had literally exploded, it began to spread all over the world, and during this time artists like Taki 183 and Keith Haring more important in the world of street art.

Today Banksy the most controversial street artist in the world. His works have become a subculture . Banksy's political statements and disruptive visions have influenced cities around the world in crucial moments of modern history, provoked alternative perspectives and promoted revolutions in the art world.

His identity remains unknown, even after more than 30 years of engagement in the global graffiti scene. He worked in many street art media and in many styles and tore down the limits and expectations of the street art critics. His work includes powerful, often controversial images that promote the quick spread of his name and work on the Internet.

Urban art in Europe was deeply rooted in the revolutionary practices of those who identified themselves with various subcultures during this time, which were associated with class, breed or gender. From the beginning, graffiti art has developed in several directions. Some artists started using stencils to create more complex works that contained portraits and landscapes , while others continued to use spray paint to murals in their cities.

The template has established itself as an unmistakable trademark of the street art, since it represents the most frequently used technology in graffiti art. In galleries, this technology is often transferred to transportable substrates such as paper, wood, cardboard or metal mixed media unique

XOOOOX , who is the only German street artist celebrated in the press worldwide, recently presented his unique works “Pop Art & Street Art” exhibition “Pop Art & Street Art”

Other impressive street artists such as Mr. Brainwash , who orchestrates the collision of Street Art and Pop Art, as well as Death NYC from New York, who performs a balancing act between the two art forms, were also represented.

At the end of 2022, the Kulturraum Gallery another worldwide renowned artist of the international pop art scene alongside Mr. Brainwash

Michel Friess is undoubtedly one of the most renowned pop art artists in Germany and worldwide. His creative and artistic path was recognized with numerous awards and art prices, including the Global Art Award in Shanghai, also known as the "Oscar of the art scene" Mixed Media/Graffiti category in November 2020 .

Michel Friess has been an integral part of the Kulturraum Gallery for six years and has demonstrated its artistic versatility with its successful exhibitions in Speyer, Germany, Europe, America and Asia. Each of his works is made in painstaking Handmade , making each sieve made of wood and covered by hand.

This elaborate method often requires more than 20 sieves per image. With painting, airbrush, spray can and paper collages, Michel Friess creates unmistakable works that wear his unique handwriting.

Today the world can see how this special kind of art has developed into a significant development in the history of urban culture.

Pop art

The pop art, a art movement that was created in America and Great Britain in the 1950s , culminated in the 1960s. Pop Art is often characterized in response to the emphasized intellectual abstract art and turns to the trivial.

Inspired by the consumption and pop culture of the West, it began as a rebellion against traditional art. Pop art artists were convinced that the art exhibited in museums or in schools has nothing to do with the real world.

For this reason, they were looking for their inspiration in contemporary mass culture . At its zenith, the pop art was often referred to as "anti-art" .

In order to understand the concept of pop art, it is worth looking at the basic ideas behind this movement. The artist Richard Hamilton the "characteristics of pop art" in a letter to his friends.

In simple words, he explains that pop type is intended for a mass audience, is fleeting and short-lived, is quickly forgotten, cheap and mass-made, aims at the youth and is funny, sexy, effective, glamorous and strongly commercial.

In addition to Warhol and Lichtenstein Jasper Johns , Robert Rauschenberg , Jeff Koons , James Rosenquist, Julian Opie, Damien Hirst , Robert Indiana, Tom Wesselmann, Günter Beier, Paul Thierry, James F. Gill, and Jan M. Petersen are in addition to Warhol and Lichtenstein.

The influence of pop art on the picture and design language in art and design is still formative.

What characteristics can pop art recognize?

Pop art is often characterized by the use of popular symbols from the consumption area , such as household items such as the Campbell's Soup doses by Andy Warhol from 1962 or prominent icons such as Marilyn Monroe in James Rosenquists Marilyn Monroe, I.

Andy Warhol defined pop art artists as such who created pictures of modern objects such as comics, picnic tables, men's pants, stars, shower curtains, refrigerators and cola bottles, which everyone could see on the Broadway at a moment. The use of brands and commercial symbols is an important aspect of pop art, which underlines the idea that art can be inspired from everything, not only from history, mythology or morality.

Bright colors , especially the primary colors red, blue and yellow, are a common feature of pop art. These colors often resemble the typical color palette of comic strips and should not show the emotional world or that of the artist, but rather the dynamic popular culture against mirrors .

Angular compositions are a popular means of creating "picturesque detachment" of styles such as abstract expressionism Many works of art of pop art therefore consist of striking or fragmented forms. Some artists enlarged objects to almost strange proportions to satirize them.

Connections between street art and pop art

If we take a closer look at the connections between street art and pop art, we can find that there are many similarities. Both forms of art often use similar techniques and materials such as spray cans, stencils and stencils. They also share similar topics such as consumer culture, advertising and pop culture.

Some street artists even referred directly to pop art artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein and designed their works as a homage to this art movement.

Despite these connections, there are also differences between the two art forms .

Development of the street art from the pop art

It is interesting to know that the origins of street art can be found in pop art.

Pop Art started in the 1950s and continued to develop in the 1960s. It focused on popular culture and the mass media. Artists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein were known for their pop art works, who often had comic strips and advertising as inspiration.

the street art was created in the 1970s as a kind of graffiti that could be seen on public roads and buildings. Street art artists from the 1970s took up ideas from Pop Art and began to present their works of art on public areas. The artists wanted to make their art accessible to everyone and not only for those who could see in galleries.

The street art has developed since then and has become an important part of urban culture.

Although the street art and pop art seem to be different art forms at first glance, they have many things in common. Both concentrate on popular culture and often use comic strips and advertising as inspiration. There are also many street art artists who exhibit their works in galleries and thus immerse themselves in the world of pop art.

Common ground

There are more similarities between street art and pop art than one would assume at first glance. Both forms of art have their origin on the street and are an expression of a certain time and culture. They are often political and socially critical and address a wide audience.

There are also similarities in terms of techniques and materials: spray cans, stencils, posters and collages are used in both art forms. Another important aspect is the use of known symbols and pictures from pop culture. Both forms of art often use bright colors and striking motifs to attract attention and convey a message.

Street art and pop art use these pictures to convey message discussion . In summary, it can be said that street art and pop art inspire and complement each other, which creates a symbiosis.

Differences

Street art is often viewed as rebellious and politically, while Pop Art represents an ironic and critical but humorous examination of consumer culture.

The two art forms also differ in technology: street art is often sprayed on walls and facades with spray cans and stencils, while pop art artists often use screen printing techniques on canvases.

How the two art forms influence each other

You will surely wonder how street art and pop art mutually influence. The answer is not so simple because there are different aspects to take into account.

On the one hand, both art forms are part of urban culture and have many common roots.

On the other hand, they also differ in their approaches and techniques. Nevertheless, there are many artists who combine both street art and pop art in their works and thus create a symbiosis. This connection creates new, unique works of art that enrich the street art and pop art scene.

However, there are also artists who choose one side and are therefore competing with each other. At this point it is important to emphasize that there is no clear limit between the two art forms and that they inspire and influence each other.

Ultimately, it depends on the perspective of the artist and the viewer whether street art and pop art compete together or form a harmonious symbiosis.

Conclusions

The present view of street art and Pop Art raises the question of whether these two art movements represent a symbiosis or competition. Finding a clear answer to this is difficult.

Because both street art and pop art have their own advantages and disadvantages, their followers and critics. But one thing is undeniable: Both currents have an enormous impact on the art world and society in general.

They are an expression of a certain time and culture and will continue to play an important role in art in the future. Whether they complement each other or compete with each other ultimately depends on the viewer.

But one thing is certain: Both art movements are fascinating and inspiring and deserve to be considered in detail.

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and managing director of Kunstplaza . Publicist, editor and passionate blogger in the field of art, design and creativity since 2011. Successful conclusion in web design as part of a university degree (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expression painting and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through many years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.

www. kunstplaza .de/