How to learn to understand street art: 8 films on the subject

Films, both documentary and fiction, is a great way to learn something new and get some pleasure pleasure out of it. This time, in the framework of this month's theme "Street art and street culture", Design Mate eight films about the pioneers, stars and peculiarities of the existence of the street art scene.

Documentary

Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child USA, 2010

In 1986, an aspiring filmmaker from Los Angeles, Tamra Davis, recorded a short interview with her friend Jean-Michel Basquiat, not only an impressionism artist, who started as a graffiti writer, but also a musician and first and foremost, of course, a rebel – his works full of expression and colour, the artist painted at the time conceptual minimalism was the peak of fashion. The film, based on interviews with two friends, was released for the 50th anniversary since the birth of the artist. In it, young Basquiat is shown a modest and touching dreamer who is constantly faced with racism and provocation - an atypical look at the life of a star of such magnitude.

Style Wars USA, 1982

"Style Wars" became a  documentary produced by Tony silver and Henry Chalfant. The central plot point of this movie dedicated to the graffiti culture of new York in the 80s, is the war between graffiti writers and city authorities, as well as creative battles between the artists themselves. In opposition to the young vandals in the video are the mayor of new York Edward Koch, the police and the Association of the underground transport, each of them, with their own truth. In 1984, the film was awarded the Grand Prix of the Sundance film festival as the best documentary of the year. By and large, just after the "Style Wars" the world first became interested in the essence of the graffiti culture in New York.

Graffiti Wars: Banksy vs. Robbo UK, 2011

The picture tells of the confrontation between the two most famous street artists in the UK – Banksy and Robbo, and their different fates. No one knows what Robbo looks like, neither anyone knows what Banksy looks like. But while one is being chased by the police, the other's works appear in museums and mansions of Hollywood stars. The confrontation of artists – the eternal theme, but here the rise and other important issues. For instance, doesn't this love of the gallery owners towards graffiti contradict the essence of street culture itself?

The Antics Roadshow UK, 2011

Produced by Banksy, the film is based on archival footage and interviews with members of the street art scene and is dedicated to hooligan pranks and anarchist acts. The film was released in the midst of the London riots of 2011 and begins with the words: "Britain, 2011, and the kids are revolting. But it wasn't always like this: in the good old days, a week or two ago, people didn't just take to the streets to take stuff, they took to the streets to give something back." This "give back" is exactly what "The Antics Roadshow" is about. Interestingly, among the characters of the film there appears an art-group called "War" with a memorable image on the Liteyny bridge in St. Petersburg.

BOMB IT USA, 2007

"BOMB IT" is a documentary by John Reiss, telling about graffiti - the most mass art movement on the five continents. How do artists create their drawings? What and why do they risk for their work? What sense do they put into it and whose approval do they seek? There's a chance to get answers to all these questions. Three years later, in 2010 came the film "BOMB IT 2", which includes 24 stories about street artists from different parts of the world, from Singapore and Jakarta to Tel Aviv and Copenhagen.

Feature Films

Wild Style USA, 1983

Wild Style is the first American film dedicated to hip-hop and graffiti culture. The movie is shot by director Charlie Ahearn, and the role of the protagonist – a fictional graffiti writer Raymond "Zoro" is played by famous graffiti writer George "Lee" Quinones. The film also starrs Patti Astor — actress and co-founder of FUN Gallery that has been promoting hip-hop culture. Overall, the film had an enormous influence not only on subsequent generations of graffiti, break dance, hip-hop and rap music lovers, but on modern culture in general.

Wholetrain Germany, 2006

This gripping drama was the first German film devoted to graffiti. Florian Haag is the director and also the scriptwriter. In the center of the plot – a story of four graffiti artists: David, Tino, Elias and Achim, who are learning the rules and codes of graffiti culture. Every night they escape to the metro station, trying to leave their everyday life behind. However, as soon as the other team appears on the horizon, the creative struggle changes the lives of the boys forever – a harsh stand-off begins, and not only with authorities but also with the "like-minded". The film is fiction, but with the inclusion of documentary and reference elements.

The Graffiti Artist USA, 2004

James Bolton's drama talks about the life of a teenager with no family or friends, obsessed with graffiti. Roaming around the city, Nick covers the walls the only word - Rupture. He sleeps wherever he can find shelter, and spends the days, first, in search of places for his message, and then, fleeing from the police. He then meets Jess, another graffiti artist who is engaged in graffiti, not because he can't imagine his life without it however, but because it is cool and fashionable. There are two approaches to creativity in this film, and two very different character in one story.