I Was Around

Mixed Messages on Flickr

// March 3rd, 2009 // 4 Comments » // Activism, Expression

I was browsing flickr today feeling rebellous.

The graffiti tag search is useless. Whether street art, urban art, it seems everyone loves Banksy. Yes, he’s good. Real good. He makes up most of flickr’s graffiti photos pages deep. This shouldn’t be.

Please. Stop loving Banksy.

Blek le Rat
Blek le Rat is a Frenchmen in his 50’s that stenciling and producing political art for over 30 years. His style is sharp as a writer’s wit. It was Banksy who looked to him for inspiration while he was playing with crayons. Blek le Rat stated his opinions loudly with art. Look for him instead.

Now for the point of the image: Why would you copyright graffiti on flickr?
Talk about a Mixed Messaged. It’s in a public space. Treat it, use it, with respect. Talk about it, transfer the ideas, breathe in culture, exhale thought. Don’t constrict.

Oh yeah, and I blogged about it without prior premission.