Vandalism or art?

I strongly support Banksy's assertion that it is art, not vandalism. However, he doesn't help his cause by not asking permission. I think most people find his stuff interesting and I see it as adding to the community (like a commissioned statue). I also see it as not only art that is publicly accessible but art that makes the public think (I know governments really don't want the public to start thinking, but hard cheese).

I think his work improves urban areas and how can any improvement be vandalism? I'd argue that some of the buildings that are erected in our cities are an act of vandalism far greater than that they're accusing Banksy of.

What's worse?

This (which is in my neck of the woods and are all over the place): http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504361@N06/4068960413/

Or this: http://www.artsjournal.com/artopia/sweep_banksy_1031.jpg

Those voting for the tower block: you have a cold, cold heart.

Banksy is just very pretty vandalism. He may be vandalising other peoples property in a very creative way, but he's still vandalising it. I would personally would be really pissed off in somebody spray painted some sort of political message on my building, regardless of well done it was.

I also hate those "Artists" that go to art galleries and practise their own "art" by damaging/altering/changing other artists work on display. That is such a dick move. THAT is true vandalism. Art is original, not screwing with somebody else's work. Like that guy who went to an art gallery and drew in the corner of some centuries old painting worth millions of pounds and called it art and freedom of expression. What a complete cunt. That's vandalism.

any scrach on the wall is a mark of ones temporary existence.

Graffiti can be considered art. I don't think its fair that its so heavily penalized.

Nothing says art like a nice rock through your window.

everything is art depends who is looking at it a mechanic can see machines as art a cook can see food as art ^-^

It's both. Art and vandalism are not mutually exclusive categories.

Artistic intention is mirrored by artistic process. Banksy's piece is about quiet, peaceful rebellion and so it therefore makes sense that the medium in which it was executed was via defacing public property.

Like the flowers, the piece doesn't physically harm anyone but it is a form of combat nonetheless. He could have stencilled it on canvas but this would have hindered its impact.

Banksy is a hack.

I would say it's art when it's well done, vandalism when it's stupid kids writing FUCK and drawing penises everywhere.

As a former Graffiti Artist myself, I would have to say Art.

I love graffiti like that,but I don't really understand how they do it if it's vandalism, so I think it is a form of art, as long as it's meaningful and not just scribbling your name on something

It depends. If people just draw some shit that doesn't make sense that's vandalism but if it's something nice like real picture it's art.

When your asking it does when the person draws it them self and paints it their self its art.

Very good question. I was going to start out by writing that it was both but I don't think it is, at least not always.

"Vandalism" is legally defined as intentional damage or destruction to property, and I don't think street art like Banksy's is inherently damaging; if anything I think good street art would usually add value. It all depends on the preferences of the owner of the property's opinion on the art though, which makes the definition very iffy. It becomes vandalism unless the owner of the property likes it, I would guess, which is a really rubbish definition of "vandalism" :P That doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad thing even then, and the artistic merit would be less if Banksy got permission or commission before he did a project.

And it's definitely art :P

ART!!!

His work his awesome. Actually my local council promoted an initiative in which work similar to Banksy's (much lower quality obviously) was sprayed onto empty shops. It was a fairly good idea, the youth got the chance to do something worthwhile and it stopped the town centre looking derelict.