Art Feature//Art in Hidden Places

In a city as renowned for its people as its culture there's an inevitability that there will be many forms of creativity thrown into the melting pot. Many millions of people flock to Liverpool for its unique collection of galleries, arts venues, constant roll of festivals and cultural events. Of course, that is all excellent news but beneath the silky veil of high end galleries and wine soaked open parties there are art forms rarely seen in galleries this side of the country. One such form is visible clearly in Liverpool and despite the discussions in both public lead and media forums as to its 'art' status Street Art is one form that exists in our city to much enjoyment and positive reaction from creators and admirers alike.

Art Feature//Art in Hidden Places

Indeed, as with any other creative outlet, it's entirely in the eyes of the beholder if it is 'art' but for many people out there it is an enjoyable and viable art form. Take a walk down Newington, just off Bold Street and try not to be taken aback at the revolving mural that graces the side of the building that houses Egg Cafe or even notice how, following public reaction to plans to cover up the vintage Banksy piece on Berry Street, it was preserved. (Sadly, the building it exists on is not in such an excellent state of affairs...) It is one of the most photographed places in Liverpool and rightly so. Countless other examples are all around us as we walk the streets and even passing us on the morning train on occasion. 

One artist whose work you may have seen around Liverpool, most notably in a well trodden location that shall be a mystery for now, is Psychonautes, whose pieces are spiritually powerful and instantly eye catching posters and murals that impress the viewer duly.  I asked Psychonautes if, as I noted previously, the perception of street art has changed in recent times: ‘Indeed. Street art is more tolerated nowadays than it was before. It is obvious when looking at the new galleries dedicated to it, and at the growing number of exhibitions hosted by internationally recognised museums, where street art was out of the question a few years ago, such as the Grand Palais in Paris. ’ That being the case, how can street art change the world in either a major or minor way? ‘It makes people think, and sometimes become more tolerant. This is not only the case with street art, but with art in general.’ 

So how about the positive impact on society as a whole?  ‘Firstly, it triggers a reaction in the people who see it, an interrogation about themselves and society. Also, it makes the streets more colorful and joyful, which is in some cases strongly needed today. And, as an artist, it allows me to talk to people I would never have met otherwise. For instance, many old people come and talk to me because they want to understand what I do, and what my approach is.’  Indeed the power of art is thus and that leaves the question of which city that the artist has visited has the best scene: ‘I'd say London because the scene moves very quickly there. There are many people, many things happen. For my part, I prefer smaller cities, like Cork or Liverpool, where the artists know each other, and don't go over your pieces without asking beforehand…’ 

Indeed the scene in Liverpool is small but concentrated and if you study the  walls of the city you’ll see many names that recur often as opposed to the larger scenes where the act of painting can become almost competitive in some ways and names become lost in the myriad of colour and styles. It’s perhaps connected to the localised community in Liverpool where a creative person is never far away. Despite the legal ambiguity that surrounds many pieces, not to mention the risks that artists take when working on the streets, people do enjoy looking at them.

Arguably street art is, by name and nature, the only non-classical art form that non-gallery visiting people will see and perhaps not even notice its significance. It's often said that the so-called clinical white walls of many galleries scare potential visitors away whilst street art recently gets people talking more excitedly than perhaps any other form. It has many thousands of  books and magazines in many languages the world over devoted to it and despite its natural, perhaps expected, tendency to vanish at the hand of graffiti removal teams it's loss can be felt as much as any classical work on occasion. 

But street art being on the street means it is a reward of kinds. A good piece of street art, be it a mural, a paste up, a stencil piece, a sticker, knitwear(!) or anything else beyond can make your day that little bit brighter.  Often it’s possible to see people with their camera out, looking at an intriguing piece of art on the street and in that moment it’s achieved its raison d’etre and more. As I said previously, perhaps this is the way to be seen by many more pairs of eyes than most pieces of art will ever have gaze upon them.  In that sense there is much positivity; the artist gets his or her work seen and the passersby enjoy the streets in ways that are not usually encouraged to. Indeed, look past the criticisms and the positive essence of all art is seen.

Tucked away on the second floor of Grand Central, on Renshaw Street is a venue called Zap Graffiti. Promoting graffiti as a positive art form, the venue aims to ‘create and develop graffiti as an art form as much as possible, share experiences, and develop the scene from the roots working with kids and all the way up' and amongst the many activities you can participate in at the venue there is included mural workshops, a one to one graffiti class where you can create your own banner and various activities up and down the country. 

With a steady flow of visitors to the venue, it is a joy to behold possibly the brightest walls of anywhere in the city, filled with creativity like nowhere else in the area. The constant smell of fresh paint is central to the vibe of keeping the movement going with constant workshops and visiting artists with the golden rule being to make your work better than what was there before.

Of course, Zap Graffiti is a place where graffiti, or street art as it’s also known, is par for the course and wholly positive. It’s no tagging rule – That is, painting a symbol or name as opposed to a piece of art – ensures that the space remains exciting and colourful but the streets are a completely different matter. There are some legal walls that can be used by strict permission, but most street art, however brilliant it is, can be classed as an illegal act and can get those who practise it into trouble. You know that of course but it needs to be said and this article seeks not to encourage illegal acts but to celebrate the creativity of those artists who make the streets a brighter and more interesting place through their excellent work.

Should you inspiration be piqued, please pop into Zap Graffiti and enquire about a class. And remember that the next time you see a great piece of street art it may not be there for long so enjoy it whilst you can! Liverpool has a great scene for art and street art; graffiti - or whatever you wish to call it – is an important part of that!

Perhaps the last word should go to Psychonautes who beautifully encapsulates the idea of street art thus: ‘It's a way to question people who then become more interested in art. The more colourful the streets are the better!’

Words and Interview by Seba. This article also appears in issue seven of Object of Dreams Magazine.