GRAFFITI: THE RISE OF AN URBAN ART FORM.
Modern Graffiti Art can be traced to the late 1960’s in the United States. However, the history of Graffiti goes much further back to ancient times, as far back as to the cave art of the Palaeolithic Age. Graffiti comes from the Italian word ”Graffere” which means to ”scratch on a surface”. These media vary and can include spray paint, pencil, stickers, charcoal, oil paint, among others.
Although this form of art expression is well acknowledged in Western countries, it has only just began to pike an interest in Nigeria. The most prominent graffiti artist in Nigeria is Osa Okunkpolor, popularly known as Osa Seven who has brought this urban art form to life on this side of world. Growing up in Festac, a lively neighbourhood in Lagos, is where his earliest works were made. He has made a name for himself as a leading graffiti artist with big name clients like Guinness, Kia and even the Lagos State Government.
In 2016 Osa Seven ran a programme called ”Art For a Cause”, where he partnered with other artist in Lagos State to inject creativity into learning spaces for kids.
With the fast growing pace of Osa Seven as a remarkable graffiti artist, the Lagos State Government commissioned him to create a monument with the theme ”Eko Tag” which captures Lagos and its beautiful structures. It’s refreshing to see Nigerian artists and Nigerians as a whole explore outside the spheres of traditional venues and come out for this cause to participate in the beautifying Lagos through art.
We can only hope that Graffiti art has come to stay and other Urban art forms can grow and have a place in our culture as a whole.
Although this form of art expression is well acknowledged in Western countries, it has only just began to pike an interest in Nigeria. The most prominent graffiti artist in Nigeria is Osa Okunkpolor, popularly known as Osa Seven who has brought this urban art form to life on this side of world. Growing up in Festac, a lively neighbourhood in Lagos, is where his earliest works were made. He has made a name for himself as a leading graffiti artist with big name clients like Guinness, Kia and even the Lagos State Government.
In 2016 Osa Seven ran a programme called ”Art For a Cause”, where he partnered with other artist in Lagos State to inject creativity into learning spaces for kids.
With the fast growing pace of Osa Seven as a remarkable graffiti artist, the Lagos State Government commissioned him to create a monument with the theme ”Eko Tag” which captures Lagos and its beautiful structures. It’s refreshing to see Nigerian artists and Nigerians as a whole explore outside the spheres of traditional venues and come out for this cause to participate in the beautifying Lagos through art.
We can only hope that Graffiti art has come to stay and other Urban art forms can grow and have a place in our culture as a whole.
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