First, I want to introduce you what is called 'street art'. This type of cultural expresson it's illegal. It include not only the well-known 'graffiti' but also other ways of artistic expressions at the street.
Graffiti is the plural word that comes from the italian 'graffire'. It is a way of inscription or paint usually printed on street furniture and fixtures. This word is also use to name the inscriptions that reminds on walls since Roman Empire or the slogans that have become popular with this technique –like the graffiti made in the Parisian riot in may, 1968.
One of the first 'graffiti' in history was the sentence 'Kilroy was here'. It was first seen by the northamerican troops when they were entering Tunisia, on Second World War. Both in their advances in Italy and France, and even Germany, they saw that grafiti again. The typical representation of 'Kilroy was here' shows a head and hands leaning out of a fence. The author has never been known.
There are several different genres of graffiti. However, they usually contain always political and social ideas.One genre is 'Art Graffiti'. It came into being of american street music 'hip hop' of 70s and 70s. There are three different forms: 1)Tag, written in a unique and personalized style and color. 2)Throw-up, which contains letters, words or a list of names. It is usually painted with two colors. And 3)Piece, the most complicated. It's used a minimun of three colors and it's necessary several days in order to finish it. Another genre is 'Slogans'. Also called 'public graffiti'. They born as a representation of a personal opinion about political problems (ambiental problems, feminism, state politcian,...) But all they share the fact that express their point of view about these kind of things to the audience. The third genre is named 'Latrinalia', also called 'private graffiti' is the kind of graffiti that is painted in the (public) bathrooms, that is, walls, doors, mirrors, etc. There can include drawings, words, poetry, philosophy or personal reflections.
The tag or tagging –said previously– is practically a signature or an acronim of a person or group generally called 'crew'. However, a tag is more than a simply signature; it's a way of expressing a own style through an alias, since in many places this kind of art is ilegal and it's difficult to paint a complete graffiti. So, that's when come into play the tag, a quickly way and less risky in the moment of make a graffiti. That's how an graffiti maker is identified. The tagging is not a matter of complexity, but of style. For that reason, it's easier to see the difference between a person who have a lot of practice and a person who hasn't enough. The tagging began to be shown at the trains of New York. Few time later, the sheds, where the trains sleep, became full overnight –the most famous was Joe 136.
Wildstyle is another way of graffiti. Due to this complexity, it's difficult to read for person who are not familarized with that. Generally, Wildstyle adds words and forms interwine and superimposed. It can include arrows and strange forms. It's difficult to produce the numerous layers of paint and forms in a homogeneous way. For this reason, the development of an origina style in this field is considered extremely difficult. So it's a complete artistic challenge for a graffiti writer.
Other ways of artistic expressions at the street relative to 'street art' were born at the middle of 90s called also 'Post-Graffiti'. This term is used to describe the work of a group of artists who developed a way of art expression at the streets using several techniques as stencils, posters, stickers, murals...away from the famous 'graffiti'. Stencils have usually a political message, and they are printed in public places in order to surprise the spectators. It use to have a eye-catching subversive message that it's a social criticis, that invites to a social struggle, crtic of society or, simply, reflection.
Finally, there's another street art called in spanish 'Movimiento Acción Poética'(Poetry Action Moviment) and was created by the professor of the 'Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León' in Monterrey (Mexico). The technique is simple: lime and a paintbrush. One goal: fill the city with love messages and poetic sentences by painting them at the walls. They are often deep thoughts of love and optimism created by the members of that moviment. These creations can be seen in more than three thousand of travelers and drivers because of their simplicity and eye-catching. They can be appreciated in the whole metropolitian area of Monterrey. This movement exists since more than thirty years and the members have written more than 3500 walls. These are attractive to a lot of tourists and they are usually photographed by students from other countries provoking a sensation of identification with each message. 'Acción Poética' has become an important part of culture there that even some regional politicians have get in touch with them to ask their permission in order to use their messages in their political campaigns. In 2010, there were many white cars involved in a tragic crash. This group painted them with a lot of message and they were shown in strategic points of Monterrey city in order to make more aware of the consequences of driving under the alcohol effects.
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