Street artists: what do you believe?

Published: 13th January, 2011
by DAN CARRIER

IT’S a piece of street art bearing the slogan, “I Believe”, for people to see from miles around. 

And its appearance in Camden Town over Christmas has re-ignited the debate on whether there should be a dedicated cultural committee to judge if pieces of street art are protected – or scrubbed off and their creators arrested.

The “I Believe” artist, who has yet to be identified, clambered on to the roof of the Lulworth block in Agar Grove and painted the image and word in early December, prompting a host of angry letters, and one in support of it, to the New Journal. 

Kentish Town artist Dame Paula Rego, whose pieces have been bought by Madonna and Charles Saatchi, now wants street artists to be given guidelines on displaying their work in the borough and art created by nocturnal daredevils to be given some protection. 

She said: “I would welcome a committee to consider whether street art should be painted over or kept, and I think it would be a great idea if there could be designated walls for murals and street art.

“They could stay up for a certain amount of time and then get painted over, though I imagine some would be so well loved, people would want them to be preserved, or dismantled and put into a museum.”

Ms Rego has in the past created murals herself – one graces the National Gallery – and added that often the problem with some street art has been the location.

She added: “You have to consider if it adds to the architecture, and what the architect would say. I have seen one or two in Kentish Town and have been impressed. I think it can be a welcome surprise, it relates how the artist feels, and is instinctive, spontaneous.”

Celebrated street artist Mr P, who was recently  commissioned to create works in Kentish Town Road, which was subsequently destroyed by council workers despite them being on private property and painted with permission, said an arts committee to manage public pieces would bring benefits.

“There is no funding at the moment for public art,” he added. “There are massive cuts, so people who take it upon themselves to create public art should be applauded. At the very least, we as a community should discuss whether these works stay or go.” 

Mr P said he would like to see the committee, made up of the likes of art teachers, critics and artists, joined by councillors, police officers, and conservation area committee representatives to allocate three-month stints to artists. He also believes space could be used by school or community centre art projects. 

Town Hall environment chief Sue Vincent backed the idea last year after a stencil of retired Primrose Hill shopkeeper June Beechey appeared on walls. 

She said: “Camden is about encouraging art and an art body to consider these issues would be welcome. It would be great to get people together so whether street art is kept or removed is a more open and democratic process.”

But others are not so keen. Lester May, who can see the “I Believe” slogan from the study in his Camden Town home, said: “There should be no sanction of this at all. The Lulworth graffiti is large and it is not on the property of the person who vandalised it. It is an eyesore. Street art does not have a place on private property.”