In protest against the marketing, institutionalization and domestication of street art, 30 members of a graffiti art movement known as ‘pixacao’ stormed into a Brazilian gallery brandishing spray cans and defaced the entire collection of paintings by well-known street artists that were on display.
The attack caused almost $10,000 worth of damage.
The Choque Gallery in Sao Paulo, Brazil specializes in promoting new art forms, and has displayed work by graffiti artists, tattoo artists, graphic designers and illustrators since 2004.
The pixacao protests are adding fuel to the ongoing debate about whether or not street art should be shown in galleries.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Resistance Graffiti
- The pixacao protests highlight a trend of resistance graffiti as a form of protest against the institutionalization of street art.
- Street Art Authenticity
- The attack on the street art exhibit raises awareness of the trend towards valuing the authenticity and rawness of street art over its commercialization.
- Street Culture Ambivalence
- The ongoing debate surrounding the display of street art in galleries reveals a trend of ambivalence towards integrating street culture into mainstream artistic institutions.
Where This Applies
- Art Galleries
- The incident at the Choque Gallery highlights the need for innovative approaches to curating and showcasing street art in a way that respects its roots and authenticity.
- Graffiti Artist Community
- The pixacao protests present an opportunity for the graffiti artist community to advocate for their work's independence from institutionalized art and explore new avenues for expression.
- Street Art Tourism
- The controversy surrounding the display of street art in galleries prompts the tourism industry to offer alternative experiences that cater to those seeking the genuine street art culture.
