516Kviews
“It’s Graffiti, But Why?”: 30 Laugh-Inducing Bits Of Graffiti That Prove Not Everyone Is Meant To Be An Artist
Art comes in all shapes and sizes. Be it an impressionist painting, an ancient sculpture, an intricate mosaic, or a toilet. Straight lines or swirly lines, monochrome or an explosion of neon, realistic or abstract, yes or no. Yet, what unites these diverse mediums and applications is the message and emotional impact on the viewer.
However, there’s one art form that sits on the fine line between vandalism and art, and that’s graffiti. From works that make you ponder your existential purpose in the universe, to the evocative message of “I ams here lol,” graffiti is here to stay, and today we’ll be looking at some of the finest works that humanity could have ever come up with, as shared by the “It’s Graffiti, But Why?” Facebook group.
It’s chucklesome goodness that hit the spot for quality content. So make sure you’re upvoting your favorites and leaving comments along the way, and, if you’re craving some actual art, here is a link to our previous article. Oh, and another one, because I couldn’t choose. Now let’s get into it!
More info: Facebook
This post may include affiliate links.
" nothing really mattress, anyone can see, nothing really mattress, to me... any way the wind blows...."
People are often divided when it comes to graffiti. Is it art? Is it vandalism? Should it be more heavily penalized or more encouraged? Is any form of writing on the wall to be given any meaning above its original? Whilst smarter people than myself discuss these topics and aim to find answers, the rest of us can simply chuckle at the silliness of it all.
The Facebook group “It’s Graffiti, But Why?” has united over 66k members who love sharing and laughing at the silliest and most random graffiti finds. Ever since September 2015, it’s become a hub for those who appreciate the absurdity of life, as well as its fragility. But enough of fancy wordy talk, let’s get into some more interesting bits about graffiti as a whole.
As stated by the Eden Gallery, graffiti is a form of visual communication created in public places. It’s usually illegally produced and often involves the unauthorized marking of public or private spaces by individuals or groups. It bears an uncanny resemblance to ancient inscriptions and cave drawings, telling a story of present-day life.
Regardless of that fact, the art form has been very much criticized by the public as a whole, with it only recently beginning its journey to being recognized as actual art. As stated by Jonathan Jones, the vast majority of graffiti is ugly, stupid and vaguely threatening, with only a tiny portion of it all being witty or creative. “It is boring and expresses a generalized contempt for community, kindness, and the weak,” he says. But one should probably look at why people graffiti in the first place.
Modern graffiti started in the 1960s in New York City and Philadelphia, with one of the very first graffiti writers being Taki 183, who one day found himself bored. Walking around the streets, he was met with a small piece of writing that spelled out Julio 204. Taki got inspired and started to write his name everywhere. Others got inspired and wanted to try it too, and suddenly the city of New York was covered in names and addresses.
Nikita Krakhofer explains that it became a sort of game and challenge. The way to become better at this game was to write in a better way than the others, which is how different styles emerged. Needless to say, it was highly illegal and dangerous. It could land you in prison, make you pay a hefty fine, or you could simply die due to the risk involved in being on the train tracks, in the subway, or at other dangerous spots. But that didn’t seem to deter people.
There are certain aspects of creating graffiti that give one a rush unlike that of simply drawing or painting. It gives one a sense of freedom to create anything and everything without limits for space. It also brings a sense of rebellion against the system, society, and any norms that may be critical of their message.
Furthermore, it can lead to fame and notoriety on a global scale. As long as one is incredibly good at what they do, or incredibly stupid to attempt to tag the most dangerous locations. But, similar to mountaineering, graffiti artists want to ‘climb’ them all—collect all the street spots, subways, cars, etc.
Regardless of all these reasons, the one that may unite every single graffiti artist is the craving to leave one’s mark on the world. To express oneself and to be recognized for existing. Being known for something as illegal as vandalizing property, no matter how beautiful or artistic the ensuing graffiti is, makes the effort worth it for these graffitists.
Besides, if we look at some absurdist philosophy, we may realize that we’re looking far too deep into this as is. Absurdism refers to the complex human tendency to find meaning and inherent value in life and the inability to do so in a purposeless existence within an irrational universe. Having the ability to be conscious of the absurd and responding to it allows individuals to achieve a greater extent of their freedom, and thus, we land back here to these examples of graffiti.
At the end of the day, graffiti is a language of modern-day society. Whilst the actual scribble or genital silhouette may not have any artistic value, it speaks volumes about current-day issues, some of which still revolve around the fact that we’re an inconsequential part of the universe with limited lifespans, trying to satisfy our craving for life eternal.
Or it means absolutely nothing and just acts as a means for temporary happiness for the artist and for the beholder. Although that building may not stick around forever, the memories and paint may do so longer than the people who put them there in the first place, and that’s all that matters.
As you continue scrolling through the list, make sure you’re upvoting your favorites and leaving comments below, and I shall see you all in the next one!
Oh wise and powerful Chicken of Truth..............tell us............Why did you cross the road?
Best bit of graffiti I saw was written in really tiny writing on the very bottom of a toilet stall door, it read "if you can read this you just s**t up the wall" so stupid but so clever lol Second best was simply "EFFIN YEAH!" In giant letters. They censored themselves, perhaps board panda staff wrote it lol
My restroom fave was in an eatery by the NW corner of Hollywood & Vine: "Here I sit / On the pooper / Giving birth to / A state trooper". Another stall was double-graffitti-ized. One hand wrote: "My mother made me a homosexual". Below that, in another hand: "If I give her some yarn, will she make me one too?"
Load More Replies...I thought this thread would have some clever entries of the mundane becoming amusing through art. It was just childish humor defacing property 🙁
I laugh at stupid s**t. Learn to smile so ur resting b***h face doesn’t get stuck
Load More Replies...I saw some graffiti while I was driving once. It said 'I hate you'. It made me sad. Two miles later there was more. 'I still hate you'. I started taking it personally by then... 😑
Graffiti I'll never forget, some girl had used her feces to write "Eat S***" on a middle school girls' bathroom wall. This was about 30 years ago. Turned right around when I saw this. Lol. People are gross.
Maybe... Just maybe, it was melted chocolate. Just saying... 💁♀️
Load More Replies..."I feel like I've been cheated out of something, but I don't know what it is." Graffiti along entire wall of building in California. Must have resonated with the neighborhood... it was there for years.
Probably Still there to this day. I can feel that. 😥
Load More Replies...My favorite graffiti was a bunch of grout puns ('grout Scott!' for example) written in the grout between the tiles in the downstairs bathroom of the physics department of my alma mater. Second favorite is probably the sign for "ICE" where someone had added an "M" in front, which made a lot more sense for the 4/5 of the year that the area was too warm for ice.
My favorite "graffiti" is a classic from Tornio (Northern Finland) with the adorably miss-spelled sentence "Yuo're life you'r tsois".
One of my faves: (in one hand, scrawled in big, all caps): "QUESTION EVERYTHING!!!" (below in another hand, written small and meek): "why?"
I forgot I saw this on the back of a van, over 20 years ago. Thanks for the reminder.
Load More Replies...NGL bored panda loves to hate on an entire country (US) but loves defacing property, questionable priorities...
We all do, especially those from the U.S. Stop lying to yourself that that is the worst thing on this damn planet. 😂
Load More Replies...Small town I grew up in had cute stone plaques with white block letters that said "Welcome to **name of town**". Well, turns out with a crowbar and some teenage determination those block letters could be removed and rearranged. Some one pulled the "L" the "T" and rearranged an "N" from the town name to right after the second "O". Stayed that way for years 😂
Ana Ng: (painted on an overpass) I don't want the world, i just want your half.
Best bit of graffiti I saw was written in really tiny writing on the very bottom of a toilet stall door, it read "if you can read this you just s**t up the wall" so stupid but so clever lol Second best was simply "EFFIN YEAH!" In giant letters. They censored themselves, perhaps board panda staff wrote it lol
My restroom fave was in an eatery by the NW corner of Hollywood & Vine: "Here I sit / On the pooper / Giving birth to / A state trooper". Another stall was double-graffitti-ized. One hand wrote: "My mother made me a homosexual". Below that, in another hand: "If I give her some yarn, will she make me one too?"
Load More Replies...I thought this thread would have some clever entries of the mundane becoming amusing through art. It was just childish humor defacing property 🙁
I laugh at stupid s**t. Learn to smile so ur resting b***h face doesn’t get stuck
Load More Replies...I saw some graffiti while I was driving once. It said 'I hate you'. It made me sad. Two miles later there was more. 'I still hate you'. I started taking it personally by then... 😑
Graffiti I'll never forget, some girl had used her feces to write "Eat S***" on a middle school girls' bathroom wall. This was about 30 years ago. Turned right around when I saw this. Lol. People are gross.
Maybe... Just maybe, it was melted chocolate. Just saying... 💁♀️
Load More Replies..."I feel like I've been cheated out of something, but I don't know what it is." Graffiti along entire wall of building in California. Must have resonated with the neighborhood... it was there for years.
Probably Still there to this day. I can feel that. 😥
Load More Replies...My favorite graffiti was a bunch of grout puns ('grout Scott!' for example) written in the grout between the tiles in the downstairs bathroom of the physics department of my alma mater. Second favorite is probably the sign for "ICE" where someone had added an "M" in front, which made a lot more sense for the 4/5 of the year that the area was too warm for ice.
My favorite "graffiti" is a classic from Tornio (Northern Finland) with the adorably miss-spelled sentence "Yuo're life you'r tsois".
One of my faves: (in one hand, scrawled in big, all caps): "QUESTION EVERYTHING!!!" (below in another hand, written small and meek): "why?"
I forgot I saw this on the back of a van, over 20 years ago. Thanks for the reminder.
Load More Replies...NGL bored panda loves to hate on an entire country (US) but loves defacing property, questionable priorities...
We all do, especially those from the U.S. Stop lying to yourself that that is the worst thing on this damn planet. 😂
Load More Replies...Small town I grew up in had cute stone plaques with white block letters that said "Welcome to **name of town**". Well, turns out with a crowbar and some teenage determination those block letters could be removed and rearranged. Some one pulled the "L" the "T" and rearranged an "N" from the town name to right after the second "O". Stayed that way for years 😂
Ana Ng: (painted on an overpass) I don't want the world, i just want your half.