Editing Graffiti (section)

=== Personal expression ===
Graffiti is a way of communicating and a way of expressing onesself. It is both art and a functional thing that can warn people of something or inform people of something. However, graffiti is to some people a form of art, but to some a form of vandalism.<ref name=":02"/> And many graffitists choose to protect their identities and remain anonymous to hinder prosecution.

With the commercialization of graffiti (and [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] in general), in most cases, even with legally painted "graffiti" art, graffitists tend to choose anonymity. This may be attributed to various reasons or a combination of reasons. Graffiti still remains the [[hip hop#Culture|one of four hip hop elements]] that is not considered "performance art" despite the image of the "singing and dancing star" that sells hip hop culture to the mainstream. Being a graphic form of art, it might also be said that many graffitists still fall in the category of the [[Extraversion and introversion#Introversion|introverted archetypal artist]].

[[Banksy]] is one of the world's most notorious and popular street artists who continues to remain faceless in today's society.<ref name=banksy>{{cite book |title=Wall and Piece |author=Banksy |year=2005 |publisher=New York: Random House UK |isbn=9781844137862 }}</ref> He is known for his political, anti-war stencil art mainly in [[Bristol]], England, but his work may be seen anywhere from Los Angeles to [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]]. In the UK, Banksy is the most recognizable icon for this cultural artistic movement and keeps his identity a secret to avoid arrest. Much of Banksy's artwork may be seen around the streets of London and surrounding suburbs, although he has painted pictures throughout the world, including the Middle East, where he has painted on Israel's controversial [[West Bank]] barrier with satirical images of life on the other side. One depicted a hole in the wall with an idyllic beach, while another shows a mountain landscape on the other side. A number of [[Art exhibition|exhibitions]] also have taken place since 2000, and recent works of art have fetched vast sums of money. Banksy's art is a prime example of the classic controversy: vandalism vs. art. Art supporters endorse his work distributed in urban areas as pieces of art and some councils, such as Bristol and Islington, have officially protected them, while officials of other areas have deemed his work to be vandalism and have removed it.

Graffiti artists may become offended if photographs of their art are published in a commercial context without their permission. In March 2020, the [[Finland|Finnish]] graffiti artist Psyke expressed his displeasure at the newspaper ''[[Ilta-Sanomat]]'' publishing a photograph of a [[Peugeot 208]] in an article about new cars, with his graffiti prominently shown on the background. The artist claims he does not want his art being used in commercial context, not even if he were to receive compensation.<ref>Tamminen, Jari: ''Kuka omistaa graffitin?'' In ''[[Voima (newspaper)|Voima]]'' issue #1/2021, p. 40.</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" caption="Personal graffiti">
Graffiti at the Temple of Philae (XIII).jpg|Drawing at [[Philae temple complex|Temple of Philae]], [[Egypt]], depicting three men with rods, or staves
4091(Quisquis amat).jpg|Inscription in [[Pompeii]] lamenting a frustrated love: "Whoever loves, let him flourish, let him perish who knows not love, let him perish twice over whoever forbids love"
Post Apocalyptic Zombie Graffiti, Jan 2015.jpg|[[Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction|Post-apocalyptic]] despair
Mermaid Sliema.JPG|[[Mermaid]] in [[Sliema]], [[Malta]]
</gallery>