It’s a Friday night in the summer. My parents are finishing dinner, the TV is on, the lights are off, and the windows are open. I’m getting my backpack ready: a few spray cans, my blackbook, and I’m about to head out the door. I tell them goodbye and they remind me not to be too late. I’m 14 years old and my friends are waiting for me at the neighborhood stairs to go out painting. We’re at a wall by a marina, barely visible under the faint light, the only sound in the distance is the shaking of spray cans by my friends. No one disturbs us, no one watches us; the moment is perfect.
From my beginnings as a graffiti writer, I’ve traveled a long path that has led me to explore the depths of street art. This personal journey has allowed me to reflect on the differences between these two forms of art. To me, both are art, although I know many believe that graffiti is not. Art is something that comes from within; it is pure expression. It doesn’t matter what it is or how it’s done—that is art. Each of these forms of art has significantly influenced my life.
BEGINNINGS IN GRAFFITI
My foray into graffiti began with a deep need for expression and an irresistible attraction to the clandestine world of graffiti writers. Inspired by the artists I saw around me, I started tagging everywhere. I wanted to be like them, living that life full of adrenaline and excitement. I spent nights painting letters on the city walls, with panic and laughter as my constant companions. This quickly became my daily routine.
I clearly remember spending hours at home, drawing my first sketches while listening to Ice T or House Of Pain. These moments of creative solitude were as important as the nocturnal escapades. What did I feel during those times? I felt a deep connection to something larger than myself, an underground current of creativity and rebellion that pulled me ever deeper. I had no doubt that I belonged to that link called graffiti. The graffiti writers, with their philosophy and modus operandi, were my tribe. Their codes of conduct and the camaraderie we shared made me feel that I perfectly fit that label. Graffiti was more than an activity; it was an identity and a way of life.
However, despite having rarely done letters—mostly characters—I never saw this as an obstacle to being part of a world where letters reign supreme. In graffiti, those who paint characters are recognized just as much as those who paint letters, thanks to their unique style. This is one of the codes of graffiti, one of its fundamental pillars: a war of styles where each artist is valued for their skill and creativity, regardless of their chosen form of expression.
THE EVOLUTION TOWARD STREET ART
Over time, through a natural evolution driven by practice and introspection, I began to explore new forms of expression. My works evolved from simple tags to more complex characters and figures. Initially, I continued painting in illegal and dark environments, barely illuminated by distant streetlights. What changed within me? Something began to shift. The authenticity of graffiti, that essence that had drawn me in and led me to the world of hip hop, started to transform.
It was around 1997 when I discovered the term “Street Art.” I saw how some of the artists I admired in graffiti fanzines and magazines began exploring this new realm. Street art, as it was called, started making its way into the graffiti scene. This discovery made me question my own practice and led me to reflect on the differences and similarities between graffiti and street art. Like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis, my art began to take on a new, more expansive form.
WHAT IS STREET ART TO ME?
To me, street art is a form of painting that doesn’t necessarily require a background in graffiti. It is an artistic expression that can be done by someone who paints by intuition or by someone fresh out of an art academy who ventures into the streets. Is street art a natural evolution of graffiti? Although it can sometimes look similar to graffiti and be confused with it, to me, it is not the same.
Graffiti is a brotherhood with codes, a history, and foundations that are part of a broader culture of free expression. Graffiti writers have their own rules and ways of relating to each other, like an urban tribe communicating through their works. When I was painting graffiti, going out with other writers, sharing stories, and respecting the codes of graffiti was fundamental. I felt like I belonged to something, and that filled me with pure emotions. The music I listened to while painting was also part of that deeper connection.
GRAFFITI AND ITS CONNECTION TO HIP HOP
Graffiti is intrinsically linked to hip hop. Generally, people involved in graffiti listened to rap, electro, funk, or some style of music born from the same roots as hip hop. This is not a coincidence; graffiti is one of the four pillars of hip hop, along with rap, breakdancing, and DJing. The music we listened to not only inspired us but also formed part of our identity and the culture we shared.
Can someone who dislikes hip hop be part of the street art scene? Absolutely. A street artist could be someone who has no connection to hip hop, and that wouldn’t be unusual. Street art, in this way, is just another medium of expression: painting without any deeper cultural roots or codes. This lack of common roots makes street art accessible to a broader and more varied audience.
THE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE
To me, street art is simply painting for the sake of it. Graffiti, on the other hand, is belonging to a brotherhood with its own history and codes. It is a culture that encompasses various forms of free expression. You can paint at home, on a canvas, in the street, alone or with others, but what happens around you when you paint graffiti is incomparable. It is something deeply rooted in feelings, adrenaline, and pure emotions. You knew you belonged to something, and something belonged to you, even the music in your headphones was part of something purer than any current Spotify playlist.
Sharing wall with Dix, another member of the 972 crew. He is gathering the spray cans and putting them in the classic Adidas backpack that was popular at the time.
My journey from graffiti to street art has been a deep personal exploration. Both forms of art have their place and significance, and while they may seem similar at first glance, to me they are distinct worlds. Graffiti will always be that brotherhood with codes and its own culture, while street art represents a freer and more open form of expression. This is my perspective, based on my experiences and emotions, without claiming absolute truth. It is simply how I see and live these two forms of urban art.