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Graffitiisthenameforimagesorletteringscratched, scrawled, paintedormarkedinanymanneronproperty. Inmoderntimes, spraypaint, normalpaintandmarkershavebecomethemostcommonlyusedmaterials. Inmostcountries, defacingpropertywithgraffitiwithoutthepropertyowner'sconsentisconsideredvandalism, whichispunishablebylaw. Sometimesgraffitiisemployedtocommunicatesocialandpoliticalmessages.
GraffitiisoftenseenashavingbecomeintertwinedwithhiphopcultureandthemyriadofinternationalstylesderivedfromNewYorkCitySubwaygraffiti .However, therearemanyotherinstancesofnotablegraffitithiscentury. Graffitihaslongappearedonrailroadboxcarsandsubways.
Graffitiasanelementofhiphop • Graffitiisoneofthefourmainelementsofhiphopculture.Therelationshipbetweengraffitiandhiphopculturearisesbothfromearlygraffitiartistspracticingotheraspectsofhiphop, anditsbeingpracticedinareaswhereotherelementsofhiphopwereevolvingasartforms
A 2006 exhibitionattheBrooklynMuseumdisplayedgraffitiasanartformthatbeganinNewYork'souterboroughsandreachedgreatheightsintheearly '80s withtheworkofCrash, Lee, Daze, KeithHaringandJean-MichelBasquiat. • Itdisplayed 22 worksbyNewYorkgraffitiartists, includingCrash, DazeandLadyPink. InanarticleabouttheexhibitioninTimeOutMagazine, curatorCharlottaKotiksaidthatshehopedtheexhibitionwouldcauseviewerstorethinktheirassumptionsaboutgraffiti. TerranceLindall, anartistandexecutivedirectoroftheWilliamsburgArtandHistoricCenter, saidregardinggraffitiandtheexhibition: • "Graffitiisrevolutionary, inmyopinion," hesays, "andanyrevolutionmightbeconsideredacrime. Peoplewhoareoppressedorsuppressedanoutlet, sotheywriteonwalls—it'sfree."