Street Art

Street art, graffiti or tagging—call it what you will—it reflects something of the personality of the person who created it. It can be as celebrated as the work of Banksy, with its subtle political satire and social commentary, or as simple as a tag left by someone wanting to say, "I was here."

It can inspire, provoke, amuse or offend. At times it damages buildings and public spaces; at others it transforms dull walls into vibrant canvases. Whether we admire it or not, it is a form of human expression that can display remarkable creativity and imagination.

The urge to leave a mark is far older than the spray can. From the magnificent cave paintings of Lascaux in France, created between 14,000 and 36,000 years ago, to explorers and travellers carving their names into rock faces, people have long wanted to record their presence and tell their stories. During the 1805 expedition across North America, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark even carved their names at Chimney Rock—a reminder that the desire to leave a mark has accompanied us throughout history.

The photographs in this gallery include works from the famous laneways of Melbourne, the streets of Wellington, and places across South Asia. Some make me laugh, some make me think, and others leave me wondering about the artist behind them.

One of my favourites simply reads, "Make Algae Great Again." No explanation needed.

Like all my galleries, these images are not about judging the subject—they are about observing it. I never know what I might discover around the next corner, and that is part of the fun.