Singpost apologises for publicity stunt By sujin Thomas

Controversty arosed over a publicity campaign based on the Youth Olympic Games. The saga began when six post boxes around Singapore was sprayed with graffiti by a 'shadowy masked figure'. The uninformed public became suspicious and mistook the deed as an act of vandalism and the police was contacted. The stakeholders of this project included SingPost, and the candidates in the competition. The police felt agitated that Singpost did not explain to them in detail how they were going to carry out their stunt and how they squander their resources on a misunderstanding. Also, they felt that the blame should not be on them. Members of the public was suspicious of the doing hence called up the police. SingPost was apologetic at the inconvinenced caused.

So, to what extent can we consider such graffiti stunts as art?
Graffiti is any type of public markings that may appear in the forms of simple written words to elaborate wall paintings. Graffiti has existed since ancient times, with examples dating back to Ancient Greece and the Ancient Roman empire. Since the act is enduring can we consider it art? Art is a form of self expression. Singpost gave opportunity for youth to express themselves in a creative manner. Moreover, the graffiti produced were aesthically pleasing, in which it is subjective. Personally, I feel that the graffiti adds live into the dull stainless steel post box. The definition of art is to express onself, in this case to publicise a Singpost. However, it is pointless to do so, if the public is unable to receive the message as how the intended it to be. The government and authorities are to regulate art. If self expression is place at areas where unprohibited (or without permission), it Crime is often referred to as an act that is intended to harm a certain group of people or public. Graffiti can be only referred to as an act of crime when it is placed inappropriately.

Singapore is a traditional, conservative society. Freedom of expression sometimes can be limited. Eventhough, we have said that we are modernised, there are certain types of art that are attatched to sterotypes. The sterotypes that are attatch to graffiti : One is a ganster and so on. The society must be able to embrace self expression in order for art to enhance our lives. The society must be open to art, and art should not be offensive to the public. Art can serve to strengthen bonds between countrymen as it gives a form of identity (eg. batik). Majority of the Singaporeans are not well exposed to art and many cannot appreciate it. Some find art impractical and useless. Hence they dismiss such graffitis as vandalism. Those people are ignorant to the different kind of art and what is art in general. Or, they could have a traditional view point of art. They might just think that art should only be placed in a gallery. Therefore, the may be unwilling to accept graffiti as a form of art.