Walls with History
A Dialogue Between Street Artists and Communities
Abstract
Street art is a visual cultural mark which possesses a visual discourse conveyed through the history it is telling, the emotions it provokes and what it communicates in the interaction with the spectator. Street art brings people closer, giving voice to landmarks referent to the cultural identity of the place it is displaced in. It builds representations of the cultural heritage of a community and events that form its identity, based on the individual memory of its inhabitants. Through the intricate relationship between communication and street art, artists foster connections and invite the audience to engage with the dialogue taking place on the walls. Based on interviews conducted with Portuguese street artists, the present study explores how street art and its visual discourse capture the public’s attention and induces a sense of community, leading to the revitalization and cohesion of urban spaces.