Exhibit A(rt): Art from the Streets

Get ready to dive deep into the world of street art with Artscience Museum's latest exhibition, Art from the Streets. Held from January 13 'til June 3, the showcase displays more than 200 works from the most distinguished street artists from around the globe. Curator Magda Danysz lets us in on everything we need to know before heading down.

Tell us what the exhibition is about.

Art from the Streets is about the history of what is now commonly called street art. It's got four decades of history that's amazing and very dense. Things have evolved a lot from the beginning of writing in the subways and graffiti in the late '70s. It's this great visual journey that we wanted to share at Artscience Museum.

The movement is very interesting by the diversity of techniques used. Spray can is only one of the used media. Stencil, printing, etching, pasting, and many other techniques are used and reinterpreted. 

Why street art?

Street art has become a generic name for a movement that we still need to study and historicise. Many artists even reject this label. They don't want to be called street artists – they simply are artists. Yet, from a critical and history point of view, we need to have a word to know what we are talking about. It's important for the artists that we speak of art and also treat them as contemporary artists above all. Too many institutions still doubt them.

Obama vote poster, 2012. Artwork: Shepard Fairey.

What do you love about this art form?

It's an art movement that is happening now. It's the art of our generation. I often tell people to open their eyes, because all the next Picassos are just in front of them. Here in the streets and the museums of our cities. It's great to be part of a living movement and have front row seats in what is happing now.The energy and the contemporaneity of the movement is also a great factor.

From Futura 2000 and Dondi to Invader – how did you choose the artists for this exhibition?

We aimed at introducing the most famous names of the movement. Yet, it was also important to us to show the emerging talents and the people who work in Asia. It's key to have a balance because the reality of the movement is that wherever you go in the world you will see some street art. And this in art history is a first.

Artwork: Banksy. Photo: Ian Cox.

What do you think about the urban scene in Singapore?

At first, everyone was trying to tell me there's only a very small scene, which I couldn't believe because street art is everywhere. Upon discovering the country I've been amazed by everything that happens – there are plenty of interesting styles and artists.

Do you have any favourite murals in Singapore – if yes where can you find it?

I'm a big fan of what's done at Gillman Barracks in the past and I'm looking forward to the DISINI festival this year. I'd advise people to go and see what happens in Little India. There's still some more surprises there.