[ivyart]

Japan has a long tradition of "piss"-marking places they have visited too. Traditionally it is done with a name or clan tag printed and then affixed to temple eaves and places like that with an extending pole. Nowadays they are condemned to the same 4 font families that taggers are over using in the west. As to the art question it is always a funny debate, although it can not be held with the same graffitist and questioner, at least not in succession. From my experience in discussions with many at Max Fish in L.E.S. try calling graffiti not Art and let the fireworks begin. Come back the next day and try to evaluate it on the criteria that art gets questioned and hammered, and then they say you criticize it as art because it is different. So which is it?
If it is art then it must be held to the same standards, ne? If it is a replication of four basic fonts then what is it really doing? Let's hear some defense, and be clear in your terms.