Haute Vandalism

Consider street art: Graffiti, murals and performance artists. The creative potential is limitless, but more importantly, street art can spur on an engaging dialogue with the urban landscape. “The city can put up any advertisements, any billboards, any visuals that it wants, yet we’re not supposed to have the right to respond to those visuals,” curator Scott Burnham explains. “We should have enough tools and be encouraged to reply.” As creative director of the 2009 Montreal Biennale, Burnham will feature works by Peter “Roadsworth” Gibson, who was arrested in 2004 for his subversive stencils à la Banksy. Meanwhile, Burnham’s interactive outdoor exhibit, Urban Play, just launched in Amsterdam.

Burnham and Gibson reflect on the impact of street art.

PHOTOS: DAVIEL LAZURE VIEIRA (1, 2 & 10), ROADSWORTH (3 TO 9)