Lady Pink’s latest graffiti mural shown in the museum

Graffiti used to be associated with crime and vandalism. But Lady Pink, who has been making graffiti for over 40 years, has turned it into a respected artform. 

Words:

• A mural is a big picture painted on a wall, like the mural on the side of a building.
• To be rebellious means to refuse to follow rules, and to try new, exciting things that you’re not supposed to.
• A male-dominated field or industry means most of the power or positions are held by men, like when a job is mostly done by men, or a sport has mostly male coaches.
• Precocious means being smart or skilled at an early age, like a precocious child who can read at age three.
• When a behaviour is described as addictive, it’s hard to stop doing it. This can be positive, because the behaviour is very fun, but it can also have a negative meaning. 
• Vandalism is damaging someone else’s property on purpose, like spraying graffiti on a train. 
• Someone who is outspoken shares their opinion easily, and isn’t shy. 
• The foundation for something is a strong base that can be built on. For example, the foundation of a house. Sometimes it is used in a figurative sense, like when the first hiphop artists laid the foundation for future musicians. 
• Boldness means having courage or confidence.
• Permission means being allowed to do something, like asking your parents for permission to go out.
  

Video:

Warming up

1. You’re about to watch a video about a graffiti artists whose art can now be viewed at the MoMA: the Museum of Modern Art in New York. What do you know about modern art, and what is your opinion about it? Read about the museum here if you want to know more.

2. In the video, the artist talks about whether graffiti can be seen as vandalism. What is the difference between art and vandalism to you?

Questions about the video

Watch the video from 0:00-1:04.

3. The host describes the graffiti scene as ‘male-dominated’ when Lady Pink first started out. What effect did that have on Lady Pink’s decision to continue making art?

4. Lady Pink describes her personality when she was young. Write down two words she uses to describe herself.

Watch the video from 01:40 to 03:30.

5. Lady Pink says she and her friends took graffiti ‘above ground’. What does she mean by this?

A: They always made graffiti legally. 

B: They stopped painting subway trains and started painting the street.

C: They elevated graffiti from vandalism to fine art.

D: They made a lot of money from their graffiti.

6. True or false: the mural called Foundations is the second mural Lady Pink made for the MoMA. Explain your answer.

Watch the video from 03:30 to the end.

7. Lady Pink describes her teaching method as ‘aggressive’. Select a quote that best matches something Lady Pink would say in her lessons.

A: You should start small and work your way up to large murals.

B: You need to learn about other graffiti artists before you make your own.

C: You need to be bold in your art and not be afraid to express yourself. 

D: You can paint anywhere and everywhere you want, it doesn’t matter. 

8. What is Lady Pink’s connection to the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts?

Task

Option 1: Look up Lady Pink’s art online. Choose your favourite painting, and imagine this painting is hanging in a museum. Write a museum label for the painting. This hangs next to an art piece in a museum and gives more information about it.  

Option 2: Design your own graffiti art piece, inspired by Lady Pink. You can draw it using pencils and paper, or use any digital tool you like. 

Van de makers van All Right!, Of Course! en Taalblokken Engels