STREET ART AND GRAFFITI IN RIGA: MOTIVATION, OPINION AND WORK PROCESS OF ARTISTS

Abstract

This article describes characteristics of graffiti and street art in Riga. The aim of the article is to present features of street art and graffiti phenomenon, as well as to highlight portrait of a typical urban Riga artist by analysing types of activities, motivation and other characterizing aspects of graffiti writers and street artists. The author of the article introduces general street art and graffiti phenomenon, highlighting differences between these forms of art, following analysis of such topics as manifestation of street art and graffiti in Riga, the most common forms of street art and graffiti in urban environment of Riga. The author of the article also provides analysis of street art and graffiti artists’ motivation of their activities and describes street artist’s one-night run that was studied during conducted inclusive observation thus allowing understanding the characteristics of typical Riga urban environment artist.