The meaning of art can vary among individuals, and people often interpret different art styles in unique ways. It has now transformed into various contemporary styles with street art being one of them. They can usually be found displayed in public spaces such as trains, buildings, streets and other publicly viewed surfaces. However, street art continues to be regarded by some as vandalism, stemming from its historical associations with gang-related activities in 1920s and 1930s New York City.
Although some may perceive it as mere vandalism, However, street art is slowly getting it’s recognition as a form of contemporary art style. evolved since its origins and it is now being recognized as an art form and not just vandalism. Many street artists now choose to sign their names on their work, as they are able to be recognized for it. There are some street artists that are using their names to defy the odds, one of those brilliant visionaries include contemporary street artist Alice Pasquini.
Pasquini, known as Alicè in the art world, is an Italian artist and is seen as a pioneer in the street art space. Her s work has been showcased around the world, everywhere from Sydney to New York City. Spanning over 20 years, her career draws upon issues such as elitism and gender biases.
Pasquini brings attention towarrds United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on Reduced Inequalities and Gender Inequalities which is achieved by challenging preconceived notions about the accessibility of art and redefining street art as a platform for expressing everyday emotions and women's lives. By crafting artwork that resonates with the common individual, Asquini's art boldly declares that art belongs to all, transcending barriers and boundaries.
Pasquini is a trained artist, going through higher education in both her home country Italy, as well as getting a Masters in art critique in Spain. In an interview with ISupportStreetArt, Pasquini expressed that her views on art were influenced by her experiences in formal education, highlighting the impact of schools on shaping artistic perspectives.
The location in which the art piece is displayed plays a huge influence in how that piece of art is received by the audience, and Pasquini wants to break those barriers with street art, she expressed in an interview with Museum Week Magazine. While that in itself isn't the main issue, these factors have hindered who gets to be within these walls and who doesn't. “The function of the museum must first of all be a service to the citizen, a space that must speak to the whole community,” addeds Pasquini in an interview with Museum Week Magazine.
This raises a thought-provoking inquiry: if museums primarily exhibit works from a specific demographic or artists, what happens to the underrepresented segments of society? Pasquini's artwork provides a compelling answer by utilizing public spaces that are accessible to all, namely the streets where communities reside. In her efforts to amplify diverse voices, Pasquini's art draws inspiration from ordinary moments and relatable emotions that resonate with people. An example of this can be seen in her artwork depicting a couple sharing a kiss on a bench in Berlin, Germany.
Pasquini’s art also draws on issues like gender biases and inequalities as well. Street art is a form of art that is very heavily male dominated, so these topics are not often touched upon. In a historical art manner Pasquini talks about how Italy is known to see “naked” bodies, including “naked women,” however the moment these bodies represent the cycles a woman's body can take in course of a lifetime, such as pregnancy and breastfeeding, that is when the art becomes “controversial,” New York Times.
Pasquini’s art is also seen as very soft and tender, as she draws upon scenes of families, children”, and “lovers.” Pasquini’s work and art style is deliberate, like most artists. “In a city landscape, we are taught to accept cynicism. It’s so difficult to talk about positive things like love without being banal and boring,” she said in an interview with New York Times. She also mentions that this in conjunction with the topic of gender biases and inequalities creates very controversial art.
Alice Pasquini creates art that is accessible to everyone, and highlights everything wrong with academic spaces. Pasquini’s reflection of museums, gender disparities as well as how street art is seen in public shows how art can create spaces that are only welcome to some people. By creating artwork that can be accessed by all, and by being controversial; creating tender art, being a woman and highlighting certain spaces, Pasquini has created a space for these issues to be talked about.