Many articles will tell you guerrilla art is a form of “street art” based in graffiti that originated in the UK. Today I want to tell you: it can be so much more.
I think guerrilla art is art that explicitly embraces this idea: art is what it does. Through exposure to art, effects are generated in the audience. While this is true of all art, a guerrilla artist consciously attempts to produce art that does something meaningful within a specific context.
With that in mind, here’s what guerrilla art is to me:
Guerrilla art is cause and effect. The goal is to create something in the minds of people in the environment where the art is shared.
Guerrilla art is meaningful. Guerrilla art attempts to convey a specific message or range of meanings to its audience. Your message can be universal, but you’ve got to have real feelings about real issues. Targeted sneaker ads are not guerrilla art.
Guerrilla art is honest. If you’re not honest about your feelings and intentions, you’re not making guerrilla art– you’re making propaganda. Falsified “guerrilla art” is often used by advertisers and political groups, for example, because it helps them appear “genuine,” “subversive,” or “morally righteous” when they are actually manipulative or enforcing status quo.
Guerrilla art is contextual. The meanings of a guerrilla art piece are intentionally tied to the context in which it is placed. The context includes things like location; history, characteristics, and circumstances of the intended audience; date and time; etc. Making a resolution to fight child abuse in an art exhibit is good, but to be guerrilla you’ve got to deliver that message in the place and time where it is needed— and to the people that need it.
Guerrilla art is often uncomfortable. A message that is easy to say and accept typically isn’t very meaningful. If your audience isn’t challenged (or encouraged to challenge something themselves), you can probably just call it art. Your message can be simple and obvious– just not contextually trivial. Context matters. For example: “Hug Your Kids” might be a meaningful message in a place where people are afraid to touch, but trivial in the home of a family that already shows healthy affection. The same simple message could even be dangerously anti-guerrilla if placed in the home of a child abuser.
Guerrilla art is big or small. You don’t need a global cause, a giant wall, or a huge audience. In fact, you can make personalized guerrilla art to help yourself and others in your own life. Guerrilla art can be a tiny scrap of red paper hidden under your pillow– as long as it has an important meaning to you. An audience of one is enough.
Guerrilla art is any style in any medium. The Wikipedia article for guerrilla art says, “Art on canvas is not guerrilla art.” I disagree. Any tools, any materials, any format. Likewise, guerrilla art doesn’t have to be based on traditional “graffiti” aesthetics or techniques. Use any style you want. It’s the message that matters.
Guerrilla art is any means of delivery. Often when we say “art” we mean certain types of work, but guerrilla art can include writing, speech, audio, video, dance, or anything you can make happen.
Guerrilla art is anywhere, anytime. You don’t have to be in a big city or “urban” setting to make disruptive art with a purpose. You can make guerrilla art anywhere, from a remote wilderness to your own bedroom, if that’s the appropriate context for your work.
Guerrilla art is not always “positive.” If your honest purpose is to hurt, shame, or intimidate someone, guerrilla art can achieve that. However, if you’re acting from a position of power or authority to control or torture people… then you’re not making guerrilla art. You’re just being mean.
I believe anyone can make guerrilla art. It doesn’t matter where you are, what materials you have, or whether anyone else will care. You can start “small,” making private art to help yourself.
So whoever you are, I encourage you to give it a try. Choose a challenging personal message or something specific you’d like to build in your life, such as “be nicer to my spouse when I get home from work,” “I am grateful for my life,” “work on my jump shot every day,” “I will make great use of my opportunities today,” etc. Make an object or piece of art that meaningfully conveys that to you, and put it somewhere important where you’ll see it every day at the times you need to be reminded. Start exploring what art can do.