In some countries, writing or painting on walls is a crime. Sometimes, graffiti artists have problems with the police. In other countries, artists can draw and paint in certain places. For example, in Taiwan, there are “graffiti zones” where artists can paint on walls. In Sao Paulo in Brazil, street artists can paint pictures on walls and houses. Their pictures are colourful and beautiful. Some tourists visit Sao Paulo just to see the street art!

1. Look at the picture and ask your partner for details about his/her picture. Talk about the similarities and differences between them.

2. Tell your partner what your text is about. Listen to each other and then exchange opinions about the topic and the content of the texts.

3. To know more on the topic: In turns, ask your partner three questions about the following subjects and answer his/her questions. Start with the first one.

- if street art makes the city looks better or not- the role of the police- other kind of street art- he/she has experience creating art- the problem of the public space

Finally, the examiner may ask you some questions related to the subject

Banksy is a pseudonymous English graffiti artist, political activist, film director, and painter. Although his identity has not been proven, reliable sources report that he is believed to be Robin Gunningham, a former public schoolboy at Bristol Cathedral Choir School.[1][2][3][4]

His satirical street art and subversive epigrams combine dark humour with graffiti executed in a distinctive stencilling technique. His works of political and social commentary have been featured on streets, walls, and bridges of cities throughout the world.[5]

Banksy displays his art on publicly visible surfaces such as walls and self-built physical prop pieces. Banksy does not sell photographs or reproductions of his street graffiti, but art auctioneers have been known to attempt to sell his street art on location and leave the problem of its removal in the hands of the winning bidder.