A London ‘street artist’, who has become famous for spraying his nickname or ‘tag’ on walls in the capital, has been convicted of criminal damage by a London court. Daniel Halpin has graffitied his tag on buildings and such risky places such as the London Underground and bridges in London since 2002. His trademark is simply ‘Tox’ followed by the last two digits of the year (eg Tox11). The infamous North Londoner has received countless orders for seven convictions of criminal damage and has received countless community-service orders and anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) over the years.

The question which was put to the jury in this latest case was whether or not his work was really art or if it was merely vandalism. It appears the jurors felt the latter, as Halpin has been convicted. Yet others would disagree; it was reported in 2009 that Halpin’s works, in the form of framed Tox tags, were being sold for £75 a piece, and he has reportedly earned up to £9,000 in two hours through selling his work. His trademark tag can even be spotted on one of the train carriages blown up during the 7/7 bombings in 2005, and on a miniature train in the London Transport Museum. Surely this is a sign of the times, signalling that street art can be influential. Perhaps the ‘Tox’ logo is a meaningful symbol of anarchy and rebellion against the society which we all live in, a subversive claim to fame.

Street art, or ‘urban art’ can represent many things: rebellion, inequality and quite often frustration - frustration with politics or perhaps just with the hardship of life today caused from the recession, unemployment and soaring prices. Banksy is probably the most famous street artist of the 21st century. Maintaining a secret identity, he graffities images which carry political messages in public spaces mostly in the UK. Some of his most famous being the four-foot lettering in central London, ‘One Nation Under CCTV’, which he managed to paint on the wall in the middle of the West End without getting caught, while CCTV cameras recorded him. A child reaching out for a heart-shaped balloon and two male police officers embracing in a kiss are also some of his other famous works. Banksy’s work receives a lot of positive feedback, its controversy evoking public comment on the state of society. His images undoubtedly mean something, they scream out to the passer by and make them think, hey that’s true – something isn’t right here. Nevertheless, can graffiti, something associated predominantly with teenagers who are labelled antisocial, be called art, and is the spraying of a tag really street art? What does graffiti really represent apart from the artist?

Another street artist, and rival to Halpin, Eine Flynn, dubbed Halpin’s work as; ‘Incredibly basic and lacking skill, flair or unique style’. It could be said that his slanted lettering does lack ‘style’, but is style – and art in general - not a matter of personal taste? While some will claim to see meaning and depth in a few lines on a canvas and will be prepared to part with thousands of pounds for the privilege of owning it, others will simply see a few lines on a canvas.

A tag, then, could be viewed as merely a claim to fame and an attempt at self-glorification, which Tox has managed to achieve through spraying his tag hundreds of times all over the London Underground. If you were sat on the tube, or are on a bus in London and saw Halpin’s calling card, what would come to mind: art or destruction?

Yes, art is subjective, it does not have to be beautiful, but it should have content and it should bear a meaning. Street art should reflect the surroundings in which it is placed and bring culture and movement to the street. This tagging form of ‘street art’, which lies closely next to vandalism and is a criminal offence, does in my eyes represent something, there is an increase for young people to want to be seen and heard. To be famous. For everyone to know your name. ‘Tox,Tox,Tox’: you can’t knock Daniel Halpin for trying to get his name out there.