Avant Garde

Avant Garde is the term given to new innovations, techniques and processes which are at the forefront of many artist's workings. The term was first originated in France in the first half of the nineteenth century by Henri de Saint-Simon who believed artists where in the same league as scientists and industrialists. 
Avant Garde to myself is something i see almost everyday, being a keen graffiti artist i feel my art is still regarded as avant garde seen as though it is still illegal and many political debates and messages are shown though artists and friends paintings. I would consider graffiti as being on the front line of art, risking arrest or charges to put some colour or life into something which otherwise would be a boring dead wall. By using some of banksys methods of design, messages have been spread and taken more seriously through forms of graffiti.

Consumer Jesus
http://echostains.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/consumer_jesus_banksy1.jpg

Unknown
http://arton-canvas-prints.co.uk/banksy-prints/banksy-prints-simon-cowell.htm

The above shows some of Banksy's avant garde messages which use graffiti to put the point across showing a holy symbol holding shopping filled with consumer items it strikes questioning of what things are coming to along with the homeless man holding the board asking for change which represents change as a person as above it states "keep your coins".
Although many forms of graffiti isnt taken as seriously as that of Banksy i still believe that it is a cutting edge way of showing art.