Shriya NevatiaG'day Graffiti
September 19th 2006 10:58
Have you ever read or seen something graffitied onto a bathroom door or study desk that has made you think or made a difference in your life? I certainly have. Graffiti is the voice of the underworld and is society’s subconscious. Graffiti has been around since people learned to make marks and contains wisdom, politics, diaries and a multitude more.
My local council often holds ‘Goodbye Graffiti’ days where ‘ugly’ graffiti is scrubbed off and replaced with the work of professional aerosol artists. The pictures that I took of just a couple of the sites where I live shows just how much attitude and attractiveness this graffiti has and it creates stunning street galleries. Yet I’m concerned about who gets to decide which graffiti is legitimate and which has to be decimated.
Fair enough, vandalism of private property is a criminal offence and taggers would probably be better off writing their name in urine to mark out their territory rather than with paint. I have always loved graffiti because it tells you what’s really going on in the world and I think it should be read and thought about rather than destroyed. The local government Mayor would get my vote if he handed me a flyer about addressing youth issues by saying ‘G’day’ to graffiti rather than one that boasts about eradicating it and ignoring the whispers of the world.
American stencil art has been a recent influence on Australian graffiti, changing the look and feel of street art, but there is still something ‘G’day’ about the work that is produced here that reflects our identity. Australian graffiti should be allowed to continue to evolve.
The streets are already graffitied with advertising which may be colourful and informative; it can also be irritating and offensive. Why don’t we start to experience graffiti rather than condemn it?
My local council often holds ‘Goodbye Graffiti’ days where ‘ugly’ graffiti is scrubbed off and replaced with the work of professional aerosol artists. The pictures that I took of just a couple of the sites where I live shows just how much attitude and attractiveness this graffiti has and it creates stunning street galleries. Yet I’m concerned about who gets to decide which graffiti is legitimate and which has to be decimated.
Fair enough, vandalism of private property is a criminal offence and taggers would probably be better off writing their name in urine to mark out their territory rather than with paint. I have always loved graffiti because it tells you what’s really going on in the world and I think it should be read and thought about rather than destroyed. The local government Mayor would get my vote if he handed me a flyer about addressing youth issues by saying ‘G’day’ to graffiti rather than one that boasts about eradicating it and ignoring the whispers of the world.
American stencil art has been a recent influence on Australian graffiti, changing the look and feel of street art, but there is still something ‘G’day’ about the work that is produced here that reflects our identity. Australian graffiti should be allowed to continue to evolve.
The streets are already graffitied with advertising which may be colourful and informative; it can also be irritating and offensive. Why don’t we start to experience graffiti rather than condemn it?
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