Graffiti

[vurtomatic]

The funny thing about these community activist people who go around covering graffiti up, and claiming they're doing it for the community, is that they're exactly like the people who write on walls. Their mark just happens to be a solid, boring fill. Hell some of these guys advertise their 'graff coverup' business on walls they've painted over. Classical atheists vs. theist debate.

That's true too

also, i just have to add. i personally think alot of people get caught up in this shit because of the rush. i can't explain the rush i get when i put my name up in a place where there are a bunch of people around me, and not even letting them notice it. It's fucking addicting. and then you start wanting a little bit more, you push your covert abilities to the limit. mmmmm

I think this is where it makes it difficult for outsiders like me to grasp it. A lot of art these days, you sorta look at them, you work it out for yourself, and you decide if you like or dislike them, and you walk on. I can do the same and look at some graffiti and think they're really well done, or not, but the tagging aspect of it is something I can't step into since I've never done it, and it seems so much of graffiti is about the 'doing,' and the environment or social context in which it is done.

 

[doofqueen]

The tagging i refer to as scribble. I don't like that side of graff. As someone said it's like dogs pissing on their territory or like a kid in highschool just marking his name. I don't like the vandalism side of it. You won't ever see a true graff ARTIST (rather than just a vandal) writing on anyones home. It's disrespectful and not what graff is about.

It is more so a fuck you to the government and i guess society. It's a rebellion thing (well originally it was) For me graff is just ART. Plain and simple. Can control is so hard and to do graff WELL takes alot of skill just like any other art form. Skill and practice anyway.

I think there should be more free walls around the place.

 

[DoctorShop]

The tagging i refer to as scribble. I don't like that side of graff. As someone said it's like dogs pissing on their territory or like a kid in highschool just marking his name. I don't like the vandalism side of it. You won't ever see a true graff ARTIST (rather than just a vandal) writing on anyones home. It's disrespectful and not what graff is about.

Whats all this about a "true graff artist"? As we all we know art is totally subjective so what you may see as the true and right way for graff artists may be totally different to another group.

Not having a go. Just wanted to point out that it's still all subjective.

 

[doofqueen]

as opposed to the ones that just scribble their tag over peoples fences etc i mean.

 

[jam uh weezy]

^I think handscripts are an essential part of 'true' graffiti art. look at calligraphy. what if you saw someones tag in this nicely done well proportioned script like that on say a bus stop? would you consider it scribble still? is it only the placement that bothers you about it?

i agree tho, people that damage a persons home, car, etc only give other writers a bad name. the shitty thing abuot free walls is your artwork doesn't usually last that long compared to doing it somewhere illegal.

if you take a well done tag, outline it, blow it up, and fill it with varying colors/designs, you have a piece.

 

[MazDan]

Graffitti and art can only go hand in hand when it is done on something the graffitiest owns him or her self.

anything else is vandalism.

There is NO grey area in this.

If I ever see these scum vandalising anything then expect to end up behind bars.




We have a lot of concrete drains in our area...........big ones with approx 45 degree sloping sides that are about 4-5 metres high.

I have been considering lobbying the council to organise for kids or whoever to be allowed (after providing a scetch of whats to be done) to have a panel each to create there works.

That way its 100% legal and as there are many many kilometres of drains and all of them in parks and most with walking tracks alongside, I think it would actually draw people to the area and create a huge tourist attraction.



The problem with my idea is that I expect council will say its an insurance and liability problem in case someone gets injured while doing it.

 

[the_ketaman]

^^Its worth a try.

There are a few legal graffitti walls in my area, some with great work, but then as has been said, some little fucker comes along and tags some unreadable scribble all over this persons hard work, time and effort to ruin the whole thing and I find it really awful and these shitheads do need to be behind bars.

My room is full of proper graffiti "art" that friends and myself have worked on for hours on end. I think its time for a strip and do a new wall. I'll be sure to post pics when its done.

 

[MazDan]

There are a few legal graffitti walls in my area, some with great work, but then as has been said, some little fucker comes along and tags some unreadable scribble all over this persons hard work, time and effort to ruin the whole thing and I find it really awful and these shitheads do need to be behind bars.

My room is full

This is a really interesting comment.

How do graffitti artists feel about someone drawing on there hard work?


Is it generally frowned upon?

Is it something that would make the original artist get really angry?

 

[jam uh weezy]

Haha, theres a trap if i ever saw one.

Graffiti is the art of the ignored. It isn't done for the recognition among general society. It's for each other, our peers. The walls are ours, i don't think a whole race of people appreciated wiped out and their land claimed by a foreign power. I don't see how someone writing their name on a peace of shit concrete is so bad.
It's different when another artist with little or no talent fucks with your work, not to mention dangerous for him. We aren't gonna get all pissed when the city sends out public works to cover up our shit, it's just bound to happen. It's like a little competition to see who can stay up the most. Some of these city workers will actually leave up peices that they find really good.

The irony is that ketaman was talking about legal walls. anyone can just go up and write over shit on a legal walls. Down here guys will spend some 3-4 hours working on a peice on a legal wall, and it's gone forever within an hour. Having someone randomly write over your shit isn't all that common in any other area, even over tags, unless A. There is beef between said writers, or B. There is simply not room anywhere else for another peice, and the walls is only filled with tags. It's like a code of honor or some sort, if some dude goes over your tag/throwup with a nicely done piece, and you get all pissed and write ugly shit all over it you better be prepared to get a lot of shit from everyone in the community, and you've basically ruined your chances for any respect.

It's like a game, and if you don't play, don't bother preaching your morals or ethics cause you're falling on deaf ears.

 

[UnSquare]

Graffitti and art can only go hand in hand when it is done on something the graffitiest owns him or her self.

anything else is vandalism.

There is NO grey area in this.

If I ever see these scum vandalising anything then expect to end up behind bars.

Dude.

Really?

Like a mad,
brickwall
behind a train-station...?!

Better than look atta Coke Despairer...

huh?

?
PEACE

 

[MazDan]

Yeah really Uns........................it gets my goat big time. Its worse than litter because at least i can pick up the litter some filth left behind.


And yes Jam, you picked me like a dirty nose mate................ props to you.

 

[the_ketaman]

Yeah great post jam.

And the the people tagging over respectable pieces, watch out. I have seen someone severely(and I mean near death) beaten for tagging over a great piece.

BTW, If your ever on the train going north take a look on some of the electrical boxes and random old buildings on the way, theres some great work. One near the hawkesbury(fuk I cant spell) river stop remains in my memory, it is a RIP piece and is great. Theres even a "happy b-day" piece devoted to one of my friends on an old building along that route.....Now, is there anything wrong with that? Please tell me if there is because I cant see it.

 

[psycosynthesis]

Dude.

Really?

Like a mad,
brickwall
behind a train-station...?!

Better than look atta Coke Despairer...

huh?

?
PEACE

FUcking WORD!

To me, a blank grey wall which for some reason has to legally stay blank and grey is a symbol of the fucked up society we all exist in. What the fuck is wrong with a bit of colour and expression?

 

[MazDan]

FUcking WORD!

To me, a blank grey wall which for some reason has to legally stay blank and grey is a symbol of the fucked up society we all exist in. What the fuck is wrong with a bit of colour and expression?

What the fuck is wrong with getting fucking permission to paint on the fucking wall first.

 

[[eK]]

even though illegal work can have a negative impact on society, it still looks great sometimes!!

i dont really paint much myself, but all my mates are pretty into it.
these are a few of their pieces.

it would be a shame to get caught in the act doing something so big in a public place. these days you get in deeeeep shit for graffiti.

 

[psycosynthesis]

What the fuck is wrong with getting fucking permission to paint on the fucking wall first.

I'm sure 'permission' isn't really considered. Doing so would be largely antithetical to the whole concept of Graffiti as a political and social statement, wouldn't it?

Let's say I don't like billboards. No corporation asked MY persmission to display their product in a public space and shove marketing bullshit down my throat, did they? And just as I can ignore billboards and other advertisement, I'm sure you could learn to ignore illegal graffiti if it annoys you so much.

And since when have art and ownership gone hand in hand? Look at Bansky, a well respected artist, and while he does do legal work, his fame was gained through largely illegal means.

In fact, it could be argued that art should push and break barriers, whether they be social, political or legal. In fact, some of the worlds greatest thinkers were persecuted for their findings, i.e Gallileo, Da Vinci etc etc...I know this is a bit abstract from the topic of argument but it just goes to show that art, knowledge and other forms of expression are still valid despite the lack of legitimisation from society as a whole. You call it vandalism if graffiti is done on something the artist doesn't own, I call it art refusing to conform to social standards. Let's agree to disagree .

P.S That last piece above my post is fresh!

 

[UnSquare]

Another Brick...

Graffitti
and art
can only go
hand in hand
when it is done on something the graffitiest owns him or her self.

anything else is vandalism.

There is NO grey area in this.

What
the
fuck
is wrong
with getting fucking permission to paint on the fucking wall first.

Caus often the 'wall' wont give you permission...



I get cho'.
Not many peeps
wanna see ol' mad
sandstone
buildin's
wif
'quik'
&
'slyd'
paintgunn'd ova dem.

But
there is
soooooooooooo much space for real bombers
to do it...
an' make a place look like itis'.
New, Fresh, rippin' wif Paint...,
ART!

IMactuallyHO
UnSquare

 

[college_dropout]

Graffitti and art can only go hand in hand when it is done on something the graffitiest owns him or her self.

anything else is vandalism.

There is NO grey area in this.

I very much disagree.

Here's some notable acts of vandalism:

Art is not bound by what we perceive to be morally right. Art is entirely grey, never black and white and neither is art mutually exclusive with vandalism.

FYI, for those who don't know the pics are of Banksy's work on Israel's "security barrier".

 

[Pillthrill]

Wow those are amazing....so much is being sad there.

 

[UnSquare]

"Stop Knawin' On The Dry-Wall."

^
^
Fuck you.
I want my grey wall back!