Graffiti

[Paul]

Right, Me, Ad and Iain have been having a discussion regarding grafitti.

Me and Ad think its an eye sore, devalues the surrounding area, makes people feel unsafe there, and is just a pain:

http://www.londonist.com/attachments/Matt/tox06.jpg

http://www.route79.com/assets/images/fume-train-graffiti.jpg

Iain on the other hand think it makes a dull wall better:

http://www.citynoise.org/upload/7767.jpg

Yes they have got talent, but its a poor way to express theire "art". Iain on the other hand loves it and wants it everywhere.

Now, working on the railway, and in London, there is a little scrog called Tox, that some off you may well heard of, and he does it everywhere! You see graffiti nowadays on trains, bridges, houses, buses, cars, shop windows, post boxes, phone boxes, pavement, walls etc etc

Who approves of it, and who doesn't?

[Iain]

Let me just clear this up.

Yes I do love it for what it is and find it very pleasing to the eye. However I have already made my point very clear that I do not want it everywhere, but in otherwise boring places including under bridges, subways, railway lines etc not belonging to individuals such as houses or private property.

There's nothing impressive about tagging everywhere like those in the first image. However pieces where people have spent time over it in order to make it look good do look fantastic.

[Jack]

Problem there is you're comparing "good" graffitti - eye candy that covers a wall and shows a large wad of skill on the behalf of the artist - to some little plum thats just learnt to spell his name wrong so is showing off to all his peers by daubing it on any non-moving surface (as well as some mobile cavases).

Art like the last pic you posted is good IMO; scrawlings like the first is bad.

[Lee]

Im 50/50. Your first two pics have a lot of 'tags' which just look crap and make the place look rough, so I agree with you on that point.

But the last pic shows graffiti I like. Colourful, neatly done, and required a lot of talent.

Theres a place for everything. Trains and public places, definatley not, but old bare walls in underpopulated areas, where it brightens the plcae up, I think i can relate to tbh.

[Paul]

Theres a reason for that place to be derelict + rough and dull, and thats because all the little trogs who are there in the first place, they make people move out, then the walls get covered in graffiti to 'brighten' them up...

[Iain]

http://www.graffiti.org/dj/n-igma1/fulham/large/grey.jpg

http://www.graffiti.org/dj/n-igma1/stockwell/large/sensa.jpg

http://www.graffiti.org/dj/n-igma1/twickenham/large/rough.jpg

Just a few examples off graffiti.org, how can you say those make a place look crap? They're works of art!

[Lee]

First ones quite ironic. Its been ruined with other peoples tags lol

[Iain]

Yes the good piece in the middle has been done over some crap lol

[Paul]

Now this is your aesthetic graffiti, but imagine waking up everymorning and seeing that out your window?

http://readingcities.com/images/uploads/graffiti_alley.jpg

[djshaggeh]

If i lived in a urban area, and i woke up and saw that every morning out of my windows....

I'd be pleased! Better then staring at a lovely brick pattern... yummy

[djshaggeh]

If i lived in the sticks however, and some little chutney painted that on a tree i would be unhappy

[Adam]

how can you say those make a place look crap? They're works of art!
As i said on MSN, they are amazing, and do take quite a lot of talent to get them looking so "good".
But they just make the area look ****ty/run down IMO

[dave.gsi]

'tagging' is ****e and the scrotes that do it need their balls put in a vice and gently squeezed :eek: . its usually school kids with a can of halfords paint or a marker pen.


proper graffiti, like some of the pieces above, i absolutely love. i'm half tempted to buy a big black camper van and let them go crazy on it, just mask off the windows so i can see out lol

[nova ian]

I love Graffiti, used to write myself, As far as tagging goes, yes it does look a mess, but actual full on pieces are all good by me.

Yes it is not to alot of peoples tastes, but design fashions and brought it into the lime light. Theres alot of writers that have gone on to work on massive projects etc. It breeds creation and I find it very inspirational.

If it was literally everywhere you turned it would be ****e. But here and there I like it. I have to admit I love train journies and car or walking for that matter and spotting graff, looking for things I like, and generally taking in the surroundings alot more than I usually would.

I remember reading about Banksy, for those who don't know of him, he is a stencil Artist from Bristol. He once tagged the Tate moderns steps on the open day of the modern art exhibition. Emergency cleaners were called out and it cost hundreds to clean off. The funny part was that the Tate sold his book which was a top seller. They had a piece of his art but spent money getting rid of it! made me laugh anyway!

As said before most think its an eyesore but me I like it

[djshaggeh]

'tagging' indeed looks crap and skatty.

I think that crackheads and generally skatty people make an area look ****. If I see graffitti in a run down area I tend to think

'Oh good, some talents come from that area' instead of another crackhead :)

[Matt2107]

I voted no as the majority of graffiti is carried out by spotty teenagers who haven't discover girls yet.

However.... there are some talented artists out there and their work should be regarded as art.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder though.

[Novadex]

defently a 50/50 man myself. If its done well and in the correct places then im all for it, however done in the wrong places by some little tw4t who has no idea how to hold a tin let alone use one then id rather they spray it in there eyes.

[NovaLad]

As said,

I hate the gay tags that newbs leave everywhere, But love the big arty pics that the people with tallent do on huge walls.

[Tomm]

that first photo TOX06, he was from london, had been going since 04, finaly got caught in 06 and got sent down for 2 years.

i love graffiti, i only ever draw it on paper i have a few photos if any one fancies having a lookg?

[walshc]

Graffiti is cool :cool:
But only good graffiti
Crap like "bezzo woz ere 98" just isnt, and it aids peoples hate for all graffiti, which is sad :tard:
I write myself, but only on private property (where the owner has asked :thumb: )

I see the legend Banksy has been mentioned :)
Here`s a few pics of his work http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.boreme.com/media/yr2005/banksy-wall-1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2005/banksy-wall-p1.php&h=331&w=300&sz=17&hl=en&start=13&tbnid=Jn3PZ1ADanDSaM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=108&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbanksy%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3D en%26safe%3Doff

Anyone who can say that is rubbish, dont really see talent imo ;)

[stevenf]

that is cool :thumb:. really like the ones that are acually "art" cannot stand these folk who just tag their names all over the place. they really want to get a life if they think that is cool

[Jack]

Razeryak


I has tagged this thread. You are clearly now all my biyatches. Yo.

[Alex.]

When we you travel into Bristol Temple Meads train station coming from up north (Cheltenham lol) There is quite a bit along the walls leading into the station, and as it does keep me occupied whilst we que into the disgusting place, half the words written don't make sense?! It's like they're writing in code!! I think it keeps you occupied for a while whilst you try to get your head around it. But other then that I think it looks tacky.

[NovaJackie]

was waiting for someone to mention Banksy..! his work is absolutely brilliant. I studied his graffitti for Alevel art.. "Maid in London" is immense.

Tags and ****e like that is crap looking tho..

[Jim Mcrae]

It does make dull places exciting so, if done well, and in appropriate places i thinks its cool. Wouldn't like it on the wall of my house!

[craig green]

I voted NO, grafitti is an eye sore & a pain.

I appreciate good grafitti but all too often it is in poor taste or ruining otherwise good surroundings.

You can't really generalise here IMO. You couldnt have an anti-grafitti law but allow it in some places.

You also can't rely on the culprits to keep it in suitable places or use there judgement either. Best off seeing our streets void of it in any form if you ask me.

[Jeff16v]

Let’s sympathise with poor teens with no better way to communicate with the rest of society, I think not! Do I sound like a tree hugger?

I'm sick of the little feckers tagging the side of my house because it a blank canvas. Why do we only castrate criminals?

No point in dealing with the parents, "my little angel wouldn't do that"

war = less population, fathers die in war, less kids - problem solved:thumb:

[craig green]

/\/\ Harsh.

[Jeff16v]

Londonerlol

[Jack]

/\/\ Harsh.
But true lol

[Jeff16v]

Your right, i'm sorry. The only problem with the lovely little bllighters is they grafitti then kick off wing mirrors than burn dustbins then scratch my nova.

Since i'm not aloud out to slap em anymore, i have to vent somehow.

I might take to following them home and defecating outside the front door instead.

thank you Brother craig and brother Jack

[Iain]

You're abstracting away from whether graffiti artwork looks good and focusing on the chavs who vandalise (yes certain graffiti and vandalism is separate IMO). :p

Oh well, "graffiti is good" is wining at the moment so I'm obviously not in the minority Paul. And it'd probably have a bigger percentage if your initial post specified artwork and not tagging, which we all agree looks toss in most cases. :D

[nova.joe]

as I dabble in graffiti myself and have alot of mate whos works are just amazing. I have to say i love it. There is a massive difference between graffiti art and the little fags who throw up tags about there local young team and which one of them is in love with sarah this week!

Most of the big artists wont go about tagging random walls, cars n trains but use legal walls which are usually out the way.
But mostly its all about repect and who can get the best looking piece in the doggeyest spot!

but i lve it!

[Stuart]

I'm with craig on this one... No generalisation.

yes there are some great pieces of work but they are few and far between.

[Paul]

Craig + Stuart Nail on Head

[5T1G]

^
Agreed, there is some good stuff down brighton though, near the station. Also Crawley Skate Park, the old one, had a couple of good pieces!

Anyone rememeber that DEAN that used to get sprayed ontop of Motorway bridges and that, must be going back a few years now...always in BIG WHITE LETTERS though lol

[Markyc]

total agree wiv mr TOX he is everywhere lol

[Austin_Nova16]

Love Proper Graffiti.

Banksy rules!
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/images/landscapes/soldierbeth01.jpg
http://www.banksy.co.uk/

[5T1G]

Liken that one!