Scars and Cauliflower Ears - Graffiti

Anyone with a degree in Art History, a penchant for anarchism or access to wikipedia can tell you that graffiti has been around since the dawn of mankind. You'd think that, as an art form at least, some good graffiti would emerge - metaphorically "standing on the shoulders of giants" kinda thing. You'd also be wrong. Consider the ubiquitous tagging along Europe's railways and highways is an example. I know that Canada and the States have their fair share of vandalart (did I just invent a new term?) so the problem is definitely not just a European thing.

Now I am not talking about the beautiful murals you see on the side of buildings where someone with inspiration, vision and talent compliments otherwise boring architecture. I am talking about the jokers with a spray can and an fully exhausted Retalin prescription who have nothing to say and everything to spray. What a godawful mess they have made!

Examples below from a variety of places.... (Sorry for the rant....)


Written on a ancient cemetery wall in Innsbruck Austria



Wall outside train station in Munich Germany


Near the Italian border with Austria

Anyway, sure leaves a vagabond like me with sense that a very vocal element in a community has a lot of ....what is the term....unresolved issues?

Must be a fortune to be made in graffiti removal...hmmmmmm...


- Derek

Location:Various locations