graffiti - Design Against Crime

Transcription

A dialogue with
graffiti
Communication or Conflict in the Urban Environment?
Learning from
LONDON
LOS ANGELES
BARCELONA
and BERLIN
Marcus Willcocks
Lorraine Gamman
Adam Thorpe
Spike Spondike
James Woodward
A Dialogue With Graffiti: The Southbank Centre and the Design Against Crime Research Centre.
all
content
June
2009 © 2009
Contents
1 What is graffiti?
2 The polemics of graffiti in our cities.
3 Existing Responses to Graffiti.
4 Graffiti as Decay, or Regeneration and Activity Support?
5 What can DACRC contribute to the debate? 6 Where to from here?
RESEARCH CENTRE
June 2009
1. What is graffiti?
it depends who you ask ...
June 2009
graffiti / gr ’fiti
e
Criminal Damage: “Crimes where a person intentionally or recklessly destroys or causes permanent damage to another person’s property. It includes arson,
graffiti, damaged street furniture, litter and damage to
vehicles and houses.” - UK Home Office, 2008
Communication: “Since the root of the word ‘graffiti’ is
‘to write’, then graffiti can be interpreted as [writing] an
instinctual human need for communication.” - Shoma Chatterjee, 2007
[ The Tribune]
June 2009
“Unauthorized writing or drawings on a surface in a public
place. ORIGIN: Italian, from graffito; a ‘scratch’, or ’inscription. ”
- Oxford English Dictionary
“Markings, as initials, slogans, or drawings, written, spraypainted, or sketched in a public place: Eg. These graffiti are
evidence of the neighborhood’s decline.”
- Modern Language Association
“Graffiti is sometimes regarded as a form of art and other
times regarded as unsightly damage or unwanted”
- Wikipedia
June 2009
‘Inscriptions’ C.1st- 5th and C. 21st Europe
“Satura was here on Sept. 3rd”
“Rufus loves Cornelia Hele”
“Ampliatus Pedania is a thief”
“Vote for Lucius Popidius Sabinus”
“Epaphra is bald!”
“I wonder, O wall, that you have
not fallen”
June 2009
Pompeii, Italy C.1st - 5th
Political Graffiti from Pompeii,
79 A.D. “Asellina and her girls
urge you to vote for Gaius
Fuscus for Minister of Public
Affairs”
Graffiti caricature of
a politician on the
wall of a Pompeii
street.
June 2009
Boston, USA
C.21st
“Obama poster artist
Shepard Fairey is arrested on graffiti charges,
en-route to his exhibition
opening ”
- LA Times, Feb. 2009
June 2009
1.2 Markmaking:
Tagging, Bombing , Getting Up
[ Photo: Robert McColgan ]
June 2009
Identity definition and distribution or
Urban scrawl?
Barcelona
Berlin
June 2009
Los Angeles
June 2009
London
[ http://www.urban75.org ]
June 2009
“How many people can walk through
a city and prove they were there? It’s
a sign I was here. My hand made this
mark. I’m fucking alive!”
- Omar, New York
[ Michael Walsh, Graffito, 1996 ]
June 2009
USA
Defining Territory ?
UK
[ photo: Tim Pascoe ]
Spain
June 2009
Getting yourself known.
June 2009
1.3 So what is Street Art?
“Street Art is related to graffiti and also
has links with graphic design and illustration. Anything goes, so Street Artists may
use stencils, stickers, drawings, paintings to create their work. They sometimes
even project videos onto buildings.”
- Tate Modern ‘Kids’
[ http://kids.tate.org.uk/games/street-art ]
June 2009
Illustrative Graffiti / Visual Communication
June 2009
Knittaplease
Knitta Southbank
[ http://www.knittaplease.com ]
June 2009
Ephemeral - Robin Rhode, chalk
June 2009
Is selective cleaning a crime? ‘Moose’
[ http://www.npr.org ]
June 2009
‘Clean’ graffiti artisit ‘Moose’ [Paul Curtis] uses water or sometimes moss to work.
June 2009
Is mud stenciling a crime?
mudstencils.wordpress.com
June 2009
Is ‘street advertising’ a crime?
Nortumbria Police Campaign
June 2009
Digital graffiti - GRL
June 2009
Graffiti as ‘Markmaking’
Media
Pen / marker
Sprays
Stencils
Stickers / posters
Acid / etching/ scratching
Digital / multi-media
‘Bio’ media
Possible applications and motivations
Tagging / Bombing / Getting Up - Recognition, Social Connection, Status
Anti-establishment / destructively motivated
Political or socially motivated
Illustrative / Visual Communication
Informational and advisory graffiti
Non-virtual discussion forums
Regenerative and social interventions / Graffiti as activity support
June 2009
2. The polemics of Graffiti
in our cities.
Popular Culture or Problematic Crimes?
The social impacts of the ‘marks’ made by
graffiti need untangling.
June 2009
2.1 Popular
“The graffiti scene is bigger now than
ever. Its more popular, more prevelant, more
diverse and more international.”
- Don R. Karl, March 2009
Publisher on grafiiti and founder of FHTF Foundation, Berlin
June 2009
Popular - Press, Exhibitions, and Art sales
La Vanguardia, 02 April 2008
Subaquatica Gallery, Madrid
Telegraph, 23 September 2008
June 2009
Popular - East Side ‘open gallery’ Berlin
Guided tours and Souvenirs.
June 2009
Popular - Tate Gallery: May-July 2008
June 2009
Should we train kids to be street artists?

[ http://kids.tate.org.uk/games/street-art ]
June 2009
‘Coffee table’ books
June 2009
easyJet inflight magazine
February 2009
June 2009
First Great Western rail pssenger magazine
June 2008
June 2009
Popular - The CANS FESTIVAL, May 2008
June 2009
2.2 Problematic
Cities worldwide are spending more resources
than ever, dealing with graffiti in terms of:
Economic Costs
Environmental Costs
Social Costs
June 2009
Urban decay
How strong is the ‘hard’ evidence that makes the
case that Graffiti promotes fear of crime?
“In short, the answer is there is not much in the way of
evidence, of which I’m aware, let alone strong evidence,
of designing out graffiti. However one of my colleagues
is currently carrying out a literature review, which may
turn up some examples ... meanwhile tackling graffiti will
remain important to the public and thus to local
authorities, police and the Home Office.” [ A view from Home Office April 2008 ]
No answer, No staff, No research?
June 2009
Problematic - Environmental & emotional costs
to society.
Barcelona
Berlin
June 2009
Problematic: Environmental costs
“As removal of graffiti has become
easier, etching has replaced conventional graffiti, which describes
the scratching of glass with drill or
sharp instrument [or acid-etching]”
- London Graffiti Assembly, 2002
‘Anti-scratch’ and
‘anti-graff’ designs,
Berlin metro 2009.
June 2009
Problematic: Environmental costs
The measures taken to prevent graffiti and can be more degrading to the
environment than the misdemeanours
themselves.
June 2009
Problematic: Environmental & Social Costs
“graffiti is perceived as a significant problem
that impacts on the quality of environments
and thus on people’s satisfaction with their
lives, which comes as a big cost to local
governments, and prevention is difficult once
it has occurred”
- Encams, 2008
Survey results: public do not like tagging but see positive value in
‘street art’ and in community graffiti projects.
June 2009
Problematic - Social and Emotional Costs to
Society?
“Criminal Damage ... includes graffiti, damage
to street furniture, to vehicles and littering.”
“Of those interviewed for BCS 2006/07 28 per
cent perceived vandalism, graffiti and other deliberate damage to property as a problem in the
area”
- British Crime Survey 2008
June 2009
Problematic - Economic costs to Society
UK - Estimated fiscal cost to fight criminal damage,
including graffiti: £4.1bn./yr
Cleaning walls:
USA - annual ‘clean up’ spend: £8.5bn/ yr. ($12bn)
Barcelona and Madrid spend £7 million/ yr. (8bn. Eur)
Cleaning public transport:
RENFE spends £150/ m2 = £2,500 - £25,000 per train.
London Underground spend £12million/ yr.
Imprisioned graffiti writers:
Average prison costs £30,000 per year per person.
June 2009
3. Existing Responses to graffiti.
Prosecution
Removal
Zero Tolerance
100% Tolerance
Prevention
Limited Tolerance
Collaboration and Negotiated norms.
Evaluation.
June 2009
Prosecution
“Graffiti writers and authorities are locked in an
arms race, or ‘a dance’, where each will find ways
to restrain the other in their effectiveness, either of
controlling, or rebelling against the rigid rules of
modern living.
Law enforcement strategies alone will not have a
(lasting) impact on graffiti offences ... some writers
become more daring and more careful in their activities ... As a consequence, although necessary,
legislation needs to be complimented with innovative ideas and techniques in tackling graffiti.”
- Ferrell, 1997
June 2009
Zero Tolerance.
“Theconcept of ‘ZeroTolerance’
(1994) originates in the ‘broken
window’ theory of crime (1982),
of which inherits the same underlying assumptions. Zero tolerance is the concept of giving
carte-blanche to the police for
the inflexible repression of minor offences, homeless people
and the disorders associated
with them.”
[ Wikepedia, 2009]
June 2009
100 % Tolerance
June 2009
Reactions to Zero Tolerance?
June 2009
Prevention
Green walls can be more sustainable than repainting
white walls
June 2009
Limited tolerance /
commissioned works.
Berlin
June 2009
Collaboration & Negotiated norms.
Bruges: ‘Graffiti and Art’ prevention project
that combined punishment, tolerance and
prevention by being tough on graffiti but at
the same time providing space for writers to
be creative and show their art.
As a result, graffiti offences decreased from
555 in 1997 to 177 in 2000, and due to most
graffiti being cleaned by 2001, new offences
were detected more rapidly, removed within
48 hours.
June 2009
Civic Code - ‘Civismo’ Barcelona
Measures to
encourage and
guarantee
peaceful
coexistence
and respect
in Barcelona
Improper
Conduct
Behaviour
in public areas
that may be
subject to
Unlicensed
street trading
sanctions
In the city of Barcelona, buying and selling items
thea permit
new
inunder
public space without
–CDs, DVDs,
clothes and accessories, sun-glasses, drinks etc.–
by-law
iscity
an infraction.
Both sellers and buyers can be
penalised by police officers with fines that can be
asfor
high as respecting
1,500 €.
public areas
A new city by-law to combat
anti-social behaviour
Consumption
ofcity
alcoholic
As of this year, 2006, the
of Barcelona has
drinks by-law that
introduced a new municipal
regulates and fines those people who make
Consumption
drinks
in squares
and
improper useofofalcoholic
the city’s
public
space. This
streets
this might
cause a nuisance,
by-lawwhere
is applicable
to everyone
in the cityand
of
using
bottles or
cans when
not ator
an residents.
authorised
Barcelona,
whether
tourists
pavement
or café
table,
can
be fined
by upfor
to
Everyonebar
must
respect
the
general
norms
1,500
€. coexistence.
peaceful
Offering and requesting
sexual services
In Barcelona, offering or requesting sexual services
in public space (when this occurs within 200 metres
of a school, for example) is punished with fines
that may be as high as 1,500 €. Persons offering
sexual services in the street are welcome to register
on social welfare programmes.
Skates, bicycles
and other games
Using roller-skates, skate-bo
similar items, can be penalis
a nuisance will be informed
the practice is not permitte
furniture for their sport may
1,500 €.
Graffiti and
scrawling on walls
Vandalism
Writing or painting graffiti on any item of public
property, whether walls of buildings, transport,
street furniture, monuments etc., is an infraction
that can be punished by fines of up to 3,000 €.
Wherever possible, the police officers will oblige
infractors to clean off the graffiti they have painted.
Acts of vandalism, such
destruction or putting out o
street furniture, are penalis
be as high as 3,000 €. In add
damage any street furnitur
its replacement.
Beac
and g
Gambling
on the street
Urinating
in the street
Relieving yourself in the street, showing very little
respect for other people and for the upkeep of
public space, is punished with fines that may be
as high as 1,500 €.
On the
failure
notices
infractio
reasons
soaps
hygiene
in the p
can be a
For your own safety and for the benefit of all, do
not be tempted by street gambling, such as the
“trile” on the Ramblas, or tricksters. Avoiding this
will also improve the circulation of people on the
streets. The police can give fines of up to 3,000 €.
June 2009
Collaboration & Negotiated norms.
Barcelona: temporary walls and
construction site perimeter panels permitted for painting.
June 2009
Evaluations - more comprehensive work needed
There is a significant lack of evaluation in the area
of graffiti.
Even prestigious problem-orientatied policing centre- Rutgers Guide on graffiti is limited from this
point of view.
[ see COPS guide: http://www.popcenter.org/problems/graffiti ]
June 2009
4. Graffiti as decay, or regeneration and activity support?
1. Creative social and urban initiatives. Encourage higher standards and less ‘bombing’; through projects and environments that
stimulate legitimate space for engagement.
2. ‘Promote ‘Activity Support’ via a ‘healthy mix’ of legitimate business, residential and visitor activities, for young and old people, in
urban areas (dense, mixed use)’. This can also help improve natural
surveillance and reduce opportune moments for offenders.
3. Innovations to promote positive action.
June 2009
Social Intervention & Training
Signal Project, London
June 2009
Urban & Social Activity Support, Barcelona
Urban Funke
‘Kasal Jove de Roquetes’
‘Youth Space Boca Nord’
June 2009
‘Open Gallery’ Barrio de Horta Guinardo
June 2009
What message for Murals?
June 2009
Engagement & support of legitimate activities.
To promote artistic talent without mindless damage to property and find
alternative ways to acknowledge and work with the graffiti culture.
From Here to Fame Foundation
- FHTF Publishing Walta Karl GbR
- Global Hip Hop Network
- Campus of urban youth culture
- Hip Hop Museum
- MZEE Records
- UNIVERSAL Music Publishing
June 2009
Street Art Dealer
June 2009
5. What can DACRC contribute to the debate?
“Because DAC do art, design and anticrime UAL are in a position to help deliver
a unique response to graffiti and untangle
the subjectivity of “what is Art and what is
Crime ... Perhaps graffiti is the Dark Side
of Creativity?”
[Prof. Lorraine Gamman 2008]
June 2009
Creativity and Non-Conformity
Creativity is often equated with non-conformity.
Artists, writers, designers, enterpreneurs,
are often seen as risktaking creative nonconformists, often
with different ‘norms’.
So are criminals.
June 2009
“I would have got caught quicker if I’d
have known it would get me to art school”
- Tagger interviewed by James Woodward,
2008
June 2009
“People with money can
put up signs ... if you don’t
have money ... your marginalized, you’re not allowed to express yourself
or to put up words or messages that you think other
people should see. Camel
(cigarettes) are up all over the
country and look at the message they are sending....”
- Eskae, 2008
June 2009
“You’re standing there in the station,
everything is gray and gloomy, and all of a
sudden one of those graffiti trains slides in
and brightens the place like a big bouquet”
- Claes Oldenburg, 1975
“ Taste is a social weapon. [It] merely
describes people’s different abilities to find
pleasure in a particular body of texts [and
objects and practices] rather than another”
- Pierre Bourdieu, 1984
June 2009
The Point
• Ideas and laws are made and read in history - the graffiti
debate needs a multi-agency approach - the social
“problem” is bigger than simply law enforcement.
• All urban interventions affect or effect behaviour in some
way, whether we like it or not.
• Policing and intervention practices are costly and are
not sustainable in the long term.
• Distinctions about taste and art have sigificant cultural
capital and should not be ignored.
• Definitions of ‘graffiti’ need to be reviewed - they are
inconsistent and subjective.
June 2009
6. Where to from here?
DADRC team are setting up next stages of targeted research, to
include:
•Informal and formal conversations with communities of users/
graffiti writers.
•DACRC workshops/ consultations with writers, plus other artists, designers, crime prevention professionals and other stakeholders, to guide innovative and appropriate developments.
•Workshop feedback to be combined with site and user-research to catalyse exisiting concerns into positive responses.
•Review opportunities for creative alternatives to criminalisation
proposals, that promote strategic development of public realm
and individual and collective artistic practice.
June 2009
“my city’s not grey”
Mene Tekel, 2007
June 2009
... but it could greener, or even more creative!
Moss walls by Edina Tokodi
June 2009
www.designagainstcrime.com
RESEARCH CENTRE
June 2009