Walking through a back lane in Hobart the other day I noticed the street art appeared to be the same as I had first seen it a few years ago. I had taken a photo back then so I took another.
November 2012.
The tagging looked the same over-all but was it really? I’d never thought about it before.
November 2012.
September 2014.
So I looked at the two pics and yep, there were changes. Did the tagger paint over his/her own work or did some-one else go over it? What’s the protocol for this, is it cool to cover the work of others or insulting to the original tagger? Help me out, what is the deal in going over someone else’s tag?
Hot Buttered Surfboards graphics, early 1980’s. Martyn Worthington the tagger.
When we colour a surfboard it usually reflects the colours, shapes, social era etc. either in the customers mind or the artist’s. The graphics above are completely different to Martyn’s iconic sprays of the 1970’s and different again from what he does today. Some of the artwork on old surfboards is now being touted as “extremely collectable”, something we didn’t think about when we did it.
What’s the difference? We tagged boards and others tag buildings. I wonder in fifty years if graffiti will be something we should have appreciated a bit more, just because it’s there.
Vandalism aside, to me there is no difference between a building or a surfboard when it comes to the colours and designs we put on it.
I like the randomness.
Endnote: Check out this bloke… Banksy
little island 