Pinky Paik Ling - Sin Chew Daily 13/12/2010 Headline News > KL Graffiti

Today as usual reading newspaper, suddenly let me so surprise of the headline news of Sin Chew Daily , its about KL graffiti!!!

This article is about the long graffiti wall at KL which provide a platform to showcase graffiti artist's talent. In this article, it analyse and discussing the role of graffiti , actually graffiti in the end is beautifying the city, or damage the environment???


Graffiti is legal or illegal??? Graffiti has long been regarded as vandalism, is still between legal and illegal. Take the KL city as the example, when you walk in the city most famous, the most prosperous tourist "Petaling Street", you will find a lots of graffiti to be found everywhere.

Although among them are amazing works, but there are more outside the walls of the store, its damage to the old shop in Petaling Street, flavor and beauty of the street scene, also in violation of laws and regulations.

But recently, the Kuala Lumpur Central market Council in the light rail station and the embankment along the Klang River, held a graffiti competition ( KUL signs), to provide a platform for those who love graffiti art, to show their artistic talent and passion for graffiti, so that graffiti art has become legitimate activities.

This is also the reason i agree to choose "GRAFFITI"  as our main subject matter.

WHY CHOOSE GRAFFITI AS MAIN SUBJECT ???

Graffiti art although not recognized, but many fans still insist on graffiti art. Although graffiti is the product walk the edge of the law, but it also exhibits unique art and culture of Malaysia. In my opinion, graffiti is a form of art, but it  must be in the right place .Graffiti can be from the social chaos, become full of strong colours and unique art. Colourful wall into the new street can let the KL become another flavor. Choose graffiti as main subject because KL graffiti always giving the society a bad image, so i hope what i done can change the established public image for the graffiti, and also discover the rich art and culture in Malaysia.

Michelle - Research (main subject: graffiti)

After came back from the 1st trip shooting. Found out graffiti works are actually very interesting subject to focus on. Was curious, so i started reseaching how many styles of graffiti are they.. 

Next, I'll introduce some of the more common graffiti styles, with bit explaination about it styles.
Types of graffiti:

1. ''TAG'' style

- Most basic writing style of an artist's name

- Handstyle
- Personalized signature
- Normally is artist's crew initials or other letters.

Figure: black colour

Figure: with colours on wall

2. ''Throw-up'' or ''bombing'' style
 - Normally paint very quickly with 2 or 3 colours.
- Sacrificing aesthetics for speed.
- Can be outlined on surface with one colour.


Figure: example of bombing graffiti



Figure: Bombing on wall

3. ''Piece'' style
 - More elaborate presentation of an artist name.
- More stylized letters.
- Large range of colours.
- Time consuming & increase likely of the artist getting caught.

4. ''Blockbuster'' style
 - Large piece.
- Blocked shape style.
- Done simply to cover a large area solidly with 2 contrasting colours.
- Purpose of blocking other writters from painting on the same wall.

5. ''Wild style'' style
 - Involved interlocking letters & connecting points.
- Often hard to read by non graffiti artist.

6. ''Bubble'' style

7. ''Cartoon'' style

8. ''Landscape'' style

9. ''3D'' style

10. ''Reality'' style

11. ''Sticker'' style
- Use this way to quickly catch up.
- But within graffiti culture, this style consider lazy.
- Can be quiet detail in thier right.
- Normally done on black postage stickers.

*Chart for popularity types graffiti*


Figure: chart for popularity for graffiti in malaysia

























After knowing the style, realise that the history about graffiti is very important of how its related, how it could help us in our proj. So went on to read about the history of graffiti, but will be written in point form. And here is what i got from it, for my further process..

- Graffiti and graffito (singular)are from the Italian word graffiato ("scratched"). Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, painted or marked in any manner on property.

Graffiti is any type of public markings that may appear in the forms of simple written words to elaborate wall paintings.

- Graffiti has existed since ancient times, with examples dating back to Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. In ancient times graffiti was carved on walls with a sharp object, although sometimes chalk or coal were used.

- In modern times paint, spray paint, and marker pens become the most commonly used graffiti materials.

- In most countries, marking or painting property without the property owner's consent is considered defacement and vandalism, which is a punishable crime.

- Graffiti has evolved into a pop culture existence often related to underground hip hop music, b-boying, and a lifestyle that remains hidden from the general public.

- Graffiti can be used as a gang signal to mark territory or to serve as an indicator or "tag" for gang-related activity.

~* Coming up next: 2nd round outdoor shooting (to pasar seni along the river side, focus ONLY on graffiti works). And from there, will be chosing atleast 10 different works & artist to talk about in detail *~

Michelle - 1st trip to shoot =p [continue part...]

[Continue part from the previous post...]

Below are the things or information collected from central market. Some of them are really interesting ones.





Figure: Tour guide brochure
Left (KL sketch view)
Right (The garden city of light)





Figure: Map of city KL (left)

History of historical building (right)



Figure: Lrt & Mrt route



Figure: Introducing ''Top 10 specialties in KL''



Figure: Brochure about central market
Left (front page)
Right (back page)

Figure: Talks about culture, herritage, arts & craft.
Top left (Front cover)
Top right (History of central market)
Bottom (content of souvenir)

Figure: ''Tour Guide free walk'' and the map (right)

Figure: Other related brochures collected

 

~*Coming up next: After shooting & discussed, we decided to focus only on the graffiti. 
This will be taken as our main subject. Next, we will focus on atleast 10 graffitis along the pasar seni river bank (legal place), studying the style and artistes, hiphip/wild style, and history of graffiti *~