Graffiti, especially in a city like London is ubiquitous, and yet so often we overlook it. It’s on our walls, our phone boxes, our bins and everything between outside and yet sometimes we seem to gloss over it. Graffiti has also been a source of controversy, since the 20th century, inciting debates over whether the work done by these artists can really be defined as meaningful art, or simply an act of vandalism.
Vandal is a reclamation of a title that was once used to de-value the artistry and work of graffiti artists for so long. It is a celebration of the work of talented artists and intends to hopefully provide space for reflection and a newfound appreciation for graffiti. Composed of a typeface inspired by the streets of London and a publication, the project aims to highlight the rich history of graffiti and allow people to learn about it in the style of a magazine, and the meaning and culture surrounding many of the vibrant works lining our streets.
The project aims to subvert some of the expectations placed on graffiti artists and the art itself. Vandal takes the reader on a journey through time from to the origins of graffiti scratchings on walls in Pompeii, all the way to the brightly coloured bubble text decorating the outside of subway carriages in the 70’s. It explores the history of the relationship between graffiti and how its artists have used it as a tool for expression, to voice their feelings on inequality, social injustice and the ruling class, diving below the surface of the colourful canvases to hear what graffiti artists really have to say. It also touches on the racialised relationship between graffiti and minorities and how the perception of graffiti can change depending on who holds the spray can. Additionally, we learn about the boundary-pushing trailblazers like Cornbread who created the art form as we know it today. Ultimately Vandal aims to educate on an art form that seemingly slips through the cracks.
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