Sunday, January 29, 2006
Graffiti in Latvia.
Graffiti in Latvia came really popular in late 80’s along with brake dancing. Graffiti, brake dancing is a part of hip-hop culture. Along the time graffiti developed and the skill of graffiti writers became more better and graffiti artworks too. After that was a moment when graffiti was not so popular and only some writers were left in that period but those who survived have trained there skills to a very good level. In the late 90’s graffiti came to life again and gained more popularity in society. The graffiti writers were not only the new generation but also there was a veterans who were writing from the beginning of graffiti.
In nowadays here is very much writers but only a part of them are really good at it.
But most of them are learning or just messing around with spray paint. Also here is a lot of people who ‘tags’ his autograph on the wall showing that he exists, but one of the main graffiti writers in Latvia - Krys thinks that here in Latvia graffiti is not enough supported. In other countries for graffiti is maid special walls, but it’s still not enough. Also there is agency’s where customers can sign up and also the potential writers with their works.
But in Latvia there’s no such thing. In Latvia the graffiti writers and enthusiasts are making legal graffiti festivals, it’s not much but that’s the one of things who keeps graffiti alive in Latvia. Off course there is also illegal graffiti writers who makes there artworks in the city’s and on old house walls. I think that the graffiti on old buildings makes it look more interesting and modern so I think that’s no a crime. Graffiti is a crime there where it doesn’t fit in like public buildings and culture buildings. So here sometimes its not in the right place but in the same time that’s what makes the art crimes- the illegal graffiti, that’s the real problem but not the whole graffiti.
In Latvia the real graffiti writers is trying to say something with there artworks they want to attract the society’s attention to things what really going on in the country and whole world! And all the real graffiti writers are trying to do that that’s the real meaning of graffiti.
In nowadays here is very much writers but only a part of them are really good at it.
But most of them are learning or just messing around with spray paint. Also here is a lot of people who ‘tags’ his autograph on the wall showing that he exists, but one of the main graffiti writers in Latvia - Krys thinks that here in Latvia graffiti is not enough supported. In other countries for graffiti is maid special walls, but it’s still not enough. Also there is agency’s where customers can sign up and also the potential writers with their works.
But in Latvia there’s no such thing. In Latvia the graffiti writers and enthusiasts are making legal graffiti festivals, it’s not much but that’s the one of things who keeps graffiti alive in Latvia. Off course there is also illegal graffiti writers who makes there artworks in the city’s and on old house walls. I think that the graffiti on old buildings makes it look more interesting and modern so I think that’s no a crime. Graffiti is a crime there where it doesn’t fit in like public buildings and culture buildings. So here sometimes its not in the right place but in the same time that’s what makes the art crimes- the illegal graffiti, that’s the real problem but not the whole graffiti.
In Latvia the real graffiti writers is trying to say something with there artworks they want to attract the society’s attention to things what really going on in the country and whole world! And all the real graffiti writers are trying to do that that’s the real meaning of graffiti.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
graffiti fest in Sigulda (in Latvia) 2005...
Graffiti fest in Sigulda 2005…
The most people in the world consider graffiti to be a rude attention to make politicals titles or drawings on house walls. Some people are getting arrested just because of drawing graffiti. People don’t wanna accept those people who are expressing their feeling in paintings. But now we live in 21th century and in some countries more and more graffiti is viewed as art.
Latvia is one of these contries and we are glad that people are interested in this new kind of art… So… more and more people can see and visit several of graffiti fests in Latvia. Request is comparatively big. Most of visitors are juniors and teenagers but there can be seen some adults too.
Some of biggest sponsors are skateparks. So this year in Sigulda there happened graffiti fest 2005… There were 4 general graffiti makers ( 3 boys and one brave girl ) and a lot of interested beginners. All of beginners sticked a drawing contest and price of them was chance to be part of Sigulda’s skatepark beautify. That was first time for them but I think that was almost professional. They are very talented!
Of coursem, everybody was admireing drawings of oldest graffiti makers… well there were reason of that… their paintings were really goergous! They worked like proffesionals…as they are of course… Anyone of artists was working hard and for really long time. And this tended to success…Of course…graffiti looks good if that is in right place… nobody likes daub in every corners and sides… doubtless, graffiti looks better if it has been drawn long time and if drawer has put in big job and patience…
I mentioned a word „artists”… In Latvia we call them like that… and I hope that people in other countries someday will understand real meaning of this way of art called graffiti…
The most people in the world consider graffiti to be a rude attention to make politicals titles or drawings on house walls. Some people are getting arrested just because of drawing graffiti. People don’t wanna accept those people who are expressing their feeling in paintings. But now we live in 21th century and in some countries more and more graffiti is viewed as art.
Latvia is one of these contries and we are glad that people are interested in this new kind of art… So… more and more people can see and visit several of graffiti fests in Latvia. Request is comparatively big. Most of visitors are juniors and teenagers but there can be seen some adults too.
Some of biggest sponsors are skateparks. So this year in Sigulda there happened graffiti fest 2005… There were 4 general graffiti makers ( 3 boys and one brave girl ) and a lot of interested beginners. All of beginners sticked a drawing contest and price of them was chance to be part of Sigulda’s skatepark beautify. That was first time for them but I think that was almost professional. They are very talented!
Of coursem, everybody was admireing drawings of oldest graffiti makers… well there were reason of that… their paintings were really goergous! They worked like proffesionals…as they are of course… Anyone of artists was working hard and for really long time. And this tended to success…Of course…graffiti looks good if that is in right place… nobody likes daub in every corners and sides… doubtless, graffiti looks better if it has been drawn long time and if drawer has put in big job and patience…
I mentioned a word „artists”… In Latvia we call them like that… and I hope that people in other countries someday will understand real meaning of this way of art called graffiti…
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Graffiti in Estonian town Viljandi
Viljandi on väike linn, kus grafitil ei ole nii suurt rolli kui näiteks Tartus või Tallinnas.
Grafiteid võib kohata suuremates linnaosades - Männimäel ja Paalalinnas. Eramaja rajoonides satub silm aerosooljoonistuste peale harva, küllap pääseb suurte paneelhoonete seintele paremini ligi kui eramu omale. Asi on ilmselt ka selles, et Männimäe ja Paalalinna ilme on üksluisem ning nad vajavad midagi, mis natukenegi sellesse hallusesse värve tooks.
Üheks kuumaks kohaks Viljandi kunstnike seas on mahajäetud Vikerkaar. Tema seinad kajastavad rohkem kui kümne grafitimeistri töid. Selle koha võlu seisneb tema inimtühjuses ning pimedates ruumides, mistõttu ongi just Vikerkaarest saanud Viljandi üks grafitirohkemaid hooneid.Põhilisteks grafiti tegijateks on keskkoolis käivad noormehed. Leidub ka nooremaid, kes võivad uhkust tunda mõne täissoditud seina üle, kuid põhitegijad on 15-18 aastased noormehed. Nad ei ole kõige tavalisemad Viljandi poisid. Kui linnas väheke ringi vaadata, jäävad nad üsna pea silma, kuna neil on teistest erinev riietumisstiil, nende käitumine on vabam ning suvel võib neid sageli näha Tartu või Posti tänavall rulade seltsis aega viitmas.Viljandi noorte sõnul ei käi grafiti alkoholi ja narkootikumidega alati käsikäes, kuid kindlasti ei saa ka väita, et nende vahel on tugev rauduks. ning kes teab, mis olukord valitseb siin linnas umbes 10 aasta pärast?
Allikas
K.Paluoja uurimistöö
--Lisasin ka mõned pildid ning neid võib näha siit.
Graffiti in Viljandi
Viljandi is a small town, where art of graffiti does not play such a big role as, for instance, in Tartu or Tallinn.
In Viljandi the pieces of graffiti art can be seen in the bigger boroughs - Männimäe and Paalalinn. The aerosol artworks are rare in the districts of villas and private houses, possibly because the walls of a big block of flats are more easily accessible than the ones of the private houses. Another reason could be the dreariness of Männimäe and Paalalinn so that the graffiti painters want to bring colour into that grayness.
The “hot“ place for the graffiti painters in Viljandi is the deserted restaurant “Vikerkaar“. Its walls are covered by the masterpieces of more than ten different graffiti painters. The glamour of this place is its desertness and dark rooms, for which reason the “Vikerkaar“ has become one of the most graffitiabundant buildings in Viljandi.
The young men learning in High School are the main graffiti painters. Although there are also some younger boys, who are proud of some of their full-painted walls, the main painters are still the 15-18- year-olds. They are not the most ordinary young men in Viljandi. If to look around a little in the town, one can easily spot them because of their distinct clothing and unrestricted behaviour. In summer they often spend their time skateboarding in Tartu or Posti Street.
The young citizens of Viljandi claim that graffiti need not necessarily coincide with alcohol and drugs, although it is possible.And who knows what the situation is like in 10 years‘ time?
Source
K.Paluoja’s research
--I have also added some pictures, which can be seen here.
Grafiteid võib kohata suuremates linnaosades - Männimäel ja Paalalinnas. Eramaja rajoonides satub silm aerosooljoonistuste peale harva, küllap pääseb suurte paneelhoonete seintele paremini ligi kui eramu omale. Asi on ilmselt ka selles, et Männimäe ja Paalalinna ilme on üksluisem ning nad vajavad midagi, mis natukenegi sellesse hallusesse värve tooks.
Üheks kuumaks kohaks Viljandi kunstnike seas on mahajäetud Vikerkaar. Tema seinad kajastavad rohkem kui kümne grafitimeistri töid. Selle koha võlu seisneb tema inimtühjuses ning pimedates ruumides, mistõttu ongi just Vikerkaarest saanud Viljandi üks grafitirohkemaid hooneid.Põhilisteks grafiti tegijateks on keskkoolis käivad noormehed. Leidub ka nooremaid, kes võivad uhkust tunda mõne täissoditud seina üle, kuid põhitegijad on 15-18 aastased noormehed. Nad ei ole kõige tavalisemad Viljandi poisid. Kui linnas väheke ringi vaadata, jäävad nad üsna pea silma, kuna neil on teistest erinev riietumisstiil, nende käitumine on vabam ning suvel võib neid sageli näha Tartu või Posti tänavall rulade seltsis aega viitmas.Viljandi noorte sõnul ei käi grafiti alkoholi ja narkootikumidega alati käsikäes, kuid kindlasti ei saa ka väita, et nende vahel on tugev rauduks. ning kes teab, mis olukord valitseb siin linnas umbes 10 aasta pärast?
Allikas
K.Paluoja uurimistöö
--Lisasin ka mõned pildid ning neid võib näha siit.
Graffiti in Viljandi
Viljandi is a small town, where art of graffiti does not play such a big role as, for instance, in Tartu or Tallinn.
In Viljandi the pieces of graffiti art can be seen in the bigger boroughs - Männimäe and Paalalinn. The aerosol artworks are rare in the districts of villas and private houses, possibly because the walls of a big block of flats are more easily accessible than the ones of the private houses. Another reason could be the dreariness of Männimäe and Paalalinn so that the graffiti painters want to bring colour into that grayness.
The “hot“ place for the graffiti painters in Viljandi is the deserted restaurant “Vikerkaar“. Its walls are covered by the masterpieces of more than ten different graffiti painters. The glamour of this place is its desertness and dark rooms, for which reason the “Vikerkaar“ has become one of the most graffitiabundant buildings in Viljandi.
The young men learning in High School are the main graffiti painters. Although there are also some younger boys, who are proud of some of their full-painted walls, the main painters are still the 15-18- year-olds. They are not the most ordinary young men in Viljandi. If to look around a little in the town, one can easily spot them because of their distinct clothing and unrestricted behaviour. In summer they often spend their time skateboarding in Tartu or Posti Street.
The young citizens of Viljandi claim that graffiti need not necessarily coincide with alcohol and drugs, although it is possible.And who knows what the situation is like in 10 years‘ time?
Source
K.Paluoja’s research
--I have also added some pictures, which can be seen here.
