Pam the bird

Pam the bird has acquired a larger than life status on the streets and rooftops across Melbourne. Appearing recently on The Project, Pam offers an anything is possible attitude. By painting unimaginable locations across Melbourne Pam has earnt respect traversing the graffiti sub-culture into the mainstream psyche. It must be mentioned there are many graffiti writers across Melbourne that have gained similar status for their achievements. Obviously those include but are not limited to writers Pork, Nost, Jetso/Peezor, Uzi, Heef, Gettinup, Golfa, RIP Sinch etc. 

The below photo shows Bradmill in Yarraville one of the last relics of the former working class suburb. As the traffic travels across the west gate bridge, city bound you are greeted at eye level with the graffiti saturated Bradmill. A former cotton textile factory that once operating from 1927 until its closure in 2006. This site has attracted visitors from far and wide to witness and paint one of the most notorious of Melbourne's abandoned buildings. *More on this in a later post. The best roof-top spots already taken, Pam shows respect by finding a new space amongst the clutter, capturing the roof. The competition to claim bigger, bolder and more outrageous spots is a long running story in the Melbourne graffiti scene. 70K graffiti crew from late 90's were likely the first to set the high bar for hard to reach locations (see below when Renks and Stan tagged every window of an abando in the CBD). They were prolific and painted heaven pieces higher than anyone else. Since then many artists have followed with people like Nost and Pork more recently bombing and piecing high-profile spots never painted before. The story continues, whilst Pam was caught, before long the next graffiti artist will emerge. Whilst a number of people have walked to the west-gate Pam is really one of the few that climbed it and left a mark despite every obstacle possible. Special mention to Uzi for his buffed tag is still legible on the middle pylon. Often just a simple outline the innocent bird appears across the city reaching new heights and flying free.  

 

 

All is Nost

Nost has raised the bar and set a new benchmark in graffiti production. He's one of a select few who has developed a household name from an inconceivable dedication to the sub-culture. If anybody asks tell them that Nost painted Melbourne. Nost bombed and battered the walls of this city with paint. Nost challenged the legitimacy of street art capping works and replacing it with his art. He "took the power back" from government authorities and so called private land holders. His art was there to be seen, some of it rushed and messy other works elaborate and detailed. The King crushed all. 

That's a bit of background, someone should write a book on the dude... Almost everybody's got an opinion on the Nost piece on Smith St. Some hate it and others really hate it, and a small minority love it. You decide!

The black-clash against Nost in this particular case comes mainly from the artists that originally painted (Eve Glenn and Megan Evans) the wall back in 1986 and supporters. a progressive piece of artwork for its time.These photos below shows a comparison before and after the big Nost piece. A lot of the mural was painted with graffiti already. I like watching the dialogue that has it has ignited, the streets are, once again alive. Without asking Nost its hard to establish motive.

 2015

2016

The wall back in 2007 with almost no graffiti a stark difference. Cultural attitudes changed later on in this period and the wall was bombed with throw-ups.

Hallam 2013

Similar style roller piece on track-side wall before the Smith St Piece. Here you see a more basic style but on similar scale.

Media on Nost Piece

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/graffiti-tagger-destroys-historical-smith-street-feminist-mural-20160225-gn4894.html

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/north/fitzroys-popular-tribute-to-melbourne-women-tagged-over-by-graffiti/news-story/7978595835c73e101beaae7a0534bad4

https://melbourneartcritic.com/2016/03/10/nost-thoughts/

https://thefitzroyflasher.com/2016/03/04/scapegoating/

Nost is Boss!

Graffiti from the king.

NOST!

In your face, don't give fuck attitude and they're about to come and bomb throw-ups on your house. Nost crew is a law onto themselves. Graffiti has loose rules, and most artists follow them as a guide. Nost ignores the no go zones and constantly pioneers new spots that have never seen a spray-can. We don't know it now but Nost and Pork are the  equivalent of 70K back in the early 2000's. Pushing boundaries, getting good spots (heavens), abandoned buildings, train lines and trying many different styles. If they were arrested now they'd still have 100's of tags, throwies and pieces around Melbourne for years. They have successfully smashed the system, probably harder than any crew has ever done before.  

Empire of Nost

Melbourne's most notorious. Anybody who walks the back and front streets of Clifton Hill or Collingwood will see the power and influence of Nost. They are a modern day version of 70K.  Nost goes hard, pushes boundaries and pioneers new spots constantly. With the sort of work ethic it is still astonishing they haven't been caught yet. It doesn't matter which side of the graffitied fence you sit on, you will commend the effort involved in producing such extensive work.