Home again from a quick trip to Holmesglen-part 1

Holmesglen sits on the Glen Waverly line. whilst it connects to the Belgrave line it has its own distinct and unique identity. Here we find ACM, ACA, ID, KSA with some old SDM crew pieces still kicking. Artists that have been risking it all from the 1980's for an artform with high risk, low reward. The history of it all, seeing Nasa and Merda pieces from the earlier Melbourne graffiti generations mixing in with the modern pieces. Melbourne's suburban graffiti culture holds strong.   

2013

Merda piece fades, but holds its own 2024 well over 10 years since it was painted. Unique abstract lettering and style

2013

2024

2013

2024

https://www.melbournegraffiti.com/melbourne-graffiti_photos_pieces_holmesglen_6.php

Recipe for good graffiti?

To produce good graffiti like the trackside example below, requires some of the listed different elements,

• Surface-high quality smooth surface.... primed concrete is premium and the brick wall is not far behind
• Audience-the spot is public and seen on a regular basis by different people 
• Accessible/Inaccessible-Accessible sites will always attract the majority of graffiti artists, a smaller minority will be encouraged to go further and "break and enter" for harder to reach spots gaining notoriety amongst graffiti artists
• Buff-Lack of buffing over years will often allow walls to naturally establish.... generally walls improve over time and you reach a climax period when the art rarely changes
• Fame-directly linked to audience and inaccessibility

Trackside graffiti near East Richmond, Melbourne

This wall demonstrates the aggressive territorial approach of KSA crew. They tend claim large areas by progressively expanding their pieces and throw-ups onto adjacent wall space.