Out and about in Dandenong South

Graffiti is a product of its environment. Where it appears and disappears is relative to public and corporate sentiment. Industrial walls are the backbone of the graffiti scene. Usually scattered in middle and outer suburbs of most cities adjacent to a reserve or a creek. These walls mark the edge of land that defines productive and unutilised lands. In the middle this dead space exists. Here we find the concrete walls nestled and hidden in suburbia. It's one of the last acceptable spaces where graffiti can exist. Almost everywhere else it it battles and competes for space to some extent. Out of sight but not out of mind for the graffiti artist. 

Until you facilitate chill spaces to paint, expect tags and throw-ups to proliferate. Those are quick ways to get up in a society driven by the buff. That's why industrial back walls are essential to the scene. They provide time and space needed to produce burners. 

fresh pieces by SDM crew

Prix-AFP constantly redefining letterform with a unique abstract take. Some artists just flat out wash, rinse, repeat on style, Prix doesn't. Others push the boundaries. Always altering, adjusting, concocting new styles. The more stripped back and simple the harder it gets.

 

Dandy Line

The bleak built-up urban environment of Dandenong provokes the artistic community to change it and make it better. Everybody hates graffiti but huge grey concrete walls are just as fucking offensive. Dandenong is a great multicultural diverse town with good graffiti, great River Red Gums and shit architecture. Industrial landscapes are slowly changing with the state government's urban renewal project "Revitalising Central Dandenong." This will pour money into public infrastructure to improve the amenity.

Melbourne's most productive bomber atm

Ringwood's dirty secret

What I have realized over 4 years of closely following urban art, is that towns promote a clean, tidy facade only to hide the dirty secrets. Ringwood is a classic example of this. Although it may be in a gentrification cycle, changing as the East-land shopping center gives the town a form of urban renewal. Walk the back streets and you will find graffiti. Ringwood is a central meeting place for artists from the Belgrave and Lilydale lines converging to paint the back walls and vacant blocks. It is very similar to Footscray both sharing graffiti, smack and dead public spaces.   

Hobart Graffiti Video

For all the Hobart Kids..

New Pieces from Hosier Lane

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Deviant Devonport in Tasmania

Devonport a small regional town in Northern Tasmania of around 20,000 people. Its main claim to fame is the Spirit of Tasmania terminal which enables people to bring their car to the South island. This has got to be one of the smallest Australian towns with graffiti pieces. Under the Bass Hwy Bridge over the Mersey river is a different style of art. Pieces without traditional colours or styles, a different art culture. The main constricting factor for graffiti to proliferate in small towns is a lack of wall space. But also hard to attract that artistic culture which just flourishes in places like Melbourne.  

Legal Eagle

Over the fence of an vacant block of land I see this..... These writers particularly MSA (Melbourne Suicidal Artists) and WD (Wanted Dead) know how to rock it with style. What a pity this piece of "legal" art can't get more publicity in a higher profile space. Can we still not handle aerosol art in public?