Chile Forum

This was so good, I had to place it in the thorn tree.

chinook wrote:

I have never been comfortable in larger cities, and really don't care for them, but I have to admit that Concepcion was pretty fair (and I don't speak the language as well as I'd like - more on that later). The only thing that bummed me out in Concepcion was the propensity for graffitti ... my guess is that with the change in the political climate, folks aren't worried about "disappearing" for acts of civil disobedience, or just plain speaking their minds. Yes, the country is quite safe (I took long walks in Concepcion late at night, by myself,

My response:
What I have seen across Latin america is that cost of spray paint relative to the local income. Chile is a rich country in the Americas, thus kids can afford paint. If you go to more rural areas, small towns and such, the amount of urban art goes down.

Hey Admin (and anyone else who might pipe in on this topic) - I really don't mean to "pick" on Chile about the graffitti. Like I said, I really enjoyed my visit - even while in Concepcion, and I don't do well in larger cities. There was certainly graffitti, but in good truth probably not larger volumes than a person might find in any large city, anywhere in the world. What struck me was that most of the graffitti that caught my eye was often on park statues and monuments. A little distracting.

And I have to agree that outside of larger population centers (like Concepcion), in smaller towns the presence of graffitti tended to disappear - folks tend to have particular good pride in their local communities. Coyhaique was a gem! As was Puerto Aisen.

Sorry about moving that post. On the flip side, that Chile's problems are in such a state that this relatively minor issue is what came to mind should be taken as a good sign.

I think a good deal of it has to do with the taggers are just so dam fast that people have kind of given up trying to remove it or cover it up.

There also something to be said for small town crime. If you do something wrong, it will beat you home to mom. You still see it in the small towns, just not plastered everywhere.

xxx

Hi all, I was just reading the Valparaiso Times (hope it's OK to post address here) and on the one hand was surprised to see that graffiti is SO prevalent yet not surprised to see it arrived with hip hop. IMO, taggers should have a bounty on their heads, here in Ca we've had our garage door tagged twice. As for gay freedom, they have quite enough already (again IMO).
http://www.valparaisotimes.cl/content/view/96/1/

Voluntarily adotped by your flaites and wanna be flaites.

But what freedom if speech with the anarchist and NAZI symbols I've seen!!

I've been looking at these devices as a way to combat graffiti at the beach
http://www.themosquitodevice.com/5.html
then I started thinking that this is actually a business opportunity. The cost is pretty steep (for Chile) but so is having the stonework sand blasted. It'll also shift skateboarders, a win win!
A little hand wringing here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfuMEGMersE

Like most I hate tag type and ugly graffitti, but I must say I have also seen some FANTASTIC artwork done on walls..even in Villarrica. There are a number of walls where the owners have commissioned graffitti artists to decorate their otherwise drab grey wall and WOW! Unfortunately you get the good with the bad and the bad is ugly. Throughout our drive holiday of Chile my son often commented on some of the amazingly decorative graffiti and I have to admit some of it was quite amazing. In Australia they have actually also starting encorouging graffiti artists to decorate buildings rather than mess them up...it allows them to display their artistic ability in a controlled manner and has helped reduce dramatically the truly ugly stuff.

yea, sometimes the original wall was uglier than even the ugliest graffiti.

Still though...I hate seeing gobs of graffiti on walls, and on buildings. And I was thinking that capitalizing on it is bull. Defacing public and private property is not acceptable. To see this stuff, while some is interesting, bothers me, in that you just shouldn't be scratching and painting up someone elses property and there it is right in your face. Then, I got to thinking, it's really no different than all the ugly, in your face billboards and ads...except someone, or some corporation had the advertising money to put the stuff up. Just defacement in exchange for money. But if I owned one of these homes I see spray-painted, I would be completely pissed. I know Charles mentioned that the amount of graffiti is relevant to the disposable income, and he might be absolutely right, but respect for other peoples property and creative outlets and education might be another factor. Why should one person who has paid their dues in the art world have to struggle to get his or her art shown, while others flaunt laws and socially acceptable norms to plaster their art all over other people's property? Someone spray painting on another person's vehicle would be an outrage. Why is spray painting on someone's real property not the same? Is this an "If you can't beat them - join them" solution?

I agree with your point, but do beleive if both parties are in agreeance with the application then why should we complain. Graffiti is sometimes used in error when infact it is actual wall art that can have a cosmetic improvement. I too would be well pissed if someone painted on my wall without my permission, but on the other hand I would be more than happy to recruit an artist to paint a talented mural on my wall for all to enjoy.