Graffiti is everywhere even in Denmark!
June 18th 2007 10:06
Signature Tune
Denmark, 1998
Photograph by Sisse Brimberg
Graffiti covers the side of a ship in one of Denmark's many harbors. Vandalism is rare in this exceptionally peaceful, orderly society where a mere 2 percent of the national budget is spent on police, prisons, and courts. A common saying in the patriotic nation holds that "Denmark is a land where few have too much and even fewer have too little," a fact that they attribute to keeping the crime levels low.
(Text adapted from and photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Civilized Denmark," July 1998, National Geographic magazine)
Graffiti Denmark
What do you think about Graffiti?
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Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
I personally am a huge fan of graffiti - when it is creative.
When I lived in Brighton, UK there was a section of walling down by the beach where people could be free to get creative.
Sadly it is such a temporary art form - painted over for the next artist to vent his works.
There is a difference between vandalism and graffiti I think -
ash
Comment by katyzzz
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Unfortunately it seems to be abused, but I must say I liked the approach, can't think what to call it, which defiled cigarette advertising. Hmmmm, thinks.
katyzzz
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
However, I have seen some amazing graffiti - if only they could put their talent to a better use!
Comment by katyzzz
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Like my graffiti on Orble, perhaps. Yes, agree about the vandalism comment.
I sometimes worry where my "art" will end up.
katyzzz
Comment by Deorre
Stress Alive
Man Lessons
I find some of it aesthetically pleasing.
Comment by katyzzz
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A good blogger needs to be tech savvy, I'm finding that a little hard, short of doing some course and then it would be finding the right one, and getting a job in a tech company.
That all seems the long way to go and my interests lie in different directions.
I'll see what I can find on the web and share it, I've already done that to some extent but it's getting your hands on things that I feel would reap the greatest rewards.
Any suggestions, and no, stick to poetry is not a response I'm after.
I hope it is not necessary to add a ha, ha, smiles, winks LOL tee hee to show that I thought the last line was funny.
I'll be waiting with bated breath for your reply.
katyzzz
Comment by katyzzz
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Thanks for that, I think sometimes they use patterns which they just spray over, hence the similarity. Others, of course, are quite talented.
Not that I speak with any authority just from pictures and programs I've seen and seeing what is around me.
I think there was some good stuff on trains but they seem to have stopped all that.
katyzzz
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
I don`t work to a set theme myself... just rely on the daily events to take hold of my fingers... and they do the typing - I am often left wondering at what they set out in text....
Tech savvy?? no idea - can`t help you there I`m afraid. I just know the number to ring the Techinical Helper for my internet provider... and they are not always very helpful!
ash
ps hope you didn`t wait too long with baited breath - you may have caught something there that you wouldn`t want!
Comment by katyzzz
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I'm waiting for the day that I catch something that I DO want.
Tech savvy? Hmphph, should have known that a poet wouldn't be much help.
I think I've got the software worked out to the worst of my ability, it's the tech savvy I want, so I can rise like Phoenix from the ashes.
katyzzz
Comment by Sarah White
coolgirlsar to the rescue
One Too Many Chocolate Bars
Love your signature picture, for some reason this ones reminds me of a smile.
Take Care.
Sarah. xxx
Comment by katyzzz
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That place opposite must really have annoyed you and Callum's ideas.
If it's any consolation kids often draw on walls even without input from graffiti.
I had one wall in my kitchen/family area where I would put up the kids' efforts.
It did the trick, some of them were there for years.
They drew on paper of course with the inducement of its going up on the wall.
I'd hate to tell you what my kids used for their earliest artistic efforts, boy did that take some cleaning up and my son in particular regularly decorated his cot, while being quiet as a mouse and I thought he was still sleeping.
He did it over and over again until he was old enough to get the message that it just wasn't on, but he knew very quickly he wasn't supposed to do it, but took fiendish, impish pleasure in continuing and as he was so very young I had no choice but to just keep cleaning it up.
katyzzz
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
However,
having said that, I do remember seeing, in a TV doco on the ancient city of Pompei, archaeologists finding scribbled political rants across walls! So, it has been around a long time.
Of course, if there isn't a point to be made, other than the exercising of one's ego via an indecipherable scribble, namely the tag, then I am against that version altogether.
However, some of these graffiti artists are utterly brilliant. Some of the better locals were used to create a set for a stage show at The Ensemble Theatre many years ago.
Love good graffiti, HATE taggers!
By the way katyzzz, love that "signature tune"!
cheers from Fog!
P.S. You inspired me to write another poem, about poetry writing on this site...so taa muchly!
Comment by charliesgirl_992000
Histeries, Mysteries and what not
Lifes little slices
Mystical Creativity
Tammy
Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
Comment by katyzzz
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That's a lovely lot of comments you've left me there and I thank you. Previously I'd never heard of taggers so that's a buzz and I guess there is too much vandalism to give this much sanction.
Certainly the photo from Denmark did not show inspiring Graffiti, just the opposite.
Good to have your views.
katyzzz
Comment by LaurenD
Good post, Katyzzz.
LaurenD
Comment by katyzzz
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Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
I couldn't open the pic, as usual, but I run with high security, so no probs.. I can work out it was a negative graffitti and not the positive stuff that I also enjoy. As Lauren says, when it is done as an artform it is beautiful, especially some of that new Japanese-style stuff.
Otherwise, I'm of the opinion it's what happens when youth are shoved into concrete cities for too long, the mind mutates and needs the colours of nature... it must be expressed...in colour...disorganised and random... ah but not without structure and meaning...reflecting...?
Universal intelligence...or rage against the machine?
The former a work of beauty, benefiting all... the latter a mess of scribbles, reflecting urban tensions, perhaps.
An interesting topic, this. I remember reading on orble a while ago about a preservation society for classic Graffitti now, in order to save the special stuff on the side of buildings targetted for demolition. Perhaps photographing them for exhitbition... or saving the walls themselves?
Lilla ...
Comment by katyzzz
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There are definitely some areas that need to be covered up with something more interesting than a barren landscape.
Imaginative councils in old areas may well be able to assist this way, trouble is it could result in the good the bad and the ugly and I'm not referring to the graffiti just some of those who execute it.
Most would say it is just vandalism but it could be used in a constructive way as you suggest.
I think breaking down the barriers created by density urban living has shown itself as much too hard to tackle even by well intentioned, motivated people, let alone Governments.
The barrenness of modern living as opposed to that of just walls.
I'm sure you express and understand these things much better than myself.
Denmark has the right ideas but even it falls victim to the vandals.
So much interest in what I can only describe as a less than attractive image.
katyzzz