It is not the same way that Gangs stake their territory. Kind of like pissing on a fire hydrant but I didn’t say that. A tagger or crew’s moniker says “We are here”. Their messages are as many as you or I have to be expressed. Getting their spray bomb up onto the wall without permission or anyone catching them is some of the currency in their world discussed here. That would partially defeat their purpose. Most graffiti taggers, who don’t aspire to be artists, (which is the majority of this group) don’t want permission. Many believe that this describes the difference between graffiti art and graffiti vandalism permission. However, this graffiti art is sanctioned and even celebrated which is great and great for the artists. Also, many metropolitan areas dedicate swaths of street scapes for graffiti artists who create murals that mostly don’t get covered in the unsightly graffiti we usually see. Graffiti art has become hugely popular recently. Some graffiti taggers aspire to become graffiti artists. Security, police or just anybody who could interrupt their work are threats. Working as a team, members of the crew will act as look outs for their fellow tagger. Really, if you’ve been looking at graffiti as long as I have you would be able to read a lot of it. For two we read it in some of their graffiti spray bombs. How do we know that? Well we see them for one. Speaking of team, graffiti taggers don’t always go it alone. It feels good to be recognized by your peers and be part of a team. This will feel good just like any of you who get props for a job well done. He will get fist bumps and pats on the back. Our tagger Jonny took some risks by creating a very large piece of graffiti, in an area patrolled by security and in plain sight. Some of them will also go up and onto that freeway sign you see going through down town. For instance, spraying huge graffiti tags on a wall or throwing up their message in a well lit and populated area.

Respect and recognition come from taking risks. You know, like sports, music, civics, chess club. However, unlike the majority of us, they have not been able to affect this for themselves through more main stream means. Who doesn’t want respect and recognition? Simply put, we are wired for it as social beings. These kids want the same things we all do and they are not getting it in their home life or at school. Also, they see themselves as outliers or outcasts. Graffiti taggers cross all socio-economic lines. Most graffiti taggers are adolescent males aged 12-21. Here are some factors that contribute to this mostly unstoppable phenomenon.īefore we look at why let’s take a look at who. Having been in the graffiti removal industry for 17 years I’ve learned a lot about it.

You probably wonder how they get up on that really tall sign over the freeway to tag it up with a mostly unrecognizable name or message. Who is this guy? Who is this crew he talks about? Why is he taking such risks to vandalize a wall? Why do taggers tag? You’ve probably wondered this when you pass graffiti in your neighborhood or out and about. He sees partially removed graffiti all over the place and they just can’t get these colors to go away completely. His crew uses the “crew colors” red, blue and black it is an identifier for them and also for longevity. BTW, these are some of the most difficult colors to get off the wall. He starts to craft his message filling in the bubbles with blue, red and black paint. Tonight, his message is his name, or moniker, and his crew. He needs a lot of paint to fill in this thing that takes up almost the entire wall. Down goes the back pack and out come the spray cans, four or more. No security to come around for at least 30 minutes or bushes in the way. After 3 days the huge bubble spray bomb or throw up is still on the wall. The situation is perfect street light is out “I guess the city doesn’t care” Jonny thinks.

Graffiti tags