By Aaron Cordy
THICK illiterate spray paint has marred the streets of suburbia since paint was first pressed into aerosol cans. The ugly stain infects most of Shepparton from the CBD, down along the lake, under the train bridge by the river, our schools and many of the small shops spread across the town. Last year GSCC in conjunction with Shepparton Police gave out graffiti removal kits to help businesses in the area fight the stain on our buildings, though it has not stopped the brazen taggers from applying their so-called art.
Nor have the taggers stuck to defacing plain walls and street signs. As one scumbag recently saw fit to tag the mural on the back of ACE College by local surrealist Artist Tank, in what can only be described as a cowardly act.
“There are 3 types of graffiti. There’s street art, which is legal graffiti having the permission to paint on a wall, and usually paid for. Graffiti, that is illegal street art as the artist hasn’t got permission but usually quality art. And taggers, that quickly tag their name on walls and move on,” explained Tank when asked to comment on the attack of his work.
“The unwritten code of tagging is not to tag over other people’s work and not to tag private property like people’s homes or cars. This tagger that’s tagged my artwork has broken the rules and has offended me by doing so. There’s plenty of free space to tag so it’s obviously been done to antagonise and shows zero respect for fellow street artists, there’s no lower act except for tagging cars and homes.”
If any graffiti artist does have real talent, they should seek an outlet where their expression can be valued by the public. While the mindlessness of tagging will never condoned.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
