Some graffiti artists exhibit their work in galleries, others are hunted down as hacks. The fact is: If you don’t spray around on legal walls, you damage property, which is accompanied by annoyance and extremely high costs. The ÖBB can sing a song about it. A young painter tries to explain the appeal of his hobby.
Why do so many young people walk through the city in the dark with spray cans, leave colorful pictures on the walls or daub them with amateurish scribbles? Who should know is 22-year-old Lukas (name changed by editors). He now mainly sprays legally, but the illegal still appeals to him. That is why the Tyrolean wants to talk about his hobby anonymously.
Put a stamp on the wall in a special way
At the age of 14, Lukas first reached for the can. At that moment he tasted blood – it was the beginning of a passion. “It’s not about the rush of painting for me. I just love driving past the wall the next day and seeing my picture,” explains the 22-year-old. Testing boundaries, making the world more colorful and crossing boundaries – but most of the scene don’t see what they’re doing as a crime. Rather, it is a design of public space. “Making your mark on the wall in a special way, that’s what it’s about,” emphasizes Lukas.
Creative people with a “normal” life
The young Tyrolean describes himself and others who practice his hobby as creative people. “Most people I know have families, sometimes even children, and many go to normal work during the day.” But at night they sometimes illegally gain access to train tracks, industrial sites or – in large cities – even subway tunnels. . “Those who pay attention and are careful usually do not get caught,” says the “graffiti artist” from experience.
“More video surveillance than before”
The police and especially the ÖBB have long since declared war on illegal slander. “There is more video surveillance than before,” says Lukas, who immediately knows who has applied the most graffiti, even without tags – that’s what the painters’ signatures are called.
Lukas can understand anyone who is upset about the property damage. “But for us it’s a creative romp.”
“Art” with crazy damage
No less than 2946 graffiti last year enraged the ÖBB. After all, cleaning is expensive and heavy, backbreaking work. “Armed” with brushes and sponges, railway employees have to spend hours scrubbing the paintwork of trains. “Special solvents are used so that brake hoses are not affected or safety-relevant markings are not washed away,” says ÖBB spokesman Christoph Gasser-Mair.
The removal of graffiti alone costs ÖBB in Tyrol tens of thousands of euros. Across Austria, damage of 3.2 million euros was incurred in 2022. “This is one of the reasons why such crimes are consistently reported and the damage caused claimed,” explains ÖBB. In total, 32 sprayers were caught and reported last year – including a duo that is said to be responsible for more than 420 cases with damage of more than 500,000 euros over the past 15 years.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
