Gaffiti known: This series of photos shows the contemporary use of graffiti within its surrounding environments. From the beginnings of civilization graffiti has been a major communication tool, communicating messages and points of view, remaining uncensored if untouched by others. Graffiti allows the outpouring of frustration, thoughts about lost love or makes clear an individual's sheer indifference. Whether the work has a particular meaning or shows sympathy to its surroundings in rural or urban areas, it has always given a voice to the unheard. The interest in cataloging graffiti styles or messages for me is graffiti's associations with local areas and its particular relevance to it. The continuing vilification of taggers in Europe by the media and government encourages graffiti in more dangerous or daring spots. In South London a local paper gave its front page over to CCTV stills of young taggers on buses all looking between 10-15 years old. It appealed for information about the taggers, asking if any were recognizable to the public. This coming from a paper covering an area with high occurrences of murder and rape shows the seriousness certain areas take against the proliferation of graffiti. The fact that most environments are prone to graffiti, not just inner city or industrial areas has given rise to more innovative works influenced by the local area, changing the tradition for messages of emotional desperation or political viewpoints that are often seen or thought of as generic graffiti by the public.

Gaffiti known:

This series of photos shows the contemporary use of graffiti within its surrounding environments.

From the beginnings of civilization graffiti has been a major communication tool, communicating messages and points of view, remaining uncensored if untouched by others. Graffiti allows the outpouring of frustration, thoughts about lost love or makes clear an individual's sheer indifference. Whether the work has a particular meaning or shows sympathy to its surroundings in rural or urban areas, it has always given a voice to the unheard. The interest in cataloging graffiti styles or messages for me is graffiti's associations with local areas and its particular relevance to it.

The continuing vilification of taggers in Europe by the media and government encourages graffiti in more dangerous or daring spots. In South London a local paper gave its front page over to CCTV stills of young taggers on buses all looking between 10-15 years old. It appealed for information about the taggers, asking if any were recognizable to the public. This coming from a paper covering an area with high occurrences of murder and rape shows the seriousness certain areas take against the proliferation of graffiti.

The fact that most environments are prone to graffiti, not just inner city or industrial areas has given rise to more innovative works influenced by the local area, changing the tradition for messages of emotional desperation or political viewpoints that are often seen or thought of as generic graffiti by the public.