Graffiti: Street
Art & Soul
a documentary film
When does vandalism become art?
From urban decay to high-art. Graffiti is the most democratising form of art there is. There are no entry fees, there are no barriers, you can touch it, you can ignore it if you choose. You can even paint over it.
It's a sub-culture that's not hidden from view.
My documentary will focus on street art & the value it brings to local communities. It will look at local identity and how it is captured on public walls, I will explore the human compulsion to express ourselves, from tags to celebrated art - and how graffiti is often the perfect medium for that.
Many authorities have actually been able to tackle problems with vandalism and convert a problem into celebrated art spaces. Perhaps the solution to unwanted graffiti and the cost of cleaning it up, is to re-assess graffiti, embrace it, provide for it - allow members of the community to shape their cultural landscape, let our vandals be artists.
I want to highlight the success-stories of projects to create legal graffiti spaces (such as walls and underpasses) and show how street art has brought value to otherwise under-appreciated areas, in some cases it's been the driving force for regeneration and resulted in incredible outdoor artscapes which deserve to be appreciated, recognised alongside established art galleries as making a worthy contribution to the art scene.
It's important to understand how graffiti is inclusive, it frequently enables marginalised groups to express themselves using a very public platform.
Sometimes it's just cocks and balls…
Although my documentary will primarily concern itself with Street Art, it would be remiss of me to not touch on the negative aspects of graffiti. It's not all impressively technical murals - there are abusive daubings, property damage, and an inordinate amount of cock-and-ball images on bus shelters.
Support the documentary, and get "backer" rewards:
Support independent film by backing my documentary "Graffiti: Art & Soul". This is a low budget documentary. If you support the documentary with a £15 backing, I'll send you an epic enamel pin badge which has been exclusively designed and produced as a thank you. You'll also get a thank you mention in the credits.
Any funds raised will be put towards equipment and costs, the crowdfunder campaign isn't intended to cover all costs, simply help contribute toward some of the costs and enable people to be part of the project by being an offcial backer. I'm a one-person operation but will be employing the skills of others where necessary.
What do I want to achieve with the documentary?
If my documentary helps to highlight the positive impact of street art and maybe encourage discussion around legal graffiti spots then I'll be more than chuffed. Designating legal walls and underpasses can really showcase local artistic talent and turn otherwise drab surfaces into something inspirational, even cherished.
To back the documentary to get a thank you credit and one of these awesome pins, please click the link below:
How else can I support the documentary?
I have social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where I share photos of graffiti (all photos are my own). Follow those accounts to see some great street art, and for occasional updates on the documentary.
You can contact me via social media, you can also email me using the links below. If you know of any great graffiti spots - feel free to reach out and let me know.
