Graffiti Stops Shinkansen
The story of the Shinkansen (Japan’s bullet train) being stopped because vandals/artists defaced/decorated it with graffiti has been in the news the last few days. (Link: Japan Times) I have heard a similar story before in Japan. Of course the graffiti wouldn’t affect the performance of the train but it might damage the reputation of the company. And, if you think about it, if someone is able to gain access to this high speed train for graffiti purposes, some other people could also gain access for more nefarious purposes.
Personally I like graffiti, not the ridiculous tagging, which to me, is comparable to a dog marking his territory with no real intention of claiming it, but those that could just as easily hang in a modern art museum. There is a famous wall in Yokohama, near Sakuragicho Station that runs undeneath the railway tracks. It is very impressive and I recommend going there if you have the chance or the inclination. When I get time I will search for the photos I have and post a gallery.
I occasionally go for a jog near my house and a couple of pieces of graffiti caught my attention. One is a complicated image of a character running (above) and the other is an abstract piece featuring three heads (below). They kind of reminded me of Spy vs. Spy.
If you have any pictures of graffiti in Japan please post them in the forum or leave a link to your gallery below or in the forum.
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Yes, you can call the wall near Sakuragicho staion mural arts! Hmmm…There are some talented people out there. “A dog marking his territory” is a good metaphor. I like it.