Graffiti is an interesting thing. To some, it is an art form intended to add a little color to an otherwise dull and drab exterior while to others, it is a nuisance that takes away from the overall beauty of the area. While the jury is out as to which side is correct, one thing is for certain, graffiti definitely invokes a strong reaction. In an area of east London named Hackney Wick, a year-long battle was chronicled between a graffiti artist and a city worker tasked with removing the graffiti. The artist focused his attention on an electrical substation where one section of the building was painted red while the rest of the wall was left bare. The photo series was taken by an anonymous person who goes by the name Mobstr. His website “documents images of work found on streets and other locations by persons unknown.” [1]: http://www.mobstr.org/home2.html
On his website, Mobster wrote, “I cycled past this wall on the way to work for years. I noticed that graffiti painted within the red area was “buffed” with red paint. However, graffiti outside of the red area would be removed via pressure washing. This prompted the start of an experiment. Unlike other works, I was very uncertain as to what results it would yield. Below is what transpired over the course of a year.”
