Published: 25 July, 2009, 07:09
Edited: 25 July, 2009, 07:09
Graffiti on walls may be a nightmare for city authorities around the globe, but in Moscow they're turning it to their own advantage. The city's energy company is inviting street artists to decorate its power stations.
However, it doesn't mean those breaking the law can escape being punished.
So what is graffiti, a work of art or vandalism?
It divides public opinion and despite being illegal, graffiti can be found sprawled on the walls of most large cities. That includes Moscow, although graffiti is arguably less conspicuous here than elsewhere.
Could this be because Moscow is tougher on its taggers?
Dima, a 17-year-old graffiti artist, certainly thinks so. He got caught spray painting a wall in his village on the outskirts of the capital and is now facing a year’s community service or a whopping $1,300 fine.
Like many other graffitists, Dima sees his work as a public service and not as a selfish act.
“I just wanted to decorate the wall, make it less bland and dull,” he said. “I knew it was illegal, but I hadn’t thought they'd take the case this far. Previously, I'd just get away with paying 200 rubles.”
However, bribes weren't an option this time, and instead Dima is being tried for a criminal offence, a punishment his family and friends think is too severe.
“Of course, I was shocked,” said Dima's mother OlgaFeklistova. “I knew Dima was painting, but he never did it in public places.”
“He would paint at his friends' places, dachas, garage walls, and so on,” she said. “I never thought he would be charged with vandalism. I think they're overdoing it. This is just a misdemeanor.”
The regions' prosecutor’s office refused to comment, only saying the investigation was carried out professionally.
Meanwhile, in the center of Moscow, authorities have come up with a novel way of stamping out illegal graffiti before it starts. They organized a festival in which young artists put their talent to good use: decorating the city’s power stations.
“This sort of street art is getting bigger and bigger every year,” said Raifa Bitkova, press secretary for the Moscow United Energy Company (MOEK). “So instead of wasting money and resources trying to fight it, we thought it would be better to reach an agreement with graffiti artists, so we all could make our native city a better, more beautiful place to live in.”
For the artists, it’s also a chance to get their hands on free paint and practice their work without the pressure of being caught.
“There will be fewer ugly paintings around the city and more professional, beautiful ones,” believes Boris, a graffiti artist. “Of course, there will be illegal paintings anyway, but there will be fewer of them.”
So while organizers have been able to attract graffiti artists to take part, its remains to be seen if the youths will put down their spray cans for good.