What is the strong attraction that leads vulnerable male teenagers into the midst of graffiti culture? Is it the strong impulse to make a mark on the environment, similar to the way a dog leaves its mark on a lamppost? Maybe it is the desire for fame, artistic expression, power and rebellion which influences the practice of writing'. Perhaps it is their identity they are trying to search for and devise on the wall. It is a fact that graffiti's history can be dated back to prehistoric times when man created wall drawings based on a human need' for communication. To me the scrawled names and brightly coloured murals work their way into the urban setting overnight without a clear agenda or meaning.
Most of the graffiti writers are young, male and according to one Australian study, prone to depression and low self-esteem. They tend to indulge in risk taking behaviour which is heavily involved with the lifestyle such as scaffolding in the night, climbing ladders, entering storm......
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