The Language of the Graffiti Artist
Lisa Lehane — December 27, 2005 — Art & Design
References: en.wikipedia.org
"Taggers sometimes select tags, like screennames, to reflect some personal qualities, but often a tag is chosen for how the word sounds when spoken aloud or how the letters sit with each other when written; usually referred to as how the tag "flows". The letters in a word can make doing pieces very difficult if the shapes of the letters don't sit next to each other in a visually pleasing way. Also some tags are humourous plays on common expressions, such as: Page3, 2Shae, 2Cold, In1 and many others. Tags can also contain subtle and often cryptic messages or in some cases the writer's initials or other letters become a part of the tag. The current year is often put up next to tags as well; the bomber Tox, from London, never writes just Tox; it is always Tox03, Tox04, etc. In some cases, "writers" dedicate or create tags or graffiti in memory of a deceased friend, for example, "DIVA Peekrevs R.I.P. JTL '99". Tags are usually between 3 to 5 letters long to make the process of doing them illegally faster, but can be any length at all." - Wikipedia
Trend Themes
1. Personalized Tag Selection - An opportunity for brands to innovate by allowing customers to choose personalized tags that reflect their personal qualities and preferences for a more immersive and engaging experience.
2. Visually Pleasing Tags - A potential disruption in the graffiti industry by creating innovative tools and techniques that allow artists to easily create visually pleasing tags with letters that sit next to each other in a visually pleasing way.
3. Cryptic Message Tags - An opportunity for graffiti artists to explore creating cryptic message tags that contain hidden meanings or messages, providing a new level of intrigue and storytelling in their work.
Industry Implications
1. Branding and Marketing - Brands can leverage personalized tag selection to enhance their branding and marketing efforts, allowing customers to engage with their brand in a unique and creative way.
2. Art and Design - The art and design industry can embrace visually pleasing tags as a disruptive innovation to enhance urban art and graffiti, creating visually captivating and aesthetically pleasing works.
3. Technology and Software - Innovative technology and software solutions can be developed to assist graffiti artists in creating cryptic message tags, opening up new possibilities for storytelling and artistic expression.
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