Graffiti is becoming a big problem in Portsmouth, but why is it so hated?
Graffiti is a problem up and down the country, and you will always find people for and against this kind of expressive activity. Some people see it as an art form whilst others think it is just an annoyance which should be cracked down on by authorities.
Recently cars and buildings have been targeted by graffiti artists in Portsmouth, with Total Motor Factors — a car maintenance shop on Albert Road — being affected. Mark Broughton, who works at the shop said they’ve given up repainting the wall of the shop.
“The graffiti’s been there this time about two weeks, and we’re not going to paint it again. We’ve been painting it about once every three months recently and as soon as we paint it, someone goes around there and does it all over again.”
The graffiti in question appears on the right side of the building at the end of Oxford Road where there are no cameras or police to pick up on these vandals.
Mark continued: “There needs to be a higher police presence around here. That’s the only thing that can be done to stop this, I think.
“The cameras are all on Albert Road, so they don’t pick anything up. So, we’re not going to spend our time and our money repainting it this time for them to just go and do it again.”
This is a common theme in Portsmouth, with most graffiti appearing in areas where residents don’t want to see it. However, there is a market for this kind of art and for people like Peter Barber, a national modern mural artist, this pastime has been made into a profession.
Peter explained: “I’ve been doing graffiti art since I was about 14, just hanging around on the streets painting. Now, of course, I have made it into a profession, and I do it all over the place. This is now a full-time job for me, and I get a lot of attention and business out of it.”
Starting out, Peter had to build up his business very slowly, but now he is employed all around the country to paint, mostly by advertisers.
Peter continued: “I get a bit of negative because people don’t like the fact that I’m doing it commercially. They’d much prefer it to be a bit purer. But mostly the feedback is good.
“I think graffiti is so popular because of it’s quickness. It’s very immediate and accessible. It’s all about bringing people in, rather than excluding them.
“Obviously, there is some anti-social behaviour attached to it, like there is in all walks of life, but I would discourage anyone from doing something that is going to upset someone, because what’s the point?
“It’s unlikely to ever go away. When there have been attempts in the past by local authorities to suppress it, it has never worked. There’s tended to be a more positive outcome when they’ve embraced it instead.”
Someone who agrees with this statement is Ryan Dutton, a resident of Cotton Road, Milton. He claimed: “To me graffiti is an art form, and when done in the right fashion it can improve an area rather than hinder it. I am of course opposed to illegal graffiti, and I don’t think it should be done in places where it is not wanted.
“You look at places like Brighton where the locals really love graffiti and they think it looks brilliant. But here in Portsmouth, there is less love for it.”
This is an argument that could go on and on forever. Some people think graffiti is a positive thing and see it as a form of art, whilst others can’t stand it and think it’s an issue that needs resolving.
In the end though, the deciding factor in Portsmouth will be whether authorities are willing to accept it or not.
