Australian Graffiti
Published in 1975 this book has actually preserved a lost Aussie art - that of our home grown graffiti.
Long before "tagging" and art galleries coloured the walls and fences around metropolitan cities, some witty buggers took pen in hand and scribbled their deepest thoughts on toilet doors, in wet cement, and on the odd wall or 3.
Far from merely "claiming" or "tagging" an area with illegible doodles, these clever clogs came up with witty and topical (for the day) political rhymes that gave a giggle or a mild smirk to those reading their efforts.
I woz 'ere,
'Ere I woz,
Woz I 'ere?
I guess I woz.
Apathy is a big problem, but who cares?
Bill Posters Will Be Prosecuted - Bill Posters is innocent!
Owing to disinterest this door will not be published in paperback.
Rennie Ellis was a lovely man.
My favourite graffiti ever was
on a small shed
in all the railtracks between
Richmond Station and Flinders Street ...
with
BAT HUT
painted on it in big block letters.
I smiled every time I passed it.
Bwca said...
May 22, 2008 6:00 PM
When the Herald and the Sun News Pictorial were separate newspapers I saw:
If you can't think buy the Herald.
If you can't read buy the Sun.
R.H. said...
May 22, 2008 8:16 PM
Lol Bwca and Robert.
That's the sort of thing I miss seeing, instead of those squiggly scribbly "tags" that say nothing but do much to give the public a visual headache.
Jayne said...
May 23, 2008 1:40 PM