Graffiti has been a symbolic message for anti-establishment and self-expression in New Zealand since the 1980s. As an art form it has always been a creative method of showcases artists work though graffiti has had multiple uses in our streets beyond being beautiful pieces.

One of the most known usages of graffiti is for communication, in both the drug industry and gang world. Although these avenues aren’t the most supported pass-times, the use of graffiti does exhibit some genius work at play. Graffiti artists have been using tags and spray-paint to mark territories, create symbols and alert other like-minded individuals to what the region has to offer in the underground activities.

When I was a small white child living in South Auckland, driving around with my darker dad, I learnt a lot about this hidden world of graffiti. My dad would always point out different messages and reasoning’s behind graffiti and often would show me how to decipher these tags.

Primarily we saw graffiti which linked to drug deals, meet-ups and dealers ‘territory’ marks. I do love my dad by the way, but South Auckland has its reputations for a reason. When I drive past small tags and pieces on power boxes and shop walls, I can’t help myself but to try and apply this knowledge I learnt as a child into deciphering what the artist is trying to tell me.

Although these messages allude to some not very legal activity I find some beauty in it. An underground network system of times, dates, inventory and address that appears very abstract to the normal eye gives off some super cool vibes. Maybe it’s just me.

For a very political and structed country I think the creativity it takes to create is messaging system is something to applaud to. Whether you agree with the darker principles of the activities behind this art, it cannot be stooped down from what it really is; a way to connect with others like you. How wholesome…gotta appreciate some good ol’ anti-establishment and political defiance.