Graffiti Artist's Freedom Scratch

The atmosphere of a warehouse building in the Sunter area, North Jakarta on Saturday (16/9/2023) afternoon was like an art studio. Spray paint cans, scaffolding, and dozens of half-finished graffiti lay there. Meanwhile, dozens of writers (the term for graffiti artists) were busy completing their work until they were drenched in sweat.

Their hands skillfully apply color to the walls with spray paint. They know how to handle the paint to make the colors vivid, smooth when blended, or to create thin and neat lines. Their skills are honed through continuous practice.

Apart from skills, the writers also show their own unique styles when drawing. Some are realistic, geometric, and some are character drawings. If you look closely, their drawings form words that usually indicate the artist's alias. That's also what differentiates graffiti and murals. The main aspect of graffiti is the visualization of text, while murals are non-text.

Also read: Graffiti Polemic to Locked Public Spaces

The creativity of the writers was showcased at the King Royal Pride 2023 graffiti art festival. This festival took place on 9-10 September 2023 and 16-17 September 2023. On 9-10 September 2023, the artists drew simultaneously on 85 walls large in 85 Indonesian cities. Unison drawing is also held in Taiwan and Singapore.

On September 16-17, 2023, artists were invited to draw in Jakarta. The artists came from various places, including Jambi, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Jakarta, Germany, Taiwan, Singapore, and the United States.

“This festival was held from 2020, then continues until now. "This event was actually created so that we (writers) could gather," said Raya, one of the initiators of King Royal Pride. “Just just relax. "There are no rules ," he added.

The No rules that Raya means has many meanings. Writers are not only freed from rules, themes, or having to convey a certain message when drawing. Their freedom also includes how to dress or groom. No one will judge.

Street art

This freedom is adopted from the free street culture. Graffiti is basically street art whose traces can be found on walls, boards or public facilities. For some people, graffiti is vandalism.

However, for some others, graffiti is just like any other artwork. It's just that the exhibition location is on the streets. Some people believe that graffiti is a form of art that beautifies the environment.

“Previously, the public saw that we were just scribbling, destroying the environment. Then we held a workshop at their place and educated them that this is not just doodling. "Graffiti can turn a rundown environment into an eye-catching one," said writer Aldi "Cloze" who also helps organize King Royal Pride.

"Graffiti can turn a rundown neighborhood into an eye-catching one,"

Society's view of graffiti has slowly shifted over time. Graffiti is now accepted as art that beautifies the interior of cafes and hotels. Because of graffiti, writers can pocket profits and collaborate with private parties.

Aram and Kiki, writers who are members of a crew called Toter (Total Terror), which was formed in Jakarta in 2004, experienced something similar. According to them, in the early 2000s the number of writers > still a little. They are still free to paint on street walls as best they can and have not been chased by the attention of law enforcement officials. Over time, graffiti was seen as disturbing public order and was removed from street walls.

“On the other hand, graffiti is now accepted by the industry and used at events. "Toter has also collaborated with several brands," said Aram.

Depends on perspective

According to art curator and professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts at the Indonesian Arts Institute (ISI) Yogyakarta, Mikke Susanto, something is considered vandalism if the community deems it inappropriate. On the other hand, there are no parameters to measure appropriateness. Ultimately, the interpreter's perspective becomes the determinant of vandalism.

Indonesian painters during the Revolution often scribbled on walls with murals, graffiti, or posters containing rebellious sentences. To colonial government authorities, these painters' scribbles were considered vandalism. However, to Indonesians, it was a struggle for independence.

"The issue of vandalism is related to power. It's the ones in power who interpret it. Ultimately, it's a subjective matter," said Mikke on Thursday (21/9/2023)."

On the other hand, the presence of street art such as murals and graffiti is a marker of the social conditions of society. If there are not many problems in an area, street art with a critical tone will rarely be found. Vice versa.

Murals and graffiti containing public criticism and disappointment were recorded during the Covid-19 pandemic. For example, in 2021, there was graffiti that read "God, I'm hungry" on Aryawasangkara Street, Tangerang Regency, Banten. Similar graffiti and murals were then removed due to being considered provocative or violating cleanliness, order, and beauty. This incident received a lot of negative attention, among other things because it was considered to silence the public's freedom of expression.

Also read: The Wall, the Great Message Conveyor

Street art that expresses resistance, struggle, or public disappointment has actually been captured since Indonesia's independence, during the Old Order, and up to the Reform era. In addition to being a way for people to voice themselves, street art also educates the public about developing issues.

During the era of independence, for instance, graffiti on train carriages helped those outside the city understand the turmoil taking place within the train's city of origin. The role of graffiti and murals in raising public awareness of an issue is still relevant today.

"The role of the muralist is needed to fill our awareness so that we remain critical," said Mikke.