Graffiti’s Lost Mystique: How the Internet Changed the Game
Not so long ago we lived in a time where graffiti was mysterious- it was a unique, oral tradition passed from writer to writer, skills and techniques passed on by friends and tips and tricks formulated from years of trial and error in pursuit of fame. It was localized, niche, like encountering a rare or legendary pokemon out in the wild. As a kid I remember driving by a bridge and seeing a piece + character with a bold message peeking out and it completely shocked me outta my current state. The community felt private and like you were a superhero by night and normal person by day. Only you and your friends knew what was up, a beautiful inside joke and validating experience. Today, the private lives of writers are on full display as invasive, influencer lifestyles permeate our culture.
The once battle for public space moved online- a battle against the algorithm, bots and trolls. A battle for clout, sponsorships and virality. Where once you’d be happy knowing your 5 friends saw your hot spot .. 10,000 views isn’t enough today … technology has transformed graffiti into a new age, but at what cost?
How Social Media Changed Graffiti Forever
Spectator at Art Basel ‘23
Graffiti and social media have an interesting relationship. It would be hard to connect with someone in Italy and see their pieces if you didn't live there, but now we can easily. The chase for likes and shares brought writers instant exposure- While on one hand, your art is getting promoted worldwide, on full display for everyone to see, on the other hand we lost touch with the real life aspects of writing. It’s easy to see how confusing social media for real life can happen, often adopting a delusional idea that likes and followers mean success; that being viral was more important than being up. Confusing posting multiple times a day with getting out there and actually painting. Ask yourself, if you deleted your social media today, would you and your work exist outside of that?
Additionally, writers sharing details of their lives more than ever has led to ease of access from authorities. Thanks to lax posts, accidental geo tags, and obvious time stamps new artist are incriminating themselves everyday. The once anonymous and elusive art form is now pre documented and cataloged, one click away from penalization.
Why the Analog Era Felt More Special
The pre-internet graffiti scene was built on effort, secrecy, and personal connections. Finding pieces and spots meant navigating cityscapes and earning trust in the community. Having to go store to store taking caps off of Elmer's spray glue and shaving them down with a razor, learning how to mix your own colors, creating your own inks and markers through trial and error. Recipes and formulas shared via friends and elders, through oral tradition and communal history.
Old heads put the new kids onto styles, ethics, and regulated spots. Photographers compiled their shots into zines and books, creating tangible archives that held weight in the culture. There's something to be said about unlocking the gates for new artists while also preserving the integrity of our community. Now everything is over commodified. Any color, cap or marker you want straight to your door, within a blink of an eye. The once protected and private practice is now on full display, as influencers draw the curtain back on our world. Not everything needs to be shared online and what’s more important is actually getting out into this world for yourself. Creating for the sake of creation, not an algorithm.
No screen can replicate the scale and energy of a whole-car burner in real life. No post can show you the sweet smell of the engine, the tracks, the sounds from the coupler, squinting to see your outline in the dark. No post can replace the feeling of freedom as you explore a world unbound by limits in your nightly adventures. A 4x4 Instagram crop flattens the impact, ironically reducing some of the largest pieces of art to mere content on a handheld screen. That 60’ freight is now just enjoyed for a split second, accompanied by a Fire emoji and then gone forever into the ether.
Reclaiming Our Space: The Path Forward
NGC CREW WHOLECAR
To preserve the true essence of our craft, we must take control of its narrative. Forums and print media provide a refuge from algorithm-driven exposure. Supporting artists means more than just engagement, it means investing in real-world opportunities. It means actually getting off the couch and putting in effort outside sharing to the ‘gram. It means abandoning the need for validation via internet clout and turning that drive inwards. A need to please yourself, a need to be better for YOURSELF, cause if it doesn't come from within- you're not gonna last. Anything with sharing and doing has gotta come from inside you, not just because you think this stylize video/editing/or art form is gonna make you viral. Its undoing the programming we have been fed, this idea we have to constantly consume. It’s time we get our validation and satisfaction from doing really great work that's out in the real world. Free to consume. Raw and in your face the way, Graf was meant to be.
Side Note:
DIY culture must be upheld; make your own markers, trade zines, and build community offline. Let’s return to the roots where passion, not clout, defined graffiti.
Artist Admiring Work
Join Our Movement
We’re creating a space where graffiti can thrive outside of algorithms. Get involved in our forum, contribute to 400ml, and help bring the culture back to its roots. Email us at hello@4hundredml.com if you’re interested in contributing.
