In a way the rise of the corporate landscape since the 60s and 70s which is ongoing is a strategic move that in some cases people blamed for dividing communities. A freeway for example became a division, train networks then around the same time became the connection. A connection of names and public art. Some of the best spots to paint aerosol pieces in my area were built in the late 60s, they became art galleries in the mid 80s.

People will always attempt to create connections, and authorities will attempt to limit or cease the activities for reasons of public order and functionality. This is tied into supply chains and other boring stuff that keeps the lights on but also can create mini hellscapes. What I mean by that was perfectly illustrated in a photo I took last year. A tired old grey warehouse with ordered lighting (meets building standards), a laneway with a wall with decaying paint.

In this ordered boring grey landscape in frame photograph is one element that has the sign of a human hand and human scale which is a lone graffiti tag. This is the only thing in frame and may I add I know this street well is one rare sign of a human hand. Human hands built the buildings and made the oppressive fences but it is all done with machines and there is no human scale or human touch. This is the corporate landscape built for economics.

I posted the photo with a short blurb on the human touch in a bland environment made by humans for a system of supply and demand. Someone said the graffiti tag was selfish and there should be a mural on the degraded wall. I told them that I had actually approached the business there and offered my services for free. I offered and emails were sent to management with no reply.

So as soon as reality is discussed and people’s stupid uninformed ideas are shown to be incorrect and baseless people just disappear and have no follow up. I mean who the hell wants to actually think and feel a bit uncomfortable, instead choosing to latch on to mediated ideas and general stupidity that thinks that people who are actually engaging with the world they inhabit are selfish?

To me the strategy is brilliant, make everyone’s reality as hellish as possible and then people will choose to ignore reality at any cost. Why would we celebrate the demise of humanity in the hope that the future is somehow more promising? If something is shit just tell it as it is, it is shit. People who want to make it better are punished, sidetracked and mostly ignored. Don’t act like its your fault, reality is all you have, the world is for humanity and tagging is one way to exist in a world that wants to silence you.