Public Lecture: Javier Abarca

The Hidden History of Modern Graffiti Cultures and the World of Insider Graffiti Research

The practice of graffiti is centuries old, but it was largely transformed and expanded with the advent of industrial civilisation and large cities. Way before the New York tradition of graffiti took over the world, several fully-blown graffiti cultures developed in Western countries of Europe and North America.

This talk will provide an overview of the complex history of graffiti cultures of the 19th and 20th centuries, from the signatures of the wandering hoboes who stowed away on freight train cars across the North American continent, to the stylised territorial markings of L.A. street gangs.

A triving scene that goes well beyond the confines of academia and often takes the form of films and especially publications. Independently-published books play a leading role in this evolution, with art-quality production now taken as a standard.

Javier Abarca will recount the development of this research sphere and share his personal experience, from his pioneering University class about graffiti and street art (2006–2015) to his work behind the world-leading events Unlock Book Fair and Tag Conference.