Video games have become so immersive in the ways we can interact with non-playable characters and the fictional worlds that they live in. We have always imagined what it would be like to stand alongside our characters and carry out their quests with them. It also has influenced us to imagine living a life and doing every day activities from the comfort of our homes. These ideas have contributed to the development of virtual and augmented reality. Using our phones and/or special virtual reality headsets, we have been able to transform the space around is and create simulations of products and worlds that we can interact with from our own points of view. Many people are familiar with virtual reality games such as Beat Saber (2018) and Superhot (2016) where the space is altered around us and objects are flying towards us. Average people are even capable of making their own virtual reality spaces to share with people and we can meet people online in our own avatars. Using virtual reality, we can now make our online connects even more personal. It is even used for educational purposes like viewing simulations and models of space, the human body, and walkthroughs of museums. But how else can virtual and augmented reality be used to make an every larger impact on the outside world and people we meet? Well I believe that is possible with Kingspray Graffiti VR (2019), a virtual reality game that allows you to spray paint graffiti at several different locations. You may be asking, how can a simulated illegal activity help to spread any sort of positive world messages? First, let’s hear from graffiti artist Gabe Gault.
Gabe Gault was asked by the creators of Kingspray Graffiti VR and to walk us through his process on how he creates work using spray paint. He typically is commissioned to create large wall murals, but in this video he is showing that same process in this virtual landscape and explain his artistic and creative decisions. His final result was meant to be his interpretation of the future of exploration, depicting a woman of color as an astronaut. In this short 3 minute video, he is able to convey such a simple and meaningful message through graffiti. While graffiti does have a negative connotation, it is important to understand how graffiti has not only transcended into a valid and sought after art form and style, but has also been around for centuries.
Why Does Graffiti Matter?
Graffiti is loosely defined as the vandalism of public property, typically using paint or other mediums that alter the surface in an artistic or creative way. The content itself does not necessarily need to be “offensive” or “gang-affiliated” or have that specific organic style to be considered graffiti. The difference between graffiti and a mural is that the artist is given permission to create the mural. But then why do we still refer to it as graffiti if it is legal? Its because graffiti, historically, has always been so much more than just vandalism and because of its long history, “Graffiti” has developed into a style of art and an art form itself. The earliest known graffiti is cave paintings. Depictions of hunts and prehistoric animals on what would be considered public cave walls. From back then to the present, graffiti has always been used as forms of record keeping, decorating, rebellion, and propaganda. Graffiti has contributed to much of what we know about those who came before us. Graffiti has always been a sign of civilization, its good and its bad parts. And that has not changed. Overtime, urban areas developed a bubble lettered, organic style of graffiti that was often associated with gangs and violence. But tags and messages placed by those in modern cities serve no different purpose than those of our ancient ancestors. But because the style has changed to something so much more bold and bigger than older graffiti, people began to take even more offence and to stand against it. That is not to say we should be supporting messages of violence, but the purpose of graffiti has always been to share a message. And if people are not listening, then graffiti artists will make their messages so you cannot ignore them. And because of this constant pushing by graffiti artists to be seen and by others for them to stop, that is how we have developed graffiti into this very vibrant art style that is so sought after. Graffiti has always been done to convey a message, now we just know how to do so more clearly with citizens and corporations having taken part in this process.
(Please view the TEDEd link to learn more about the history of graffiti and its historical and cultural significance.)
Sustainable Development Goals Graffiti Projects
SDG Street Art (2020)
As mentioned, graffiti (also known as street art) has always been done with the purpose of conveying some sort of message and it has developed into an art form used by many large organizations. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals have been the influence of two graffiti based projects. SDG Street Art was an event held in Cork City, Ireland where participants were able to spray paint images and messages related to the 17 SDG’s on a public wall (with permission of the city to do so.) The purpose was to spread information about what the SDG’s are and gain more attention for the global project.
Mongolia Graffiti Art Campaign (2017)
Another graffiti project was a campaign done in Mongolia by a single young artist, sponsored by the Global Goals Organization. This artist painted his interpretation of each of the 17 goals on the walls outside of Mongolia’s United Nations House. Again, the purpose was to share these global goals with their community and gain more attention to all of the goals and causes being targeted by the United Nations.
How Students Can Use Graffiti to Spread a Message
These next ideas can be done by anyone of all ages, but I came up with these ideas coming from the mindset of an aspiring art teacher. Because graffiti in many cases is illegal and it takes special permissions to be able to create public murals which are very difficult to get, I want to consider Kingspray VR as an alternative and a foundation for something greater. Let’s say students were to pick an SDG and target they felt strongly about or another cause and they used the app, individually or collaborative, to create virtual graffiti murals that represent and promote their chosen cause. It is a fun and unique way for students to create meaningful work while also incorporating new technology into the classroom. If we wanted to expand their projects and share them, while again it would be difficult to get a sponsor to want to have students work blown up and plastered on public walls, it can be blown up and plastered in schools. Imagine a graffiti art show where all of the art they created in virtual reality was downloaded and displayed all around a school gym or auditorium. Or if they were used to cover walls or bulletin boards around the school. Or if you wanted to use even more technology, you could consider developing it into an augmented reality art show where their graffiti pieces are turned into AR model that can be scanned on devices and viewed in the real world on a blank wall through a smartphone or tablet. And I understand that for many schools it would be difficult to give many students the opportunity to create full pieces of work in virtual reality, but it can even be altered to them practicing in virtual reality and creating sketches and then painting them on large pieces of news print of bulletin board paper.
I think virtual and augmented reality, more specific Kingspray VR, as well as graffiti can be used to spread very powerful messages and can be developed into unique expansive projects for anyone. I do believe it is worth considering and checking out for yourself.
DOWNLOAD KINGSPRAY GRAFFITI ON OCULUS QUEST TO SHARE YOUR OWN MESSAGE!
Thank you for reading!
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Hi my name is Taliana and I loved reading your blog. When people think about graffiti, they mostly look at it like a bad and dangerous thing but I think it is the complete opposite. It is an art that is a form of self expression and serves as a voice for those who might not have the same means or platform to express themselves in more conventional ways. It is so powerful because it shows people’s creativity and their human spirit.