If you asked a random stranger what their opinions on graffiti were, i guarantee 90% would say something negative. Even within the exploration communities most people i know get frustrated with the presence of graffiti, to a certain extent i do to, but not all the time.
Most if not all of the hidden spaces in the London underground are plastered with the scribbles of previous visitors, usually Tox and Cut. Two taggers who in fairness you have to respect for their ability to gain access to the aforementioned spaces, some years before we set foot in them, but at the same time, hate the fact they have absolutely zero creative or artistic ability.
Arsenal, much like the rest of the Parisian ghost stations, is some what different to London. Sure you still have the walls sprayed by those whose biggest accomplishment is drawing a somewhat correct looking penis, but you also find various sketches, stencils and pieces. Bright, six foot high, vivid and detailed works of art. These i tolerate, and in most cases enjoy. People like this are the true champions of the metro systems, for the simple reason that they have the balls to stay in the danger zones for as long as it takes.
Arsenal closed during WW2 on September 2, 1939, and never reopened.
being a proper writer aint about going and doing one or two walls with pretty colours, its about smashing as much as you possibly can. tox and cut24 are both in their mid 20s.. tox started writing in around 01.. so for 10 years he has been bombin his name all over the city.. for years to come people will remember.. like when you explorers go down there and find written documents from the 60s, people will see tox for years to come, he has engraved himself into his city, hes left a mark.. hopefully i will be able to do that too.. personally, i cannot go down there without taking paint and causing damage, sorry for the long comment, but i thought that i let you explorers knw a bit about and why it done by us
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I think your view on what defines a writer is one of many. Doesnt mean its wrong, just that others i have met on explores and online see it differently.
You can’t badmouth Tox online without being attacked by a horde of keyboard warriors, so im not going to. Yes he is famous to a certain degree, but respected? I think it varies. As an explorer it fair to say i respect both him and cut for finding access to many of the locations we visit long before we do. But in terms of their artistic or writing ability? Well there isnt any in writing five characters on a wall so the answer is no. Sure maybe you can say i dont “get” their “style” but frankly i dont care.
It may be different in your “scene” but I will always have more respect for the people or crews that have the concrete balls to not only get into the hard to reach points within a city ( layups, yards, tube stations ) but then remain in them and paint pieces or cars, something with some artistic value and style. To me this is more impressive then some dude running in and spraying a wall for 5 seconds before breezing.
Quality over quantity.
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yeah cool, cheers fr sharing your opinions, i was just saying, i like a bit of the arty stuff, its different in the cultures, i aint no keyboard warrior and i aint attacking nobody but in the graff scene tox and cut are rated individuals by most writers. my thing is to hit as much as i could possibly with style, its hard to explain all the graf. each writer has their own style and mentality, some just go fuckin crazy like tox or 10foot… also one more thing is that writers dont care what others (non-writers) think f theirwork, as long as they are respected by others in the game they are happy. tox has more balls than anyne, he got 27months behind bars, its a passion that he has, he has more reaches than anyone else.. he has hit the highest and lowest part of london city inside out, i get what your saying though about having style.
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Well ill be the first to congratulate you on achieving your desperatly desired fame attained by with your “mad talent” of essentially drawing cocks on a wall. Respect.
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yeah yeah cool.. you need to sort out your attitude matey, you cant be going underground with an attitude like that can you?? someone will dump you down there!! or are you one of them guys thats never actually done one single bit of exploring and is just acting big on the computer??
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Once it’s been there a while, graffiti starts acquiring archaeological value of its own. One day, archaeologists will be gingerly cleaning it with toothbrushes, searching for insight into the (still-undeciphered) heiroglyphics of the Plastic Age.
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Amazing pictures very nice lighting in the tunnels which camera did you use for your photos?
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Canon EOS 550D , my trusty friend on almost all the adventures.
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Very good photos for you! perfect angle! Congratulations! You are from where?
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London-ish.
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A facinating article. Speaking only as an interested American Scot, could these be put back into use for the public? If not for transportation then as unique shops and restaurants and the like. The photos appear to show the tunnels in good shape needing some fresh paint and some imagination to update them beyond an interesting part of history.
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Your not the only one who has the same idea. Ok its not in Paris but currently there is a investor in England hoping to reopen some of Londons abandoned stations for use, bars, restaurants and the like. Its slowly picking up speed but given the cost involved its got quite the opposition from the Mayor who will only agree if it costs them nothing.
Their websites here - http://www.theoldlondonundergroundcompany.com/
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