From enthusiast to realization of "freedom of interest", from blindness from trend to change reflection Jinan Graffiti Youth and his "Graffiti Circle"

Zhu Xiaofeng and his graffiti works

Graffiti culture is a standard import, which was introduced to the mainland in the 20th century with exaggerated fashionable and individualistic elements such as rap and hip-hop. In the eyes of many people, graffiti is rebellious and difficult to appreciate, but in the eyes of others, graffiti is the creator's personality monologue, an aesthetic, and the controversy between the two still exists today.

Zhu Xiaofeng, 25, is a graffiti enthusiast in Jinan. In his view, today's graffiti is gradually moving closer to cutting-edge art. For Zhu Xiaofeng, graffiti allowed him to release the pressure, recognize new friends, and help him get out of the dilemma of two-way emotional disorder.

From enthusiast to realization of "freedom of interest"

"I first learned about graffiti in 2015." Zhu Xiaofeng still remembers the first time he saw the scene of graffiti, when he studied at the Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts in Chongqing, and because there were fewer professional classes, he often went to Chengdu. At an event, Zhu Xiaofeng met graffiti, "Seeing the colorful colors that are freely sprinkled, and hearing the spray paint sound of 'Ding', I was immediately amazed by this way of drawing." Because of his professional art skills, Zhu Xiaofeng quickly integrated into Chengdu's graffiti circle and gave himself the stage name "Dean".

In 2019, Zhu Xiaofeng came to Jinan after graduation. Zhu Xiaofeng, who has just arrived in Jinan, is doing course research and development in a children's training institution, and he has few friends, and he is more at home playing graffiti.

In an offline activity, Zhu Xiaofeng finally found the "organization" and joined a QQ group full of graffiti "masters". Later, he gradually emerged in the graffiti circle in Jinan, and successively received invitations for some commercial activities, realizing "freedom of interest".

"In a strict sense, the drawings on street distribution cabinets and manhole covers are only simple paintings and wall paintings, and do not belong to the category of graffiti, and the length of graffiti is generally larger." According to the current area charge, a graffiti can earn thousands of yuan, and in a year, the income of 'extra money' can be tens of thousands of yuan. Zhu Xiaofeng said.

No longer just thinking about personality wants more people to know about graffiti

With the in-depth understanding of graffiti creation, Zhu Xiaofeng realized that he could no longer only care about personality, but should conduct a deeper study of the artistry of graffiti.

Zhu Xiaofeng took out the manuscript and coloring pattern of his design, "The basic process of playing graffiti now is to design the manuscript with a pencil at home, and then repeatedly fill in the test, and then make a sticker to share with other graffiti enthusiasts after the work matures, which is a bit similar to the previous postcard." "If you're itching, spray it on a home drawing board or apply it outdoors on wide plastic wrap." ”

In 2018, Zhu Xiaofeng was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, "When the doctor learned that I had the hobby of graffiti, he suggested that this hobby be used instead of medication, supplemented by irregular psychological counseling." Now that I'm basically healed, I think it's a kind of fate between me and the graffiti. ”

In fact, like Zhu Xiaofeng, there are only a few people who have a certain level of art and can "feed their hobbies with hobbies", and most of the graffiti lovers are shallow. According to Zhu Xiaofeng's understanding, there will not be more than 10 people in Jinan's graffiti circle who are still at a good level, and most of them are "ticket friends" enthusiasts.

The main reason is that graffiti requires lovers to have a relatively high level of painting, which limits this hobby on an artistic level; Secondly, spray paint a can of 20 yuan, a work to use almost 1000 yuan of spray paint, from the economic level also "dissuaded" some people.

In the summer of 2021, Zhu Xiaofeng participated in a graffiti event, and its first stop was located at Jinan Vocational College of Art and Design. At that time, the New Yellow River reporter also randomly interviewed a number of passers-by, most of whom said that they did not appreciate it and did not understand this style of painting, "but it does look much better than the original red brick cement." Respondents said.

Although most people are still relatively unfamiliar with this art, Zhu Xiaofeng is more optimistic. "Over the years, Jinan's urban development has become faster and faster, and it has become more and more vibrant, such as the famous love zebra crossing of the third latitude of the punch card, which is actually an improved version of graffiti, and now more and more people are accepting graffiti." He said: "From my experience in participating in the event, many People in Jinan are very eager to understand graffiti, but there are few ways to learn about it, and this is the direction I want to work in the future." ”

The urban management department suggested that graffiti should be integrated with urban culture

For a long time, some graffiti enthusiasts have insisted that good-looking graffiti should not be classified as graffiti, even if it cannot be called art, it is a kind of beautification and decoration of the city.

In this regard, the relevant person in charge of the urban management department of Jinan Central District said in an interview with the New Yellow River reporter that the quality of graffiti works should be placed in the layout and function of the entire block to determine, at present, Jinan does not have strict laws and regulations to clearly regulate graffiti, but who sets public facilities has the right to speak; The public environment needs to be recognized by everyone; The content of the graffiti needs to be positive and the relevant departments need to recognize the content. Strictly speaking, in public places, even in areas that are about to be demolished, graffiti is illegal.

The person in charge suggested that graffiti culture should be in line with Jinan's attitude of actively embracing rejuvenation in the art core, and graffiti enthusiasts should actively contribute to the city management department from the perspective of expanding the development of Jinan's urban culture and learning from the advanced experience of foreign cities; At the same time, it is necessary to actively understand the urban culture of Jinan, integrate graffiti art into jinan urban culture, make it conform to the aesthetics of the public, combine social fashion with urban needs, and work with the city to create a new cultural label of Jinan.