10.3 Digital graffiti and projection art

Digital graffiti and projection art are revolutionizing street art. Artists use LEDs, lasers, and drones to create temporary, interactive installations in public spaces. These digital techniques allow for complex designs and animations without permanently altering surfaces.

Projection mapping takes digital graffiti to new heights. Artists use specialized software to project intricate, site-specific animations onto buildings and sculptures. This technology enables large-scale, temporary installations that transform urban environments in ways traditional graffiti can't match.

Digital Graffiti and Projection Art

Forms of digital graffiti

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  Meet ‘Droncita,’ Mexico’s First Graffiti-Artist Drone · Global Voices View original

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  Digital Graffiti by unisonart on DeviantArt View original

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Top images from around the web for Forms of digital graffiti

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  Light Graffiti - Ghosts | Light Graffiti - Taken in Admiral'… | Flickr View original

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  Meet ‘Droncita,’ Mexico’s First Graffiti-Artist Drone · Global Voices View original

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  Digital Graffiti by unisonart on DeviantArt View original

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  Light Graffiti - Ghosts | Light Graffiti - Taken in Admiral'… | Flickr View original

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  Meet ‘Droncita,’ Mexico’s First Graffiti-Artist Drone · Global Voices View original

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• Digital graffiti creates temporary or interactive installations in public spaces using digital technologies
  • LED throwies are small, battery-powered LED lights attached to magnets thrown onto metal surfaces to create glowing designs
  • Laser tagging uses high-powered lasers to project graffiti-style designs onto buildings or surfaces from a distance
• Interactive installations respond to viewer movement or input
• Augmented reality graffiti can be viewed through smartphone apps (Pokémon Go)
• Drone graffiti uses drones to apply paint or project images onto hard-to-reach surfaces (bridges, billboards)

Projection mapping in street art

• Projection mapping uses specialized software to map digital projections onto irregular surfaces like buildings or sculptures
  • Artists create detailed, site-specific animations or images that conform to the surface contours
  • Allows for large-scale, temporary installations without physically altering the surface
• Examples of projection mapping in street art:
  • "Interconnection" by Limelight transformed the Sydney Opera House with animated projections
  • "Inori" by Nobumichi Asai used facial projection mapping to create dynamic, expressive performances
  • "Light Capsules" by Tigrelab projected colorful, abstract animations onto trees and buildings in a public park

Digital vs traditional graffiti

• Advantages of digital graffiti:
  • Allows for more complex, detailed designs and animations
  • Can be easily removed or changed without damaging surfaces
  • Enables interactive or responsive elements that engage viewers (motion sensors, touchscreens)
  • Reduces exposure to toxic fumes and chemicals associated with spray paint
• Disadvantages of digital graffiti:
  • Requires access to expensive technology and specialized skills (coding, 3D modeling)
  • May lack the tactile, physical presence of traditional graffiti
  • Relies on electricity and digital infrastructure, limiting locations and duration of installations
  • Some argue it lacks the "authenticity" or subversive nature of spray paint graffiti

Legal issues of digital public art

• Digital graffiti is often created without permission and can be considered vandalism under the law
  • Artists may face fines, arrest, or other legal consequences for unauthorized installations
  • Some argue digital graffiti is less damaging than spray paint and should be treated differently legally
• Projection mapping or lasers in public spaces raise concerns about safety, distraction, and potential interference with transportation or emergency services
• Digital graffiti can raise issues of intellectual property rights if artists use copyrighted images or software without permission
• The ephemerality and intangibility of digital graffiti challenges traditional notions of ownership, preservation, and monetization in the art world
• Like all public art, digital graffiti sparks debate about the use of public space, freedom of expression, and the role of art in society