Piece by piece : understanding graffiti-writing in Hong Kong

Abstract

This research study aims to examine the development of graffiti in Hong Kong. Based on cultural criminological theories, the study looks at graffiti from the cultural verstehen perspective (Ritzer, 1996) — giving voice to graffiti writers, instead of focusing on how the police or the general public react to the graffiti issue. The research also examines the motives of those writers and whether they perceive graffiti as an act of vandalism or an expression of an art form.

To gain access to our research subjects, we made use of Facebook and other related social media networks. Finally, we successfully interviewed eight graffiti writers (five local citizens and three expatriates). Apart from face-to-face interview, our group also conducted a three-month weekly observation from April to June 2014. Every member observed graffiti writing in a designated district, viz. Tsuen Wan, Yuen Long, Mong Kok, Sheung Wan, Mid-levels and Tsim Sha Tsui. More than a hundred photos were taken in order to compare and contrast the area differences in the distribution of graffiti-writing.

With the above findings and the help of literature reviews, several issues were addressed, including: (1) the relationship between graffiti and politics; (2) the art development in Hong Kong; and (3) the definition of public space. It is hoped that, through this research study, scholars can have a better understanding of the graffiti development in the city, which is often muted from the mainstream culture.