Helsinki decision-makers disagree on proposed new graffiti wall

Unauthorised graffiti increases sharply this year

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Helsinki politicians and municipal civil servants disagree on the potential benefits and disadvantages of designated graffiti walls.
      Various municipal boards are taking stands on an initiative by City Council member Johanna Sumuvuori (Green) and 19 others calling for temporary or permanent walls in the Kalasatama (“Fish Harbour”) area where graffiti would be permitted.
     
The initiative was discussed on Thursday by the Youth Committee and the Public Works Committee.
      The Youth Committee came out in favour of at least a temporary graffiti wall for the area. The Public Works Committee was not ready to take a stand. The civil servant’s proposal put before the committee took a negative view of the matter.
      “We left the matter on the table because the proposal did not answer the questions that were put forward in the proposal”, said the chairman of the Public Works Committee, Jarmo Nieminen (Nat. Coalition Party).
     
A planning competition for the Kalasatama area starts this autumn, and plans are for intense construction of business and residential premises in the coming decade.
      The Youth Committee notes that the construction area with its temporary fences would offer interesting possibilities for the expression of graffiti culture in a controlled manner.
      The committee notes that there have been positive experiences from a 100-metre graffiti wall in the Suvilahti area.
     
The proposal made to the Public Works Committee also mentions the Suvilahti graffiti wall, but in a more negative light.
      According to the paper, the wall, which was opened in May, could actually have led to an increase in illegal graffiti in other areas.
      The proposal points out that under public order legislation, possession of spray paint and other materials suitable for graffiti while in a public place is illegal without a good reason.
      Those opposing legal graffiti areas assert that the Suvilahti graffiti wall makes it difficult for police to enforce the law against graffiti vandalism, because those caught with paint could claim that they are going to Suvilahti, where it is legal.”
      In spite of the new legal outlet, illegal graffiti has increased in Helsinki in recent months. In the summer, 6,635 illegal graffiti were counted, up from 3,746 last year.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Graffiti artists queue to showcase their art on Suvilahti’s new purpose-built wall (5.6.2009)
  Millions spent on anti-graffiti project (28.1.2009)

Helsingin Sanomat