Graffiti (or tagging) is vandalism of property without the owner’s consent by the use of spray paint, drawing, writing or marking. In Australia, graffiti is illegal and is a persistent problem that costs government and private business over $2 billion a year. These costs don’t take into account the societal costs or its influence on other antisocial and criminal behaviours that contribute to communities’ perception of safety.
The cycle of graffiti removal persists when surfaces are cleaned or repainted, providing a fresh canvas that attracts more tagging. Within minutes, newly cleaned areas can be defaced again; within days or weeks, they are saturated with graffiti.
Though removing graffiti immediately may be effective in areas without an established graffiti culture, this approach fails in major cities like Melbourne and Sydney where graffiti vandalism is deeply ingrained. There is another option for graffiti management – break the cycle.
On almost any blank or solid-colour surface, making public spaces appear unsafe,
impacting community wellbeing and patronage to local businesses.
Areas with high pedestrian activity such as train stations and public transport hubs.
Low socio-economic and high density urban areas. Areas of gang activity and low youth employment.
Accessible areas such as walls facing streets, freeways, signage, park benches, car parks.
Any spaces that are highly visible including community centres, private properties, schools, bridges and billboards.
We have a range of innovative ways to prevent graffiti:
Our 3D Anti-Graffiti Wall Panels have been designed to combat the desire to graffiti or tag a surface.
The multi-dimensional surfaces make graffiti incredibly difficult because of the way they disrupt the marking process. The tagging is rendered almost illegible and makes defacing the surface a wasted exercise.
These panels can be supplied in almost any colour to cost effectively cover very large areas such as freeway sound barriers and noise walls.
They can also be applied to underpasses and overpasses, tunnels and bridges faces. Designed for large-scale, long-life external applications, they can be fixed to concrete, steel and timber structures.
Indigenous
We believe there is value in the increased use of indigenous art to improve the amenity of our public spaces and to further deter graffiti.
Its use also supports social programs that funnels royalties from the artworks back to the artists and their communities.
Social
Artworks created by schools and community groups. When digitised they could be applied in numerous areas efficiently and cost effectively and be a source of income for the original creators.
Camouflage
Canada Post has trialled with good success wraps which leave little space on post boxes for graffiti.
The use of these wraps was reported to reduce tagging from 80% of all post boxes in Ottawa to just 10%.
We have created a series of camouflage designs that can be suited to a range of applications. These are designed to be affixed to the rear of signs, overhead gantries and similar structures to deter graffiti.
Greenery and landscapes are the best form of graffiti prevention, for selected areas. This example is in an inner-city area where almost every available surrounding surface has been defaced. Both real and imitation plants can be used.
Matryx is proud to acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
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