Experts say Tallinn murals will not curb graffiti

Experts say Tallinn’s commissioned murals will not solve its graffiti problem, ERR reports. The graffiti artist PASR has begun painting over some of the works, which the city commissioned to reduce graffiti in public spaces.

Last summer, Tallinn asked five artists to create six murals. Street artist Sirla said the situation arose because the city has a zero-tolerance approach to unauthorised art in public spaces. Instead of supporting independent art, she said, the city has held official design competitions.

Kert Viiart-Õllek, an associate professor at the Estonian Academy of Arts, called the North Tallinn district administration’s approach a “lazy solution” that sought results on a minimal budget. The murals had created a new problem, she said, adding that graffiti was part of urban subculture and would persist.

Deputy Mayor Monika Haukanõmm said the city hoped to work with street and graffiti artists. She said the city opposed obscene words or images and other defacement, not an art style, and wanted to cooperate rather than simply paint over work. Sirla said she had seen little sign of a genuine willingness to collaborate, and that painting over existing works made it seem the city was fighting graffiti and street art.

Art historian Aleksander Metsamärt said much unauthorised street art in Tartu had remained on walls for more than a decade because it had not been painted over. He contrasted the use of stencils by many artists in Tartu with the more freehand approach in Tallinn.

Viiart-Õllek suggested creating more legal spaces for art or removing graffiti from unauthorised surfaces quickly in agreement with building owners. She also proposed architectural or urban planning measures, such as planting climbing plants where suitable.