Kagovere says Tallinn should accept street art’s short life

Street art is temporary, and Tallinn should not panic when commissioned murals are painted over, graphic design department head Ott Kagovere told ERR’s Ringvaade programme.

Five artists completed six murals in Tallinn over the summer as the city sought to reduce graffiti in public spaces. But a street artist or group using the name PASR painted over some of the city-approved works. The reported trigger was that a wall previously covered by PASR had itself been painted over.

Kagovere said cities often commission art for new or repainted buildings and small structures to deter or replace traditional graffiti. But he cautioned that treating the overpainting as a battle could prolong the conflict. He said each case should be considered individually and suggested the city could have let PASR’s so-called “bombs” remain for six months before responding.

Street artists document their work because it may be painted over the next day, week or month, Kagovere said. He urged the city to keep commissioning art, while accepting that the works may not remain permanently. Some commissioned murals may be disliked by graffiti artists, he added, and painting over graffiti does not necessarily make a wall look better.

Kagovere said graffiti should not be dismissed as mere defacement: while some examples are clumsy, others may be artistically interesting. He described it as a natural part of the urban landscape.