The “It’s Graffiti, But Why?” Facebook group has been around since 2015 and has already amassed an impressive 91k members. It is described as “a place to post and share pointless, random, silly and meaningless graffiti,” and as you can see here, there's no shortage of silly graffiti out there.
To find out more about where "It’s Graffiti, But Why?" came from, we reached out to the group’s creator, Lubert Das, who was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda. “It started in my head about 30 years ago when I saw the graffiti ‘Adrian Robinson smells of fish and chips,'" Lubert shared. “It stayed with me for years until I thought there must be others like me that love random graffiti. I decided to give it a go and start a group. It’s taken a few years to get going, but it’s good to see so many other like-minded people.”
We also asked Lubert what the community of “It’s Graffiti, But Why?” is like. “The members are very active,” he shared. “Sometimes too active, and keeping up with posts is hard work at times. There’s a good team of admins at work behind the scenes to keep it running smoothly.”
As far as why these photos are so popular, the group’s creator says he believes amateur graffiti is too often overlooked. “I like serious graffiti too,” Lubert noted. “But amateur, childish graffiti never leaves us. It’s a reminder of our childhood. Nostalgia is a wonderful thing.”
When it comes to Lubert’s favorite posts that have been shared in the group, he told Bored Panda that there are a few standouts. “‘Fred Dibnah did 9/11’ is one I’ll never forget,” the creator says. “I just wish phone cameras were around when I saw ‘Adrian Robinson smells of fish and chips.’”
Lubert also wanted to thank everyone involved in making the group such a fun place. "Please be on the lookout for random graffiti," he added. You never know what you’re going to find!
While you might not be impressed by writing in a school bathroom or on the bench at a bus stop, there’s certainly a wide variety of graffiti out there. And according to some, graffiti actually is art, as well as vandalism. ArtLife explains on their site that one of the reasons why graffiti should be considered art is that it takes technical skill. Painting or spray painting a recognizable image or words in an extravagant font isn’t easy. So whether you appreciate it or not, ArtLife argues that art is always subjective, and graffiti's still art.
Graffiti can also exemplify freedom of expression. An artist doesn’t need a gallery or clients to take to the streets and start sharing their message. They can remain anonymous when creating graffiti if they so choose, and they can share important takes on political and social issues without being silenced. In fact, graffiti has long been a way for activists and passionate individuals to bring light to issues. Over the past year and a half, I’ve seen countless Ukrainian flags and “Slava Ukraini” messages pop up in various places. This kind of graffiti can be a great reminder of what’s going on in the world, especially for those who only have access to a very narrow source of news.
When graffiti is done well, it can also bring new life to a space. An old Soviet block building can be transformed when a vibrant mural is painted on one side. And unexpected art in hidden nooks and crannies on the street can be exciting for passersby to find. There’s no reason why we can’t bring pleasant aesthetics to the most unexpected places. Sometimes that means on a random tree in the forest, and other times that means on the door of a bathroom stall. The possibilities are endless!
