The Scrawls of War

November 18, 2004 1:13 PM

The Scrawls of War. London graffiti artist Arofish takes a tour of Baghdad and Palestine and leaves his mark behind. The tales he has for each picture are quite interesting as well.
posted by Ufez Jones (13 comments total)

I saw graffiti similar to this in Syria. I don't know if this guy has disciples, colleagues or imitators in the region. Thanks!
posted by Pollomacho at 2:13 PM on November 18, 2004

Thanks Ufez!
posted by shoepal at 2:15 PM on November 18, 2004

That's pretty cool and crazy. Risking his life to deface the walls of an occupied war-torn country with (mostly ugly) stencils. How do you say WTF? in Arabic? Good stories though.
posted by Turtle at 2:16 PM on November 18, 2004

good stuff as always Ufez. my favorite image

if this guy has disciples, colleagues or imitators in the region

saw them too. they're like the crop circles of oppression
posted by matteo at 2:33 PM on November 18, 2004

Shot at and arrested by Iraqis, arrested by the Americans ...just so you can put a spraypaint a few walls? WTF?
posted by rajbot at 2:40 PM on November 18, 2004

This site instantly got me thinking of this.
posted by syscom at 2:41 PM on November 18, 2004

Damn interesting--but how is this guy not a vandal?
posted by LarryC at 5:51 PM on November 18, 2004

Damn interesting--but how is this guy not a vandal?

No doubt he's not, except for the times where he has permission from building owners to do his stuff, like in this photo. But I thought that might be an interesting touchstone for the link. It's got the vanadlism/arts/politics angle that I found sort of fun to think about and discuss.
posted by Ufez Jones at 5:59 PM on November 18, 2004

Although, with the caveat, both Baghdad and Palestine have bigger issues to deal with besides vandalism, I'd think.
posted by Ufez Jones at 6:00 PM on November 18, 2004

have bigger issues to deal with besides vandalism, I'd think.

Kelling & Wilson's Broken Windows theory notwithstanding, I agree
;)
posted by matteo at 6:24 PM on November 18, 2004

This got a big WTF!? from me:

...as I lay face down on the hotel’s concrete roof with my hands plasti-cuffed behind me and my shoulders aching like fire, the leaden dawn of sobriety and regret began to prevail. It might have been a more reflective moment without the obnoxious 21-year-old who would not get tired of cocking his rifle by my head and shouting things like “Shoot his ass man, I don’t have time for this shit, shoot his ass.”

Is this a prevalent mindset for US soldiers in Iraq? Shooting graffiti artists?
posted by anarcation at 8:34 PM on November 18, 2004

Awesome!

Thank you Ufez Jones!
posted by scarabic at 11:07 PM on November 18, 2004

When vandalism is art and art is vandalism:
My house or building? it is vandalism. Someone else's? Art
posted by Postroad at 8:19 AM on November 19, 2004