Graffiti artists of Instagram compete to leave mark on trains

SOCIAL media is contributing to a resurgence in graffiti as artists compete for recognition and fame by posting photographs of their work online, often without worrying that the original will be destroyed or painted over.

So-called street artists use websites such as Instagram to gain global recognition, as well as technology including drones that serve as lookouts to try to prevent police catching them.

Graffiti on trains is at an eight-year high, with many images posted on social media. In the first quarter of the year there were 399 graffiti attacks on trains, the highest quarterly figure since the first quarter of 2010, according to figures obtained from the British Transport Police.

The surge in graffiti on the railway networks has prompted the force to reintroduce a dedicated CID team to investigate graffiti crime.

Trains operated by Southeastern have been among those most frequently targeted.

“We’ve seen large mural-type graffiti attacks on our trains more than double over the last three months. This is something that other train operators are experiencing too,” a spokesman said. “We’re working closely with the British Transport Police to tackle the issues. They’ve stepped up patrols and recently reintroduced a dedicated investigation team.”

Experts say that the trend is being driven by new technology and the rise of social media. “Instagram has completely changed the game,” says Darren Cullen, a former graffiti writer who is now owner and director of Graffiti Kings, a company that runs spray can art workshops for young people.

“Now graffiti artists aren’t discouraged by the fact that their work might be painted over as soon as it is finished.

“Even if no one ever sees it in real life, you can still take photos and reach a huge audience instantly through social media.”

Several UK graffiti Instagram accounts have thousands of followers. The independent graffiti magazine UKFrontline has more than 16,800 followers on Instagram and the images it posts, mainly of graffiti on trains around Britain, regularly get thousands of views from around the world.

Large multi-coloured artworks have rarely been seen on UK trains following a crackdown on prolific graffiti artists in the Nineties, according to Joe Epstein, an author and photographer who has documented graffiti and street art in London since 2006.

“Over the last few years it has started to become a regular occurrence,” he said. “It’s quite extraordinary.”

A graffiti writer who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “Drones are being used a lot. It’s not uncommon to visit spots regularly for months, watching the trains to see where they stop and for how long – timing them so you know how long you’ve got.”

No one from Instagram was available for comment.