Tag leaves many scratching head
It’s big, it’s bold, but what does it mean?
Graffiti which appeared on Blenheim’s ASB Theatre has been the talk of the town, and now chairman of the theatre trust, Kevin Moseley, is calling on the ‘artist’ to explain what it means.
Large letters apparently spelling ‘‘UFK’’ were sprayed on the concrete exterior of the multimillion dollar building in Blenheim overnight Friday.
Speaking from Tauranga on Monday, Moseley called on the ‘‘artist’’ to get in touch with the theatre to describe what the spraypainted design represented.
‘‘We’re all a bit bemused by what it means, is it a signature? I can’t make it out,’’ he said.
The blank exterior of the theatre must have been a tempting canvas for the vandal as they risked their safety in gaining access to the roof, Moseley said.
‘‘I don’t know how they did it because access up there is not easy and it would have been bloody dangerous,’’ he said.
Moseley said lower levels of the building were coated with antigraffiti paint but developers had not applied it to the higher levels as they did not think it was at risk.
Senior sergeant Julian Lewis, of Blenheim, said CCTV footage had been assessed but had not provided any clues.
Officers also had problems working out what the graffiti stood for, Lewis said.
‘‘I can’t make it out, a few of the others have had a look and they can’t make it out either,’’ he said.
Similar markings had been identified behind a business on Horton St in Mayfield, Lewis said.
Lewis said that nationally police held a database of graffiti tags and officers would use that to try and figure out what the tag meant, and who could possibly be behind it.
Not only was the vandal in breach of the law, they had also put themselves in danger, Lewis said.
‘‘This was obviously to make a statement but we strongly discourage this person from continuing. There is a clear safety risk,’’ he said.
There was a difference between street art and graffiti and it essentially came down to consent, Lewis said.
‘‘Without permission it graffiti, it’s as simple as that.’’
Police were still unsure how the graffiti artist got onto the roof of the theatre but would work with the owners to identify entry points and make sure they were secured, Lewis said.
He said charges of intentional damage and trespassing were likely if the vandal was caught.
Theatre general manager Andrew Scott said he wanted those responsible to be held to account.
‘‘I’m not against graffiti art but this is just vandalism,’’ he said.
A clean-up would be arranged as soon as possible at a ‘‘significant cost’’ for the Marlborough Civic Theatre Trust, Scott said.
‘‘This could have been money used for community events or equipment. Now it will have to be taken from the operational budget. Do they actually care?’’
A spokesperson for the Marlborough District Council said tagging was considered vandalism and it was their goal to see the district free from graffiti. is