There is no street art in Menton, not even interesting graffiti - just mindless tags defacing one particular square in the Old Town.The main photo was taken outside the market - the smaller one in the square I mentioned.
The Mairie says it costs a fortune to keep cleaning it up, surveillance cameras have been suggested but so far no real solution. As soon as they clean it off, it appears again.
The last photo at least has a message and I thank Nathalie for the translation (I had problems with the word 'bêst' - it doesn't exist in the dictionary). Translation: 'la bête d'amour' (the love beast!) and la 'best' d'amour (the best lover) so it combines the meanings of 'best' and 'beast'.
Today is Theme Day in the CDP community and to see how others around the world have interpreted today's theme of 'Graffiti' please click here to view thumbnails for all participants.
Mindless graffiti cost a lot of taxpayers money. Good shots! Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteWhat a chance - city authorities might "allow" a few walls being painted, might even be a challenge to see who's best.
ReplyDeleteYet, agree with you, that it is indeed a measurement of time, seeing those writing on the wall, time and again.
A good new month and Friday for you.
daily athens
It is sad to see people have so little respect for such an historic place. The Old Village goes back to the 1300's, and the Rue Longue was built by Caesar's legions. Every place there are alienated people who "express themselves" in this manner. Cities where I have lived have had agressive anti graffiti campaigns, with mobile painting units ready to wipe it out immediately. It deprives the "artist" of an audience and gives neighbors a feeling they can take back their space. There is such a thing as beautiful graffiti, but this is not it.
ReplyDeleteNice post! First time to visit here... Have a nice day!
ReplyDeleteTags like that frustrate me.
ReplyDeletewhat a shame -- I hope it is cleaned up immediately. I like Robert's idea about having a place set aside for the graffiti artist, although the ones I see here is hardly art or even graffiti art.
ReplyDeleteJoanny
It really is sad to see graffiti in such a beautiful, historic village. I guess that is part of the sad reality of our culture. Too bad the taggers don't care what damage they inflict.
ReplyDeleteWhat else can I say; it is really a shame. There is real graffiti art, but this is just destructive.
ReplyDeleteJilly, I'm curious as to what the authorities do when/if they catch taggers in the act; how are they penalized? Do you think the laws maybe aren't tough enough to deter people?
Ann, I seem to remember about a year ago the authorities did catch some of the young people who did this. I think they were made to clean it off and perhaps do some sort of community service. I can't reall remember but eveyr now and again Nice-Matin has a page devoted to it.
ReplyDeletewe can count on you to capture a unique portrait and graffiti that makes the whole scene look artsy
ReplyDeleteIn your top photo, the tattoo on the man's arm is much more artistic than the graffiti.
ReplyDeleteJilly the graffiti is just plain horror but your photo, aaaah your photo ! The fruit vendor in the foreground with his clogs, straw hat, mostach, earring, pendent holy cross and amazingly artsy tatoo just makes this shot. And his selling lemons from Menton of course !
ReplyDeleteWhat a remarkable portrait. Congratulations, I admire you so for this !
... I meant to write :
ReplyDelete"And he's selling lemons from Menton of course !"
I see that the situation isn't much better over there... Great first picture anyway!
ReplyDeleteNot much graffiti but the vendor is picturesque! :)
ReplyDeletemais qui la best ? toi ??
ReplyDeleteWe saw this mindless vandalism on our annual walk around the town. I think if I had caught them in the act, I would have sprayed them with their own paint, especially where it would cause great pain to remove it!
ReplyDeleteThe skin art wins here
ReplyDeletethe first photo looks like a painting, lighting, colurs. great!
ReplyDeletehappy theme day!
I don't mind some graffiti if it has a point. The teacher in me also says it has to use proper spelling, punctuation....I ask a lot! The bottom photo has some major boo-boos. (Yes, I knew that a circumflex is often replaced in English with an 's'.) I like the first photo a lot....almost want to say he has 'arm art', too!
ReplyDeleteParticularly love the first shot where there appears to be graffiti on skin, cloth, and wall.
ReplyDeleteCombining the words "love" and "beast" is true oxymoron. I often wish that these folks would find their own canvases rather than the property of others.
ReplyDeleteSad.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting shot! I also find the man is more interesting than the graffiti. Cool in clogs!
ReplyDeleteAnd I love fresh lemons! Have you ever picked a lemon from a tree?? The smell is sooo good!!!! And 1 hour later it has faded... To remember this incredible smell, I bought lemon perfume in Menton!!
About this "scribbeling" onto the walls: We had this problem at the station, too, and guess what - a firm came with special paint to overpaint it. I told them that it's no use as 1 day later there will be graffiti again. The man smiled and said: "Not here, we are using a special paint which costs 300 € per bucket. The graffiti just flows down on it and you can rinse it off."
Barbara from Germany
Happy Theme Day - great post for "graffiti"
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend :)
Hood Photo Blog
I do abhor mindless tagging! Graffiti and street art are seen in the same category by many, but I find myself appreciating those genres. I guess the tattoos on the man's arm could also be considered a form of graffiti?
ReplyDeleteLove the human element you've included!
You mean on his arm???? hahahaha!
ReplyDeleteI wish somebody would find a point in their use of street art. It is like passing somebody on the street and saying, "Hello; how are you?"
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad individuals feel a need to vandalize. It's ugly and a waste of time and money to remove. I do like, however, the composition of your first photo.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think tattoos are like walking graffiti.
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad, it really doesn't add anything to the surroundings. I think a tag park or something approximating it in every community is a must.
ReplyDelete