The Bondi Beach Graffiti Wall is an internationally renowned site for Street and Graffiti Artists. The space holds within it a rich history, showcasing the evolution of an art movement that began in the late 1970s. Influenced by the international trends emanating from New York and the explosive culture of MTV. Around this time, a small group of young artists in Bondi eagerly embraced the global graffiti craze, transforming this wall into their urban canvas of expression.
However, in those early days, the wall existed in a grey area of legality, resulting in tensions between the local police and the emerging graffiti artists. There was a culture shift around the wall in the 1980s when leaders from local youth groups proposed a different approach. They envisioned the wall as a community space, partnering with WAYS (Waverley Action for Youth Services) to create a platform that nurtured the talent and passion of budding artists.
Esteemed graffiti artists, including well-known graffiti artist Droogie, eagerly assumed the role of mentors, imparting their knowledge of spray art to the emerging talents of the next generation, such as the promising artist known by the pseudonym Teazer. The result was a community of mentorship, exchange and the establishment of conventions within the graff community, which were widely understood and practises. This time can be characterised by unspoken rules about where and when you could paint based on respect, status and merit. It was a period of tremendous artistic growth and notable murals allowing artistic skills to flourish but also significantly reducing the burden of upkeep on local authorities.
In the mid-1990s, Waverley Council introduced a permit system to allocate spaces on the wall again changing the dynamic of the space. This system ensures a fair and regulated approach carving a space for community and emerging mural artists to present alongside established graff and street artists. Today, the Bondi Beach Graffiti Wall stands as a testament to the power of art and community collaboration. It continues to be a sprawling canvas of creativity, reflecting the ever-changing urban landscape and the dynamic spirit of Bondi where graff, street and mural artists can present work to international audiences.
Read more about the history of bondi on: www.bondistoryroom.com.au
