The dialogue and conflict on the urban surfaces of London
Written as part of my BA (Hons) Journalism course
The posters and stickers that are collaged in urban areas of London are often overlooked by people who pass by. Individually, these images are representative of independent causes, but collectively, the dynamic and transient compositions help to paint a larger picture of the dialogue and conflict between voices.
The Socialist Workers Party have been pasting small 'Freedom for Palestine' stickers all over the city. These stickers may also have been remnants from the pro-Palestine protest on Saturday. Like the Israeli hostage posters, it seems that the campaign wasn't approved by everyone. These instances of vandalism exemplify strong feelings on both sides of the conflict.
Call buttons at pedestrian crossings are commonly vandalised due to them being hard to ignore. It can be deduced that this button once had a sticker exposing the cruelty of the meat industry as part of a vegan campaign. People often want to hide from such imagery to prevent feeling guilt which is why someone may have tried to remove this sticker. The Just Stop Oil QR code has also been defaced, making it unusable.
Within the London College of Communication, wall art and posters are not only allowed but encouraged in designated areas. Students promote their projects and events using graphic posters and infographics. QR codes are very commonly used as a way to encourage other students to participate in research or access resources. Posters are collaged over one another in a very chaotic fashion, demonstrating the fight over space on the wall.
Sometimes the way a sticker has been removed is more telling than the content of the sticker itself. The yellow sticker on this pole has been scratched away, perhaps implying that whatever was on it offended someone deeply. People who put up these stickers and posters are fully aware that this might be the fate of their work, yet that is not enough to discourage them.
This wall outside the London College of Communication is plastered with posters and accompanying graffitied text. Posters are ripped, replaced and covered, with high political tensions surrounding campuses. The handwriting is evidence of a more literal dialogue on the walls between students.
One of many Just Stop Oil posters pasted around London. These posters have been part of the environmental activist group's recent campaign against the use of fossil fuels. Even when defaced, the organisation's poster is identifiable. Beside it, someone has put up a promotional poster for a psychedelic DJ set. Even though the event date had passed, this poster was still up and in mostly good condition.
Ghostly whispers left by posters that have been ripped and scratched off a phone booth. People who put up posters often use strong adhesives to prevent them from being easily removed and leaving ugly scars when they are.
This wall outside the London College of Communication is covered in promotional stickers, with hopes that students will pay attention. One of these stickers belongs to Run The Track, a music events planner. I got in touch with the company to ask them why they chose this method of advertising.
"Our business is a music events business focused on underground dance music, so grassroots advertising is very important to us. We do use more traditional marketing methods as our more primary method of advertising, but we find that stickers and posters are effective supplementary methods, as they get across our brand image well, showing our ties to urban culture and normal people in the street."
(@run.the.track via Instagram)
They also commented on the inevitability of the stickers decaying, saying "that's part of life and it motivates us to keep putting more stuff out there into the world."
"Our business is a music events business focused on underground dance music, so grassroots advertising is very important to us. We do use more traditional marketing methods as our more primary method of advertising, but we find that stickers and posters are effective supplementary methods, as they get across our brand image well, showing our ties to urban culture and normal people in the street."
(@run.the.track via Instagram)
They also commented on the inevitability of the stickers decaying, saying "that's part of life and it motivates us to keep putting more stuff out there into the world."