Tulum, Mexíco
"Inspiration blooms in unexpected corners. A recent trip to Tulum, Mexico, highlighted this. While the Mayan ruins (circa 564 AD) were breathtaking, I was equally captivated by the modern graffiti and tagging layered upon entrance signage and restrooms. This vibrant, chaotic expression contrasted sharply with the ancient structures. Every surface seemed claimed, marked by names, declarations, and inside jokes – a modern echo to the Mayans' own indelible mark on the landscape.
More than vandalism, it felt like a primal "I was here." Each tag, fleeting as it was, signified a desire to connect, to become part of Tulum's story. I wondered if these ephemeral signatures might one day be unearthed alongside Mayan artifacts, puzzling future archaeologists. Imagine them contemplating a hastily scribbled name, wondering about the lives of those who felt compelled to leave a piece of themselves behind."
- Jay B. Kalagayan, Publisher, Creative Mussel
Slim walls and pillars are no stranger to tags and works of graffiti, as shown above. Artists use any and every space to call home to their creations and claims. The first image, reading what appears to be "rico rey", looks to be done traditionally with spray paint, though another tool may have been used to to achieve those sharp lines. This tag is very stylistic and fluent throughout, even though it may have been more rushed towards the end of "rey". As for the other images, the tags might have been done with some sort of marker, perhaps a paint-based one. Less time is put onto these tags as they are done with simpler supplies and designs, as well as smaller and more "out in the open" spaces. These range from quick, basic writing, like the image that reads "ASKMEME", to the bubble letters, reminiscent of graffiti, like the image that reads "eckis".
It's always an interesting experience when graffiti and stickers are on the same surface, as they all end up creating a new piece together, rather than separately. The possibilities are endless with the combination of spray paint/paint markers and stickers. The tags appears to be done messily, yet purposefully with a clear intention in mind - claiming a unique space in an intriguing way. In the first image, the tag to the left is seen with drips running from the letters, while the tag on the right has an uneven pressure. Both of these pieces of evidence attribute to a sense of urgency. Comparing the movement of the spray paint to the static nature of the colorful and busy stickers provides the viewer with, perhaps, and overload of information. But, that also might be a goal of the artists, as it may be difficult to read the information of the sign, in the second image, with all the tags and stickers.
With the idea of overloading the viewer with information, it's clear to see that that was the intention with these signs. Upon closer inspection, one of the signs appears to be communicating that there is nearby Wi-Fi, but the other signs are completely illegible - the, once known, information now being plagued by scrambling artists who fight to make their name known. It's difficult to make out each sticker, each piece of information and creativity, as they are layered on each other in various stages of their life. Though, one has to admire the fact that an artistic view can be made not only when inspecting closely, but also when taking everything in as a whole. The cluttered canvas of the signs, in their entirety, tell a story for the viewer to figure out.
Interpretations and research by Victor Kirkbride and Jay B. Kalagayan
(P.S. These little lizards like to live around these ruins, taking up residency where nobody else is. As cute as they are though, they seem to not be helping out in keeping these ruins stable and well.)
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