Graffiti is images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property.
It appears in different forms; from simple written words to elaborate mural paintings.

In most countries, marking or painting property without the owner’s consent is seen as a punishable crime. Some consider it an art form worthy of being displayed in galleries and exhibitions, whereas others consider it mere vandalism. Authorities are becoming more severe against all forms of graffiti, because it is very difficult to establish a framework for the artistic and elaborate forms. Shop owners and traders also demand that authorities exercise greater control in order to prevent the damage caused by graffiti. Beautiful graffiti murals on walls and in tunnels are often seen as public property by gangs scrawling offensive messages and tags on them. I have seen examples in Finland, Sweden and Spain, of how graffiti artwork ordered by authorities or companies to adorn walls or tunnels have been ruined by scrawling and tagging.
Graffiti has existed since ancient times, with examples dating back to Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. The oldest forms of graffiti date back to 30.000 BCE in the form of prehistoric cave paintings, made with tools such as animal bones and pigments. The first known example of ‘modern-style’ graffiti can be seen in the ancient Greek city of Ephesus. According to local guides, it is an advertisement for the oldest female profession. Located near a mosaic walkway, the graffiti shows a handprint resembling a heart, along with a footprint and a number. More romantic than in our days?
The ancient Romans carved graffiti on walls and monuments, displaying love, political rhetoric and words of thought; a far cry from today’s more or less aggressive and offensive messages of social and political content. Today’s graffiti ‘artist’ can be found with an arsenal of various materials, but spray paint in aerosol cans is the number-one necessity. As this material is quite expensive, it is not surprising that we now see less graffiti and tags than before the economic crisis. Scribbling with simple felt pens on walls and political posters seems to have increased. This form of graffiti,
used as an offensive expression can be difficult to locate, as it is mostly removed by the local authority.
Graffiti has long appeared on railroad boxcars and subways. The first example of graffiti that I remember is the phrase “Kilroy was here,” sprayed on a railroad car in my hometown in Finland. It was used during World War II and decades after that, and spread worldwide due to its use by American troops and its filtering into American pop culture.
One of the latest famous graffiti is the royal wedding one that appeared in London, showing a black and white picture of the Queen holding a spray can as she finishes painting “Will + Kate” inside a pink heart with paint dripping down. It has been sprayed on scaffolding hoardings outside a shop.
Very funny indeed!
Before writing this, I drove through the streets of Almuñécar in search of graffiti. The only ones I could find were some tags and offensive scribbling regarding the corruptness of a certain provincial newspaper.
The same message is located on a private signpost below our urbanisation. I think I will paint it over with what is left of the white paint we used to paint our house.