La Presse recently reported that the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) has spent $11.3 million since 2003 to clean up Montreal’s graffiti, which STM spokesperson Isabelle Tremblay has called “un fléau” (a scourge). But David Proulx, the founder of l’Association Graff-X, says Montreal graffiti is more complex.
“I don’t think [graffiti] is a fléau – it is and it isn’t,” said Proulx. “It depends on what graffiti you are talking about. There is bombing art and talented art.” L’Association Graff-X seeks to give youth a creative outlet through graffiti workshops and a legal graffiti wall – which Proulx says is an important resource.
“The kids want to have walls, and the City keeps knocking down the walls to put up condos…. There is a fléau, but at the same time it’s an art in development – what can you do? Frankly, I think it’s kind of sad that people don’t realize that it would be best to stop doing vandalism and focus on murals,” Proulx said.