A train belonging to Guadalajara’s yet-to-be-opened third Tren Ligero (subway) line has been given a new lick of paint – courtesy of some creative graffiti taggers.
The service won’t be in operation for at least another six months but local taggers have already left their distinctive mark on a two-wagon unit that is being used for trial runs. The train was parked overnight at the elevated Periferico Norte station when it was vandalized. Some insiders suggested it might have taken the taggers less than 15 minutes to spray paint the outside of the carriage. A private security firm was charged with watching over the train at the time of the incident.
On Tuesday, Zapopan authorities announced they had identified two men, aged 22 and 27, who they believe are responsible for the graffiti. According to one report, the distinctive tags on the wagon point to the work of two celebrated taggers, who go under the names “Drifo” and “Kraz.”
Zapopan Mayor Pablo Lemus stressed that the men would not be detained but given support for their “social rehabilitation.
On Wednesday, state authorities issued images of the taggers removing their paint job from the train, a task they said would take about three days.
Tagging
According to gateamerica.com, a tagger’s main goal is to “get up,” which refers to getting his or her “tag” in as many places in the city as they can, and as high up in the city as they are able. They strive to be able to do their “tag” very quickly and they also seek to be recognized for artistic merit. Notes the blog: “Taggers are using graffiti for fame and notoriety. Their objective is to get their crew (group) name and/or their individual moniker up on buildings, signs, walls, etc. so that they can receive recognition from other taggers and tagging crews. The more locations that they tag their graffiti on or the more difficult the location to remove their tags, the more fame and recognition they receive.”
The site also stresses the difference between taggers looking for fame and “gang graffiti,” which is “strictly territorial and used to let members of other gangs know to stay out of a particular area or be subject to retaliation.”