The Olympics and graffiti

As London gets ready for the Olympics, the streets are being plastered with its “official” graffiti inspired logo. Is it OK to destroy the culture you are copying?

London’s streets are starting to feature more signs of the 2012 Olympics. In shop windows, the Olympic mascots Wenlock and Mandeville are prominent. On the tube, there are signs reminding us of the big event. And on the streets, there are the official Olympic decorations.

Featuring on all of them, the controversial - and graffiti inspired - logo that drew the scorn of many when it was announced in 2007. At a cost of 500,000 Euro, it was widely criticised.

Inspired by graffiti
The organisers said, “Our emblem is simple, distinct, bold and buzzing with energy... It feels young in spirit. Full of confidence, certainty and opportunity. Not afraid to shake things up, to challenge the accepted. To change things.”

And it’s unmistakeably doing this by borrowing from graffiti culture. The letters are designed in a graffiti tag order and the colours are brash and bold. Like graffiti, these logos are stuck up almost everywhere, and the locals don’t have a say in their inclusion.

Destroying the culture they are copying
Meanwhile, the organisers are carefully covering street art with new corporate logos and cleaning up the walls. In effect, they are destroying the culture they are copying.

So what should they do? One place to start is to ask local residents if they want to keep their street art or not. In Bristol, the city holds consultations about whether pieces should be removed or not. And as a result, they have a thriving culture that brings in tourists - everyone wins.

But also, if they are so keen on street art, why not relax the branding guidelines and allow others a more creative approach to the logo? An Olympic logo mash-up will win more friends then an Olympic graffiti clean up.

Image credits

Banner - Torcello Trio on flickr creative commons

London Olympics 2012 Organising Committee

Julius Laid Back on flickr creative commons

Strange Frontier on flickr creative commons