By DENNIS ORERE
PEOPLE who do graffiti can be given the opportunity to express themselves in a more productive way than defacing public property, the art director of Greta Designs and Art Gallery said.
Oseha Ajokpaezi, who is from Nigeria, said graffiti was a form of art, in which drawings and words were scribbled in a rough manner.
He said people who practised graffiti in public areas wanted to communicate their ideas.
“But because of the manner in which they do so, mostly in secret and quickly, their work is unappealing, disorganised and the message unclear,” he told The National.
“They should be given a suitable place to convey their ideas openly and confidently, without any fear.”
He said Greta Design was willing to take up the challenge of utilising these talents through art therapy programmes.
“We will give them a chance to display their desire to be heard of or recognised, in a proper way instead of them disfiguring public properties.”
Mr Ajokpaezi said grafitti was done all around the world, and in most countries it was controlled.
He urged the Government to provide funding for art companies to conduct research into the issue and help individuals.
“Papua New Guinea is still at the surface of the problem. We have not gone to the root of the problem yet,” he added.