Invisible Graffiti

Invisible graffiti Surface Regeneration

Alessia Giardino

Materials exploration in urban context. Â

How can pollution and weathering become part of the texture and surface design in the context of urbanism and architecture?

Context Urban Decay

77% of global emission is made by gas exhausted from vehicles. NOx and acid rain, part of air pollution, affect the quality of the urban environment and life cycle cost of the buildings, causing decomposition of their color and material compounds.

Their effects are visible on monuments, public spaces, exposed infrastructures, but invisible on human health!

Airborne particles are impossible to quantify !

They have the largest impact on human health, but immeasurable effect, due to their invisible and intangible nature.

The development of innovative materials that can be easily applied on facades, with both de-soiling and de-polluting properties would be a significant step towards beautification of cities and improvement of air quality.

PICADA project ( 2002-2005)

Creative response to urban decay

Integrating art to “complete� urban scenarios

Ghost Buildings shadow wall graffiti

Swoon

Urban scenarios influencing and affecting arts

Catherine Bertola, Scratching at the surface

Jenny Bergstrรถm, This is the air we breath

Reverse Graffiti: Clean Green Street Art

..“Cleaning” is not a crime. What is a crime is the environmental damage caused by unashamed pollution…. ..” there was only one way to prevent me to “cleaning” my way, and that was for the State to clean up too! And they did!!”

Alexandre Orion

Alexandre Orion. Skulls, on our urban interpretation of pollution

Moose : environmentally friendly urban spray art

How can visual communication adopt innovative materials and techniques in public spaces?

Polluted pattern

Materials and techniques Photo catalysis mirroring the process of Photosynthesis

 Uses UV light to decompose dirt and pollutants in the air

 Transform them into harmful substances, preventing to accumulating on the surface  Improve the air quality

Materials research and tests Application of photo catalytic coatings through textile techniques

Original surface

Polluted pattern

Negative screen printing, stenciling. 1 month exposure

• The Pattern is revealing itself through contact with ambient pollution.

• The nano-coating is preserving the masked area, keeping the surface clean • It is also “eating” pollution in the air around, acting as a hoover.

It has been proven that 1000 sqm of faรงade covered with the same paint has the equivalent effect of 70 medium deciduous trees

Poisoned net.

Surface Regeneration Aims and objectives

•

Design innovative, environmental solutions to urban decay (buildings, public spaces);

•

Reappropriate the negative elements associated with 21st century cities (draw decoration through pollution)

•

Convert urban inert surfaces into active ones

•

Design, through materials, an innovative aesthetic for public space

Polluted pattern

Positive and negative screen printing with Photo catalytic paint

Samples currently showcased at Materia, Netherlands

Wrapped Door

Wrapped door.

Pollution is defining a lace-like pattern, also the metaphor of the poisoned air which surrounds our cities daily and affects our health

Concrete Wallpaper

Marketestate project . London 2010

Photo catalytic cement screen printed on the wall

Naples January 2009

Invisible graffiti

Photo catalytic spray

Keep off wet pollution on the wall Poisoned net do not break!

The idea behind this intervention is to make the message gradually appear in a very polluted environment, bringing meaningful information to the citizens through metaphor.

The message left by ‘graffiti’, via the adoption of photo catalytic spray for stones, metal and masonry, is humoristic yet makes a political and ecological statement.

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Make visible the invisible Promote awareness for people air quality Find out if visualization of pollution could trigger more ecologically responsive behaviour

Thank you