Dunedin Graffiti Art

Dunedin is home to some very intelligent and talented graffiti artists. I decided to highlight a few of the best, although I assure this I am just scratching the surface!

The Leith, a stream that flows all the way through North Dunedin, is heavily channelized across its extent through the populated and valuable areas of the city. In most cases this means concrete walls and beds have taken the place of more natural, vegetated walls and beds, which would be nicer looking and better for plant and animal life. However, the concrete walls are great surfaces for large-scale communal art.

Leith overflow channel south of Fourth Street, near harbour:

The first creature to be seen when entering the channel is mutated with four eyes, sharp teeth, and bathing in scummy bubbles.
This next one follows the grime theme with a woman wearing a futuristic gas mask and fumes in the background, with artist signature on the right.

Zom-B is behind much of the work.

This couple looks like an altered form of "Beauty and the Beast," separated by dirty water and steam flowing out of the drainage pipe above their heads.

This set of two images are connected, and depict an obese monster next to a shot-gunning fighter craft, flown by a demi-god Caucasian. I cannot quite make out the letters, but it is also by Zom-B. It is unmistakably a statement about the United States and its engagement in foreign wars.

Mighty man with a can, beside Zom-B's graffiti prophet.

Quaintly deformed couple similar in style to the bubbly dude farther upstream. Very savvy. Members of these guys' family dot Dunedin.

Upon returning last week, I found that this gent and his flower have replaced the woman with the mask. They seem to give a shout out to Dunedin's dub/reggae community.

This work of art was also new, now to the left of "Beauty," and depicts the word GREEN dominating a pristine natural stream and forest. Nice work, Zom-B.

This is further downstream by the Otago Polytechnic. A nice alteration. Dare we delve into its meaning...?





You may consider this your introduction to Dunedin graffiti!