MCL presents #8 What Images Tell Us—and What They Prove: Graffiti in Photography and Film

Photography and film do more than document graffiti; they preserve it as part of the history of the city and its culture. Photographers such as Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfant have been documenting graffiti since the 1970s, creating a visual chronicle of this subculture. Artists also share glimpses of their actions through social media. Documentaries and feature films offer further insights into the graffiti and street art scene. One example is the film Wholetrain from 2006, which portrays the everyday lives of a graffiti crew. Since the early days of graffiti culture, the process of creating the work has been captured on film and in photographs, alongside images of the finished pieces. The anonymity of those involved is often deliberately protected by showing masked individuals or distorting voices—not least because many of these actions are illegal. On the one hand, we want to explore why these actions are documented when the footage could potentially be used as evidence in criminal proceedings. On the other, we want to discuss the role these images and recordings play in preserving graffiti culture, increasing its visibility, and placing it in historical context. Could documenting these actions ultimately backfire and lead to criminal prosecution? The discussion will feature director Florian Gaag (Wholetrain), photographer and former graffiti artist Jennifer Kauka, and criminal defense attorney Florian Schönrock, who specializes in graffiti-related cases.