The show 'Bez Tabu' (TV3) received a message from a resident of Purvciems stating that vandals are operating in the area, painting the walls of buildings with spray cans under the cover of night.
"I am writing to inform you about graffiti: in Purvciems, at Maxima X on Gunara Astras Street 2, someone has recently completely covered a wall with graffiti. The corner of Gastro Pub 'PURCH' and nearby at the Fix Price store — last year they built a staircase and updated the blocks, painted the wall brown, and now it is all ruined. It is sad that vandals ruin everything. Is there anything that can be done to prevent this?" - wrote Ilva to TV3. Journalists went to Purvciems to find out how local residents assess this form of self-expression. All respondents view the drawings negatively, with some advising the youth to seek other places for self-expression. A professor from the Latvian Academy of Arts stated:
"Street art as such cannot be studied in schools in Latvia due to aerosols — they are prohibited for use indoors. Most young people learn this art form on their own, often starting at the age of 9–10. Most of those who paint on walls enroll in the Academy of Arts after finishing high school and stop painting walls."
Street drawings are often incomprehensible to passersby. The artist explains — each of them has its own meaning. The State Police reminds that community involvement and the presence of surveillance cameras are important in solving offenses. If you notice that buildings are being painted over, you should immediately call the police at 112 and try to remember the offender's characteristics. Victims should file a report with the State Police.
"If the graffiti is easily washable or small, in such cases an administrative process may be initiated for violating public order. For this, the individual may be punished with a warning or a fine of up to 100 penalty units, which amounts to 500 euros. However, if the graffiti is large, cannot be removed, or significant damage has been caused, criminal proceedings may be initiated under Article 185 of the Criminal Law — for intentional damage to someone else's property. This is punishable by imprisonment for up to two years, or short-term imprisonment, or probation supervision, or community service, or a monetary fine," the police explained.
To reduce the youth's desire to seek adrenaline on building walls, the vice-rector of the Latvian Academy of Arts advises building owners to paint over the drawings as quickly as possible — and to do so until they stop appearing again.
