Govt opens mandatory ‘graffiti’ schools for all budding artists

The government has opened art schools in every district of the country with a special focus on graffiti.

An education ministry circular said it would be mandatory for all graffiti artists to have a diploma from these schools before they can paint walls with messages.

"These schools are opened to control the creativity of the country's budding minds," the circular said. "To enforce the measure, a new law named the Dawal Security Act (2020) has been instituted."

"Creativity is all good, but it must be reined in," said the uncultural affairs minister, and then raised two hands to form a bad approximation of air quotes. "These 'artists' have homes, they can give their creativity free rein there.

"But when you have them drawing on city walls… That's public property. Gravy for the goose may not always be jhol for the gander."

When reminded that was not the exact saying, the minister said, "When you have as much experience in the finer things in life as I do, you can let the reins go a bit. But the same does not apply to them – they have much to experience." 

The move has raised concern in some corners that the government was trying to stifle expression in graffiti, an age-old form of dissent and challenge to the status quo.

"No, this is a beautification exercise, to teach them to colour inside the lines," said the education minister. "Have you seen some of the atrocities these people perpetrate in the name of graffiti?"

The plan for a school in every district could be a manpower challenge, as there may not be sufficient teachers, but the authorities batted those concerns aside.

"There is an easy solution. Low-level police officials will teach them," an official of the injustice ministry said. "Graffiti students are insolent sorts. If you talk back to police, you get what's coming to you. And that will also help in the artistic process. You know, the tortured artist thing…"