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About Scratchart

Scratchart makes use of those artistic means of expression, that arise most of all from the aesthetic of destruction and decay. Scratching, breaking and destroying of glass and plastic are elements of vandalism; scratchart makes use of these to create works that belong to urban art, for example, streetart.

Scratching is a concept that comes from the English (to scratch = kratzen). What can be seen is the intentional scratching of glass in public spaces. The intention of this kind of vandalism is countered over and over again with letters or number combinations, mostly on shop windows or on the glass surfaces of public transport. It can be seen as an admonition to groups that illegally appropriate such glass surfaces. By marking out territory like this, the youths who do this want most of all to attract attention. They are putting into practice the exact literal tranlsation of the Italian concept graffitti 'something scraped or scratched out - das Gekratzte'.

If you go back as far as the Renaissance, you will come across the term scgraffito - a technique for the scratching out of facade designs. Scratchart is used now to support this illegally used technique by taking such works to salon accomplishment. A large part of the material comes from the streets; on to which bulk refuse collections are dropped on a weekly basis to ensure their ongoing replenishment.

Glass and plastic, when broken, strengthen the impression of destruction and lend the works a kind of shocking fascination. Models of (street) people or shop window mannequins are used to maintain the content relationship with the street. In this sense the observer never knows whether it's a 'real' person or a dummy (shop window mannequin). One aspect, that is particularly clear from the street view, (for it's the norm in this place to see and be seen) is to be set up for show.

Smashings-up are shown by scratchart in performances. The destroyed works are then put back together and exhibited as new works.

'Naturally occuring' places of destruction and decay are listed in a 'scratchart' index with Cologne as an example.