Take a walk down the Buona Vista stretch of the Rail Corridor, plans for which have not been announced as yet, and you can’t help but notice the graffiti like artwork that has recently come up on the two walls beneath the Commonwealth Avenue viaduct. It may surprise that the colourful renderings are works that are in fact sanctioned by the State and are the results of an initiative by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to inject life and colour to the Rail Corridor, which is supported by the National Arts Council (NAC) that was announced in December last year (see: New journeys on the Rail Corridor).
The initiative does provide a much needed opportunity for street artists to develop their skills in producing artwork and is curated by RSCLS, an urban art collective and a recipient of the NAC Seed Grant. And besides the artworks, there will also be to Street Art jams to look forward to that will provide opportunities for first-hand experiences with street art.
There have been several examples we have seen of street art appearing in an indiscriminate around several structures of the rail corridor where graffiti has defaced several items of heritage value and paint and inks or their removal can potentially do long term damage to structures. One of the outcomes it is hoped that this initiative will result in, is to encourage the would be graffiti artists to channel their talents and energy in a positive and responsible way through collectives like the RSCLS.
A recent example of indiscriminate graffiti discolouring a heritage structure along the rail corridor (on truss bridge close to The Rail Mall), which can potentially do long term damage to it.
It does appear that the work, which defaces the heritage structure and can do damage to it, was done for a wedding shoot or similar.
More photographs
The Rail Corridor leading up to the Commonwealth Avenue viaduct.
The Long and Winding Road 
These are not ART ! Just manifestation of the disturbed beings in its ugliest, haunting form. Imagine walking into them late in the dark ? Torch it up and dim it again. Reminded me of the Horror Ghost Train Ride in Great World City of the sixties. Queenstown has many unpublished ghost stories. Need not add to its environment to enhance their presence. The decision maker who give the green light for suchpublic expenditure ought to be more prudent in the selection ofthe subject to be presented. What I saw was just ghostly figureswith very unpleasant after taste. The ability to draw does not make one an artist. The creation of stomach churning scenes should be confined to the horror film studio.I rather leave the space alone. Plant more green plants and create a peaceful green corridor.
Thanks for your comments Wendy. Street Art is does have a reputation for being associated with rebellion against authority and there is an ongoing debate on the place that Street Art has in the urban landscape (examples: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/graffiti-street-art-ndash-or-crime-868736.html, http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/fall07/Sanchez/art.html, http://www.theartnewspaper.com/articles/Graffiti-is-it-art-or-vandalism/28040), and what many do agree on is to disagree. I tend to agree with slmka and whatever it is, it is a form of creative expression that when harnessed in a right way can bring positive outcomes. Plus, like it or hate it, it is something that does add colour to the otherwise drab urban environment and in the case of the green corridor, allow what should really be a shared community space that reaches out to the wider community. 🙂
Another example of Street Art, this one at The Substation
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The graffiti on the bridge is disappointing. From it’s look the “artist” or “photographer” or “couple” already have this plan all along.
As for the graffiti along the Bouna Vista area, It is hard to please everyone. But the area offer local graffiti artist to express their art legally. These are some talents I sure do not want them to end up in the wrong side of the law just because of there is no space for them.