The Calligraphy of Tagging

Photo: Karsten Helmholz

Contemporary urban tagging is, by far, the most prevalent and widely practiced form of calligraphy in history. A workshop on the theory and practice of tagging gave students a unique opportunity to gain insights into a vibrant cultural mass phenomenon.

Tagging used to be underground knowledge. Mastering its secrets traditionally involved working one’s way into the ‘prestige economy’ of the graffiti scene to access its mentor-apprentice structure. With the advance of the Internet, access to these secrets has become less exclusive. Still, like in so many calligraphic traditions, the most genuine way to learn about tagging is to try it out hands-on under the guidance of a teacher who is both practically experienced and knowledgeable about the cultural phenomenon as such.  

On 13 and 14 May 2024, a special theory and practice workshop on ‘The Calligraphy of Tagging’ combined lectures, exercises on paper, and tagging sessions using graffiti markers on a wall. Participants learned about different approaches to tagging to conceive a compelling alias and graphic identity, explored the most characteristic techniques of contemporary tagging, and got to appreciate a whole new artistic landscape within the cities they live in.

The workshop was taught by Javier Abarca, a researcher, teacher, and critic in the fields of graffiti and street art. He started his career as a leading artist from the first generation of Spanish graffiti. He is also the founder and director of the two leading events in graffiti research, the Unlock Book Fair and the Tag Conference.