“Does the passing of time only determine significance?”

The ideas that artist Thomas Hirschhorn mentions in this interview, particularly with reference to the historical cultural significance of such things as graffiti, are very interesting and have prompted further contemplation and personal reflection.

Hirchhorn’s story of the graffitiing soccer fan highlights that aspects of our community which we dismiss as vandalism are integral components of our current social climate and in some instances should be valued as historically significant, and as Hirschhorn points out could be worthy of archeological research in the future.

In a recent online article it was proposed by Tracey Avery of the National Trust in Melbourne that inner-city graffiti is artwork and may need protection. "Well some graffiti has historical significance and, yes, much graffiti can be considered a scar, but there's a small proportion that has cultural significance for its political and artistic associations." The proposal was slammed by opposing groups and no other plans have been put forward for other forms of protection.

This mentality of devaluing and dismissing present forms of expression can be translated to other aspects of society and it seems important to question how will the mentality of our current communities affect how our history is viewed in years to come. Our society is one of ephemeral and disposable consumerist ideals and this means that everything is easily thrown away or disregarded when something new comes along. We value the new and discharge the old. Our digital generation leaves much information and current cultural artifacts in a virtual or non-physical existence. It is interesting to think how this will make our historical documentations eventuate. The attitude that time determines significance is in direct opposition to our disposable society with its ideals that present cultural relics are not worthy or significant. This may result in the future that such relics will be slim in existence, things that could be historically significant in the future are often disposed of in society today. Rapid and numerous technological innovations mean that we are constantly disposing and replacing, with little thought given to preserving and reflecting.




Author unknown. ABC website. “National Trust considers heritage listing for graffiti”. Jun 23 2008. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/23/2282814.htm.


Boutoux, Thomas, ed. “Thomas Hirschhorn interview with Hans Ulrich Orbist.” Hans Ulrich Orbist: Interviews volume 1. Milan: Charta, 2003. 393-400.