Developing a community through art

Developing a community through art

My name is Johnson CHUNG ChihTien , a Rover Scout from the Association of Scouts of China (Taiwan), and a graffiti writer, known as "AsonONE". WHY: Graffiti is really important in my life. However, when most people in the world think graffiti, they relate it to crime, environmental destruction, subculture and more... I wish that as a Messenger Of Peace (MoP), I can be the first to make art "crime" a peaceful activity through graffiti as a community development effort. When I started doing graffiti, my works were showcased mostly in sketch books and the top floor of my home. I used to go out to the streets or underpasses to draw my graffiti, as I did not have any "legal" wall to create new graffiti pieces! Moreover, I was sure my family and neighbours did not agree or support me on my passion for graffiti (plus I also spent a lot of time at the police station because of graffiti). I felt so confused, and I asked myself, "I really want to create beautiful graffiti pieces. Why is it so difficult to touch people’s hearts?" I found out that, in order to establish peaceful emotional exchange and communication, I need to be the bridge between graffiti and my community. I was inspired by a CJK Rover Scouts Co-operative project that I attended in 2010. During that particular two weeks I provided health education, and dancing and Chinese calligraphy classes to the local community. This gave me the idea of creating an MoP project as my solution. I want to show that Scouting is not just about camping, or making rope knots -- it can really help the society, too. I will connect Scouts, graffiti writers, and people from my community together to build a colourful village. Through this we can "regenerate" the community, reconstruct the image of graffiti and communicate the idea of peace. HOW: I sought legal premises to do my graffiti to show my gratitude towards my hometown and the purpose of an MOP project. For example, I applied for permission to use legal spaces/walls outside the Taiwan Railway, at community centres. I also requested approval from the head of the district. The walls are now open and a legal space for graffiti writers, providing a safe environment for us to create our work. As a Scout, I will connect the non-Scout graffiti writer community to create graffiti based on local concerns, environmental and social issues. This can attract the attention of the community and encourage conversation between each group. WHAT: My mom died young. When I reviewed her life, I found out that women from traditional and conservative villages like Ciaotou are mostly suppressed because of the family. As I grew up in Ciaotou, I want to support the mothers from my hometown. I believe they can express themselves and show their worth through graffiti in their community. This is how I want to remember my mom. She is the best mom who supported me on my passion for graffiti. I will continue this love I received from her by providing painting lessons to the community. I will also renew the pieces regularly to make the project sustainable. The walls will be the starting point of communication -- the communication of love and peace, from my hometown to the world.
Started Ended
Number of participants
5
Service hours
43860
Location
Scouts of China
Topics
Youth Programme

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