China hopes to condense Great Wall graffiti by assigning specific sections to be used for public etching. The Mutianyu section is the first chosen to be an area for the artistry, as it was already heavily graffitied from tourists. Two more areas are said to be in the works for assignment: fighting towers five and ten.
The Great Wall attracts millions of people a year and graffiti of all languages is usually seen on the dated stones. The original wall goes back to the seventh century, but the section in Zhangjiakou was rebuilt more than 500 years ago. In efforts to preserve the wall, officials thought this would be an innovative method.
Chinese authorities are reportedly also considering using touch-screens graffiti areas. These are much better solutions than what they came up with in 2006 where tourists could pay $160 to write on a fake wall.
Graffiti-Friendly Global Landmarks
Great Wall Graffiti is Now Legal in China on Assigned Sections
Trend Themes
1. Graffiti Preservation - Assigning specific sections of landmarks for public graffiti offers a potential disruptive innovation opportunity in preserving historical sites while allowing artistic expression.
2. Interactive Touch-screen Graffiti - The use of touch-screen graffiti areas presents a disruptive innovation opportunity by providing a more controlled and sustainable method of showcasing public artwork on landmarks.
3. Sustainable Landmark Preservation - Innovative methods like condensing graffiti to specific sections can contribute to the sustainable preservation of landmarks, reducing the overall environmental impact.
Industry Implications
1. Tourism - The tourism industry can benefit from disruptive innovation in promoting sustainable landmarks while preserving cultural heritage through controlled graffiti sections.
2. Art and Design - The art and design industry can explore disruptive innovation opportunities in developing interactive touch-screen graffiti platforms for public art installations on landmarks.
3. Historical Preservation - The industry of historical preservation can embrace disruptive innovation by employing new methods like assigning sections for public graffiti to strike a balance between conservation and public engagement.