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# Refurbished Graffiti Landmarks
DuDug Creates 'The Black Duke' Project to Attract More Tourists

By Ariel Weber | Published 2013-02-12 | Art & Design
Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-black-duke
References: [mymodernmet](http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/dudug-black-duke-of-lancaster-project) & [dudug](http://www.dudug.co.uk/)

Using the motto "your ship looked like s*** so we painted it," the international graffiti art troupe DuDug have initiated the Black Duke project. Tagging a disheveled and [abandoned ship](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/looptheloop-boat), the group used it not for its original purposed, but reworked it into a [canvas for their art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/surreal-street-art-1).

The project took its name from the once highly regarded cruise liner, which was called the Duke of Lancaster. Since 1979, the boat, found on the beaches of Llanerch-y-Mor in North Whales, has been left to rust. Rather then continuing to leave it to crumble, the troupe decided to take it upon themselves to upgrade it in an effort to attract a larger tourist population to the area as well as inform the public of the rich history of the ship. To date, The Black Duke project has created eight spectacular [large-scale graffiti](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/enigmatic-graffiti) posts including contributions from Fat Heat, Fin DAC and Lora Zombie.

## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter)

- Score: 1.8/10
- Popularity: 28% | Activity: 17% | Freshness: 8%
- Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women
- Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial
- Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia

## Categories

[Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Customization](https://www.trendhunter.com/customization)

## Key Themes

### Key Themes Behind This Trend

- **Graffiti Tourism:** Transforming abandoned landmarks into vibrant graffiti art to attract tourists.
- **Urban Art Revival:** Revamping neglected spaces with street art to enhance cultural and historical significance.
- **Creative Tourism Initiatives:** Using art as a tool to promote tourism and educate the public about local history.

### Where This Applies

- **Tourism:** Leveraging graffiti art to boost tourism and attract visitors to unique destinations.
- **Street Art:** Providing opportunities for graffiti artists to revitalize landmarks and contribute to urban revitalization efforts.
- **Historical Preservation:** Preserving and promoting historical sites through creative initiatives like the Black Duke Project.

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