A Digital Graffiti Space Offers a High-Tech Space for Self-Expression

Vancouver has hundreds of murals at this point, but only two sanctioned graffiti walls. So where’s a street artist supposed to find a blank space in this day and age? “The city embraces painted murals as a way to displace graffiti,” says Alex Beim, founder of Graffiti+. The art form is often considered glorified vandalism, so Beim’s East Van studio aims to flip that script with a unique hybrid digital graffiti space. This interactive setup brings street art to life on a giant LED screen, complete with hyper-realistic spray cans. Beim’s here to shake it up in more ways than one, it seems.

Beim’s passion for graffiti began in his rebellious youth: it was a way to navigate a tumultuous political time in his home country of Uruguay. Now in Vancouver, he transitioned from graphic designer to founding Tangible Interactions and Graffiti+, amassing high-profile clients like Chanel, Porsche and Coldplay. You’ve probably walked by one of their interactive installations in Vancouver yourself.

Today, Beim is shifting his focus from big commercial projects to community engagement. He’s educating people about graffiti through workshops and events, using the digital graffiti wall to bring the community together. It also happens to be very fun (shaking the spray can tool is oddly satisfying), whatever your skill level. Graffiti+’s three-hour workshops are a crash course, taught by a graffiti artist, and a chance to create your own tag while learning about the art form’s history. Currently, it’s offering two-hour team-building workshops for up to 21 participants to learn graffiti basics, followed by hands-on practice on the seven immersive digital screens in a 7,000-square-foot studio.

The digital graffiti wall offers other clear perks: it’s safe (no climbing into railyards to get access to a sweet, blank boxcar), and it’s legal, erasable and fume-free. It also offers infinite space to artists—more than those two city-sanctioned walls could fit. Though it isn’t free to access, Beim works hard to provide opportunities for those who would benefit most. “We rent this system to big names like Nike and Disney, but we also make it accessible in the Downtown Eastside,” says Beim. Graffiti+ hosts events at the studio and around town, with pop-ups, artist residencies and graffiti battles, and the organization recently helped fundraise for the Clean Lines graffiti festival and hosted workshops for at-risk youth. Their latest initiative, Art on Wheels, makes it even more accessible with a mobile wall (two 75-inch touch screens on a truck), allowing you to create digital art using your fingers, brushes or digital spray painting.

Ultimately, the goal is inclusivity—especially for those who could benefit the most. Street art is an opportunity for self-expression and social statements, and has long been a tool for people who don’t necessarily have the means for canvases or studio or gallery space. It’s the art of the people, a medium that adds vibrancy to cities—what would New York be without it, for instance? Beim hopes to keep that  spirit alive in Vancouver with his project. “There’s tons of graffiti in places nobody sees,” says Beim. “We all need space for self-expression.”

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