New Design Ideas

Following the creation of the Lebak Siliwangi mural by ITB art students in 2003, public perception in Bandung began to shift, graffiti and mural art, once dismissed as acts of vandalism or rebellion, started to be recognized as legitimate forms of artistic and social expression. This change was further supported by government initiatives to provide designated graffiti spaces. In a city known for its historical role in the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference and its rapid urban development, neglected walls and public areas have become fertile ground for young graffiti artists to assert their presence. Bandung’s large youth population contributes to a vibrant subculture where graffiti becomes a tool for artistic and political expression and also symbolic resistance. This study explores how young graffiti artists in Bandung use visual symbols to communicate identity, subcultural belonging and political expression in the urban landscape. Using the frameworks of Symbolic Interactionism and Actor-Network Theory, the research aims to: (1) collect qualitative data from youth actively engaged in graffiti-making, (2) identify recurring themes, symbols and visual elements and (3) analyze how graffiti serves as a medium to express subcultural identity and political positioning. The study contributes to the broader socio-political-cultural discourse on youth subcultures, urban art and the sociological interpretation of visual communication.