One type of wall explored in the first week of studio was "Gangland's". The type of walls separating two opposing gangs are invisible and symbolic.
Gangland's are areas associated with gang presence, where gangs control and protect their space using borders. The most common border or "wall" evident in gangs is the use of graffiti, as it is primarily used by gang members to mark off their zones or territories. Here, symbolism plays a big role in dividing people
The map above shows the dispersal of different zones spread out over the city of LA, divided and separated into territories and gangs. As shown in the map, there is no clear distinction betwen each gang in terms of architecture. Instead gangs set up what I like to call in-visible walls only visible to those who know and understand the meaning of these gangs. To the normal eye crossing from one gang into the other may be the same as crossing a road, however to gang members this could mean a completely different thing.
The image on the left shows one example of a "wall" between two opposing gangs in the form of major roads and highways. Some other ways of dividing gangs are through man-made waterways or canals. However the most common barrier between gangs is graffiti.
Graffiti is one of the most commonly used tools by gang members, usually present on the boundaries of each territory. The areas in between are usually where violence and other criminal activity takes place.
In essence, graffiti is almost like a code language understood only by gang members and others associated to them. The presence of graffiti usually marks a territory where private and public areas both, are in possession of the gangs who control that area. The image below is an example of how graffiti is used for marking borders, where the gang name is written in code alongside a stop sign with an arrow pointing down.
Similar to graffiti, gangs use other methods of division in the form of clothing, tattoos, and hand signs. These are all different types of walls which may only be fully realised by gang members and others who understand the language.
In a sense, gangs live in an alternate universe divided by code language and symbols which have a high weightage to gang members, but to the normal eye it may not look any different. These methods of separation are all forms of "walls" or barriers between people. Barriers that are visible and in-visible. In conclusion, ganglands are composed of a symbolic language of walls which divides opposing gangs. The consequences of crossing these markers is only fully realised by those who understand the language.
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