Graffiti used for advertising? Yes, it's a realityWe've talked in the past about how to remove graffiti, but we never thought to mention the innovative method that Texaco has used near Cardiff Central train station in Wales. To advertise the launch of its new Techron product, the petrochemical giant sought permission from Cardiff Council to create the largest piece of reverse-graffiti in the UK.
The 50ft long section of wall had previously been painted with street graffiti and needed painting. Texaco came along and spent 2 days scrubbing the graffiti to remove it, and then painted the wall black.
Next - and this is really brilliant - they produced bespoke stencils and placed them over the wall, and used high pressure washers to clean the paint between the stencils away, leaving amazing designs on the wall for commuters to see on the way to work.
The designs include Cardiff Castle, a Welsh dragon and the Severn Crossing.
'Reverse graffiti' has been growing in prominence in recent years as companies try to develop innovative ways to promote their products. Microsoft and Smirnoff have produced reverse graffiti campaigns in recent years and Cardiff has featured eco-friendly pavement murals since 2008.
Graffiti itself has even been used for advertising - Sony hired artists to spray paint large buildings with images of kids playing their Playstation Portables in an effort to drive sales! And in 2001 IBM had people spray paint a heart, a penguin and a peace symbol on the pavements of Chicago and San Francisco (brownie points if you know why!).
The Texaco design will be on show for 5 weeks before being scrubbed away into oblivion, so get yourself to Wales as quickly as possible so you don't miss out!