‘difer’ urges councils to leave his ‘tagging’ - Secretive Vancouver graffiti artist turns up to his Paddington gallery exhibition

Published: 05 November 2010
by JOSH LOEB

A SECRETIVE “tagger” turned up at the launch of his exhibition at a Paddington Gallery in the style of guerilla artist Banksy.

The artist, who comes from Vancouver, goes by the name “difer”. His work, which he describes as 

“tagging – don’t call it graffiti”, went on show this week at the Subway Gallery in a disused 1960s kiosk in an underpass under the Westway.

difer defended the controversial art form, which involves scrawled words or signatures and is 

considered vandalism by many, adding that 

councils should not remove his work.

He said: “Tagging is a form of art, and is just as creative as other forms. In removing it, you are restricting creativity.” 

Subway Gallery founder Gordon McHarg III  said guerilla art was a reaction to consumerism.

• The Art of Tagging is at the Subway Gallery under the Edgware Road/Harrow Road interchange near Edgware Road Tube until 
November 27.