Zuias is a member of the 1107 clan, one of graffiti groups in Ljubljana. He started drawing on walls in high school and has been creating aesthetic graffiti for 15 years now. How about a simple message on the wall, is that already graffiti? "Everything is graffiti, because graffiti is a mode of expression or an illustration on a wall," explains Zuias.

Zuias is joined by Col, another member of the can, while working on a piece of graffiti. Col now only draws where he's allowed to – there are 13 places reserved for graffiti in Ljubljana, including the well-known Metelkova and an underpass in the Šiška district.

Fines from 200 to 800 euros
Nevertheless, both Zuias and Col refuse to show their faces – part of the idea of graffiti, they say, is exactly this: everyone knows your name but no one knows who you are; graffiti artists are only determined by the images they create. Both are familiar with the pull of the forbidden. Writing on buildings is a criminal offence and is penalised with a fine of more than 200 euros; up to more than 800 euros if graffiti had been drawn in order to incite intolerance. 39 graffiti makers have been fined in Ljubljana in the last five years.

Many graffiti written by antifascist and anarchist groups are on display in Ljubljana, as well as those by neo-Nazi and neofascist groups. Some graffiti are also directed against NATO and the EU, while others have been drawn by fans, feminists and the so-called "Yugo nostalgists". However, the message of individual graffiti may change completely overnight as a result of the so-called graffiti battles – fighting for a wall or a street – between various groups of graffiti makers.

T. H. (MMC), K. B. (TV SLO); translated by K. Z.