Graffiti artists are now using light instead of spray paint for hit-and-run guerilla communications in urban settings. The laser leaves no trace, but drawings can be projected onto huge buildings and seen for miles. The artists can disappear as fast as they can slam closed a laptop, switch off a laser pointer, or take off their glasses.
The technology is called L.A.S.A.R., which stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. It’s a collaborative, open source technology, available at the Graffiti Research Lab (GRL) website.
A variety of free, collaborative projects are underway, using the L.A.S.A.R. technology, including an EyeWriter that allows wearers to draw using only their eyes.
Most of the projects posted on the site are healthy samples of light-hearted youthful rebellion – anyone can make a party by inviting strangers to participate. But the videos also demonstrate the potential power of a small group of kids loaded with gear and enough nerve to claim all space as public.
For example, watch the project titled H$NG K$NG. It is easy to image these “weapons of mass defacement” being used to inform a crowd faster than any official organization during a tense situation. “We’re just practicing,” they say. “Why be afraid?”
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