by Annalisa Tancredi
New forms of urban guerrilla are literally knitting balls of thread in the United Kingdom. In Cornwall there is a new spontaneous movement of "guerilla knitting", which aims at beautify urban spaces and color gray squares and public monuments with original knitted works. Authors of these crochets are Graffiti Grannys, a group of eight women between 45 and 65 years who during the night, in anonymity, adorns benches, lampposts and fences with objects made from wool and yarn. And so in the morning the citizens are surrounded by an explosion of bright colors and funny shapes that is a touch of exceptional urban creativity making daily routine more pleasant and harmonious.
A particular re-appropriation of urban space through the artistic expression of "yarnbombing", a street art midway between the graffiti and guerrilla gardening which shares the aim to re-enhancement urban environment. Its origins can be traced back to the name of texan Magda Sayeg, who in 2005 started to decorate at first door handles of her shop with knitted and then, on commission, city-bus in Mexico City and the Smart fortwo. Graffiti Grannys, however, are reinterpreting urban environment in the UK and, despite their commitments to knit around the world, have found a moment to answer our questions.
Who are Graffiti Grannys?
«We are a group of 8 aged between 45 and 65, we also have a lady who knit for us who’s 97!»
About your history: when is your movement born?
«We started yarnbombing on 1st April 2010 where we left 68 mice on the harbour wall in Marazion, Cornwall (UK). Ever since then we try to yarnbomb once a month!»
What are your values and ideologies?
«We love to make people happy and smile when they see our work! We go out very late or very early so we are not seen, as no-one knows who we are. All our work then vanishes as people collect them! We have just got back from New York as we were invited to exhibit in an exhibition held by Vogue Knitting Live. We have had work go all over the world, people find them and then take them back to where they live abroad. We now have lots of followers on Facebook and Twitter!»
If you were in Italy, where would you like to realize a guerrilla knitting?
«If we were to yarnbomb Italy, it would be nice to make somewhere that did not look so good, into somewhere very pretty to make the people smile as they go about there work!»
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