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FrancoAngeli Journals

Experimental geographies in urban outdoor spaces. Four artistic, playful and co-creative practices

No. 3 (2026)

Street Art and urban writing: The political dimension of performance in public space. An exploratory survey in Rome

  • Isabelle Dumont
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3280/rgioa3-2026oa23553
Submitted
agosto 26, 2026
Published
2026-10-05

Abstract

The paper examines street art and urban writing as performative practices capable of redefining public space and expanding its political dimension. Situated within the framework of experimental geographies and social geography, it interprets urban signs as contextualized acts that generate visibility, conflict, and participation beyond institutional channels. The study combines a theoretical framework with an exploratory survey conducted in Rome between 2024 and 2025 (233 questionnaires), aimed at investigating everyday perceptions of street art and graffiti. The findings reveal a symbolic hierarchy between legitimized and stigmatized practices, while also confirming that controversial signs contribute to the political construction of public space.

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