DIGIGRAF

Project Title: DIGItizing GRAFfiti: Methodology Definition for the study of Cypriot Historic Graffiti
Acronym: DIGIGRAF
Coordinator: The Cyprus Insitute (CyI)
Type of funding: National
Funding source: The Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) -Excellence Hubs /0421
Dates: April 2022-September 2023
Project website

Description: The project ‘DIGIGRAF-DIGItizing GRAFfiti: methodology definition for the study of Cypriot Historic Graffiti’ aims to establish good practices for the documentation, analysis, and study of historic graffiti of Cyprus by applying new and innovative digital technologies. Despite the recognized relevance of graffiti as a historical source, key aspects of their study, such as documentation, have not yet been sufficiently implemented. This lack affects various aspects beyond the purely scientific one. First of all, the absence of standards and defined practices for the documentation and analysis produced a fragmentation in the study of historical graffiti. Numerous contributions are flourishing, but they show the absence of a shared model able to ensure a scientifically valid, transparent, and accessible data collection. Furthermore, the absence of a well-structured definition of graffiti as an object of study creates a misunderstanding of their historical value. Often historical graffiti are considered as mere vandalism, hindering the official recognition and the consequent preservation of this historical heritage. Thanks to the Cyprus Institute-STARC’s expertise in Digital Cultural Heritage, DIGIGRAF aims to fill this gap by defining good practices for the documentation, analysis, and study of the Cypriot Graffiti Heritage. The proposed project will establish a relevant advancement in the state-of-the-art for graffiti study by providing a defined and tested methodology of reference at local and international levels. Furthermore, the definition of good practices in the study of Cypriot graffiti will strongly enhance our specific knowledge about this phenomenon, establishing its relevance as a multidisciplinary source and providing Cultural Heritage with new data. A targeted program of dissemination will be addressed to scholars and the general public to raise awareness about this historical source to foster its knowledge and preservation.