"Sinization" Against "Westernization" in Beijing Contemporary Graffiti? A Comparison between the Kwan-Yin Clan and the ABS Crew

This article aims at analyzing the development of graffiti art in the city of Beijing, where graffiti was introduced in People’s Republic of China in the first place. In Beijing’s graffiti an attempt to balance Euro-American influences with Chinese cultural references is evident in the works of almost every graffiti crew. Among them, the Kwanyin Clan and the ABS crew are representative examples of completely different ways of balancing those opposing forces: the first one wants to manifestly express its Chineseness, while the second one is deeply influenced by the Euro-American tradition and aims at being part of the global competition. Analyzing some of their main artworks, this article aims at illustrating their modus operandi and questioning the possibility of taking about “sinization” and “westernization” process in Beijing graffiti.