Why does an artist create? Is it to tell a story, to convey a message without words? Perhaps it’s to encourage us to see things in a different way, from a new angle. Street artists use outdoor spaces and the urban environment as their canvas of communication. Some view this as vandalism whereas others think it adds character to the city. I set out to answer some of these questions in relation to a mystery banana peel tag appearing on the streets of Melbourne.

THE BANANA PEEL MYSTERY

Hidden down laneways, high up on buildings, squished onto lamp-posts and road signs, you may have noticed a simple yellow banana peel shape scattered around town - there is a secret tagger, painting the streets of Melbourne. Unlike a conventional tag of a name, or word, the banana peel is creative in its simplicity - a black outline, filled with yellow. Bananas come in all shapes and sizes, some curled up, others spread thin and flat, small bunches in tiny places and huge ones way up high. They are all instantly recognisable though, as part of a collective and can be found all around town.

Interestingly there are some that slip around the edge of other graffiti pieces, framing them, with a seemingly unwritten respect for the other artist. How do we determine the difference between graffiti, street art and tagging? Is there a hierarchy amongst them? In any case, if a piece is done without permission then it is regarded as a crime. No doubt that’s why the identity of the banana peel tagger remains a mystery.

Melbourne has become a mecca for street art and enthusiasts, drawing in visitors to the city to see the work of internationally renowned artists and local talent on our buildings and along the walls of our famous laneways. There is however, a somewhat awkward cross over and mix of pieces, no longer just an alternative, anti-establishment artform, there are now those who create commissioned work for local councils or businesses. Authorities who would once paint over artwork, have now realised the potential street art has, to bring a suburb to life and are willing to pay artists to do so. This in turn creates a backlash from original graffiti crews though, as it is often the tags and text pieces that will be covered up or removed first.

CELEBRATING ART SINCE THE 80’S

“Since money has come into the equation the street art scene in Melbourne has lost some of its soul” says Dean Sunshine. He’s followed Melbourne’s street art aerosol movement since it began in the 80’s, publishing two books documenting and celebrating the art form. He created an outdoor street art and graffiti gallery on the exterior wall of his warehouse for locals and international artists to paint on, called Sunshine Lane. The banana peel tagger has left their mark a few times in his laneway “I really enjoy seeing art on the streets that is not motivated by money and the genius of the banana peel is that the identity is not known. They add some fun to the streets, I always smile when I stumble on a new one and like that they are found all over Melbourne, large and small and in some really hard to get to spots”.

THE BANANA PEEL HUNTERS

Graffiti is about impact, so placement is vital. Ultimately an artist is making their mark, wanting to be seen, a territorial communication on the streets. Tagging is a way of gaining respect amongst your peers, to build a reputation but I like to think that these artists are also aiming for a wider audience of appreciation, with the purpose of adding a bit of extra colour on the streets for the citizens of Melbourne. There are certainly people noticing, I found an online community of banana peel fans who go on banana hunts, walking the streets tracking down fresh tags, documenting locations and sharing images – a kind of “Where’s Wally” game of the city.  Once you spot one, you will start to notice many, from the window on a train, planted on a bin down a laneway or up high on the underpass of a bridge.

Katherine Morgan @mostly_bananas is a self-proclaimed fanatical banana hunter, who regularly takes her three small daughters down every Melbourne street, lane and alleyway on a mission to find more.  “I love that banana peels are hidden in plain sight. I enjoy the ephemeralness of them, they are there, and then they could be gone. I get a thrill when I capture a banana peel, and then it soon gets covered up. I think how lucky I was to see it and think of all the banana peels I never got to see.”
It’s this continual hunt for new banana peels that keeps it exciting, encouraging us to look at the city landscape differently, paying closer attention to the streetscape and noticing details in urban architecture which we otherwise may not have.  Another follower, Jake Freshwater (@banana_hunter3067) explains “The bananas have definitely helped form the way I see Melbourne. I find myself in this perpetual state of curiosity when I’m out around town. Whether I’m driving, riding my bike or walking, I’m always looking without even realising. Once you see them, you can’t un-see them. They’re a perfect example of the endless characters and creative undercurrents that make Melbourne captivating”.

WHO IS THE BANANA PEELER?

So recognizable now, sometimes, just a black outline is needed, known amongst fans as the “paint saving series”; these are strategically placed onto yellow walls or backgrounds. Spotting extra-large bananas in difficult to reach places always makes me wonder who, and how they did it. Curiosity for the artist’s identity almost led Jake to propose on his Instagram a commitment to get a tattoo of the banana peel if one of the artists reached out to him.  The many varieties, sizes and sheer volume of bananas indicate to Jake that they are created by more than one artist, a banana peel crew. “Perhaps each style of banana is done by a different person from that group and each person has their own speciality”.

Katherine has categorised 16 varieties in over 400 locations so far, she is considering building an app for other banana hunters, a treasure map “would you pay a couple of dollars to find banana peels near you? Hell yes!” The chase has become addictive “I get a real rush when I discover a banana peel that is new to me, but that banana peel is likely to be quite old. It’s an even bigger rush when I discover one that I know is fresh. Most of my documented findings have been in Abbotsford, there was a continual spate of fresh banana peels in the suburb and it made me wonder if the artist was taunting me, are they one of my followers on instagram? Is he/she following me following him/her?”

So the banana hunt continues, keep your eyes peeled for that cheeky yellow shape that moulds into the urban landscape. This concrete city we live in is a constantly changing canvas for all artists, creating a fun adventure and allowing us to see Melbourne in a different light.

Thank you to the banana peel fans of Melbourne!
#bananapeel #thebananabandit  #bananahunt #gottapeelthemall #peelcrew

Words by Melbourne city captain Netta Justice