Grand scale graffiti

Back in 2010, a street artist known only as Code FC started noticing the Olympics were everywhere he went.

The 36-year-old said it felt as if he was being bombarded with it, on billboards around the city and in the media. “But it was never just the sports. There was always a logo next to them.” This realisation inspired him to do his first piece of Olympics-inspired graffiti in East London in July 2010, an image of sprinters wearing masks.

Code looks for pictures of athletes on the internet, obscuring their faces so the focus is on their bodies. “I’ve had a really good response so far and seen lots of people taking photos. I am getting excited about the Olympics too.”

Originally from Rome, he began as a graffiti artist at the age of 12 before coming to London for a BA in Public Art from Chelsea College of Art and Design.

It takes him about 45 minutes to paint a wall, having spent a few hours designing a stencil off-site. The Olympic pieces are legal, and lots of them have been painted on derelict buildings. “I ask if I can do my work and they are very pleased to have their walls improved.”

Having forgotten to apply for his own Olympic tickets, Code says “these artworks are my way of taking part”.

Further down Rivington Street there’s a white wall with Olympic rings painted on it by three male artists called The Toasters.All three have tickets and are planning to take banners with their work on it into the stadiums and hang them up to gain publicity.

London will be changed by The Olympics, says Toaster D. “My train got stuck in a tunnel the other day and travel chaos is only going to get worse when it gets busier. But it will give London a certain buzz and I can’t wait.”