RASH

RASH is a contemporary story of modern urban Australia and artists making it a
living host for illegal artwork called ‘street art’. This film explores the cultural value of
unsanctioned public art, and graffiti’s contribution to a very public dialogue.

RASH, 73mins, 2005, Documentary, Music by Ryan “RHyNO” Ritchie performed by True Live

In 2006 RASH screened in Australia on ABC and in 2008 on ABC1. This title continues to tour international film festivals and has been publicly broadcast in the USA, Canada, Portugal and other countries.

Featured artists include Chali 2na, Civilian Dest,  
Dominic Allen, Fers, Fliq (BurnCrew), Ha-Ha,        
Dlux AKA James Dodd, KAB 101, Kano, Lister, Meek,   
Miles Allinson, Prism, Psalm, Reka, Shida, Sixten,  
Snog, Sync, Tai Snaith, Tower, and Vexta.           

Best Australian Documentary Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards (FCCA)
Runner up Favourite Documentary Audience Award - Melbourne International Film Festival 2005

Distribution: Journeyman Pictures (UK)

RASH is available to stream now on Vimeo On Demand.
Also on the Beamafilm platform.

 

Special feature extras available on the collectors DVD
1. Director & Artists Voice Over
2. Girls Do Street Art
3. Gallery VS Street
4. Drawing Room
5. Phibs
6. Urban Express – Short Film 2004
7. Shepard Fairey (Interview) OBEY GIANT USA
8. SCIEN (Interview), 123 Klan – France
9. RASH Trailer


Rash, written RASH, is a 2005 Australian documentary    
film, directed by Nicholas Hansen.                      
Its subject is contemporary urban Australia and the     
artists who are making it a host for illegal street art.
With the tagline 'Scratch it and it spreads', Rash      
explores the cultural value of unsanctioned public art  
and the ways that street art and graffiti contribute to 
public dialogue.                                        
                                                        
Directed by Nicholas Hansen and Mutiny Media, Rash was  
three years in the making and includes interviews with  
many of Melbourne's inspired street art and graffiti    
artists as well as visitors who came to Melbourne and   
leave their mark. Rash is the first feature-length      
documentary in Australia to focus on the new art form   
of street art.                                          
                                                        
Filming began in 2002 on this documentary, which conveys
the commitment, ideals and beliefs demonstrated in      
Melbourne street art. Artists use a variety of          
approaches including bill posters, stencils, and        
performance art put the artwork right in the public eye.
                                                        
The film was made in the lead up to the Melbourne 2006  
Commonwealth Games. Before the games local councils were
juggling the need to present a clean and safe city for  
visitors against the enthusiastic activities of street  
and graffiti artists. A similar response was later      
observed in the lead up to the London 2012 Summer       
Olympics.                                               
                                                        
In Rash the spirit of rebellion is channeled into street
art and the visual conversations are spread across the  
walls of Melbourne. Rash offers a rare look inside these
graffiti artists world-view.                            
                                                        
The musical soundtrack was created by Ryan Ritchie and  
band True Live. The band was made up of MC Rhyno,       
Thomas Butt (double bass), Tamil Rogeon (violin),       
Tim Blake (cello), Ivan Khatchoyan (drums) and          
Thai Mattus (keys).                                     
                                                        
A 2006 review stated 'It is this rare spotlight on this 
hidden subculture that makes Rash so fascinating and    
potentially illuminating to those who view graffiti     
artists as merely vandals. In fact, it is this          
misconception of the graffiti artist and their role in  
society that Hansen's film centrally explores.          
Rash reveals that Melbourne's graffiti subculture is    
not only a very tight knit community where everyone     
knows what each other is doing. It is also governed by  
a set of 'street etiquette'                             
                                                        
Prior to its 2006 TV broadcast in Australia             
Sacha Molitorisz of The Age newspaper reviewed the film 
saying 'This fresh documentary explores Melbourne's     
flourishing graffiti subculture.'[3] Other notable      
screenings include the 17 August 2008 event of          
documentaries programmed in the 'Street Art'            
exhibition at the Tate Modern in London.                
Archival footage from Rash was licensed to Banksy's     
film production company Paranoid Pictures for the       
opening montage of documentary Exit Through the         
Gift Shop (2010).