Photo Essay: Railway Renegades

Becoming an adult is a complex and sometimes painful process. Terrified by this transition, some people stay in a halfway stage before youth’s tranquility and carelessness vanish forever. I decided to tell the story of this suspended state through several communities of young graffiti writers that I followed for two years in Europe and Argentina, who have found the perfect tool to evade adulthood. Graffiti lets them linger in a limbo of myths, legends and heroic deeds.

They are drawn to the appeal of being an outlaw, the obstacles, and the theatricality of their targets. This is the story of their escape and to a certain extent also about mine.

Passing through a hole in the fence to reach the subway depot, Rome. Valerio Polici

Entering the train, Belgrade, Serbia.Valerio Polici

Railway, Rome.Valerio Polici

Painting the train in the snow, Rome.Valerio Polici

Breaking the CCTV surveillance camera, Rome.Valerio Polici

Left: Checking for police before exiting from the depot, Rome. Right: In front of the fence, preparing the spray cans, Rome.Valerio Polici

Subway engine room, Rome.Valerio Polici

Subway engine room, Rome.Valerio Polici

Left: Inside a commuter train, Buenos Aires. Right: Looking in the tunnel, Lisbon.Valerio Polici

Subway depot, Rome.Valerio Polici

Down a subway tunnel emergency entry, Lisbon.Valerio Polici

Exiting the depot, Rome.Valerio Polici

A fire extinguisher makes for an easier escape against security guards, Rome.Valerio Polici

Crouching down the platform of the station so not to be seen by CCTV cameras, Rome.Valerio Polici

Checking the security guards patrol, Rome.Valerio Polici

Left: Exiting the train depot, Rome. Right: Checking the security guards movements, Naples, Italy. Valerio Polici

Walking through a bridge under a railway station, Belgrade.Valerio Polici

Sleeping in the car after the action, Rome.Valerio Polici

Looking up on a high fence, the entry of a subway engine-room, Rome.Valerio Polici

View more work by Valerio Polici here.