For a long time, graffiti has been viewed negatively and considered an underground activity as well as a form a vandalism but in today's context, graffiti is a new economic platform generating very decent incomes for its artists.

National Visual Arts Development Board director-general, Prof Datuk Dr Mohamed Najib Ahmad Dawa said graffiti drawings could have high value and should benefit people with such talents.

He said several developed countries had long made it a source of income in the creative industry, especially for the Gen Y.

"Many youths in the country who have shown such talents could be taught as graffiti via the proper channels is actually a source of earning for them.

"For example, several local graffiti artists have been engaged in Dubai with very lucrative returns to produce their masterpieces at several tourist spots in this wealthy city," he told Bernama, here, Monday.

Mohamed Najib was met at the 2017 Antabax Power Graffiti Competition at the grounds of the National Art Gallery.

He said the setting up of the Cultural Economy Development Agency (Cendana) as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Sept 6 with an initial allocation of RM20 million would spur the interest of industry players such as graffiti artists.

"We see the government is serious about empowering and highlighting the field with the hope that those involved may benefit as entrepreneurs.

"Graffiti is now no longer street drawing, as it could be a career in the creative industry," he said.

-- BERNAMA