Billboard Utilising Graffitists Against Unhealthy Promotions, or B.U.G.A. U.P. is an Australian subvertising artistic movement that detourns or modifies with graffiti billboard advertising that promotes something they deem unhealthy.
The movement started in inner-city Sydney in October 1979 and has been active ever since, although the late 70's and early-mid 1980s is considered their most active period. Many of the members came from professional and university-educated backgrounds. The movement's founder was Bill Snow, who continues to be active in anti-smoking and littering campaigns.
The movement aimed mainly at Cigarette and Alcohol advertising, often blanking out letters and adding others to promote their view that the product is unhealthy. Cola and soft drink ads were also targeted.
The movement did not formalize itself as a group with memberships or meetings. Graffitists "joined" by signing the BUGAUP name to their work. BUGAUP graffiti spread rapidly across Australia and then overseas.
Former NSW politician Arthur Chesterfield-Evans was a member of BUGAUP before entering politics.[1]
Another well-known BUGAUP member was the late Lord Bloody Wog Rolo.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||