Toronto Tourism, Graffiti Culture & Emotional Infrastructure with Alex Sein
- Diana Varma
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
It has been on my radar for many years, at this point, that I’ve wanted to dive into and learn more about graffiti culture. There’s so much richness, history, anthropology, typography, art, rebellion, identity wrapped up in letterforms we often find in back alleys and scribbled in discreet places.
And then I met Alex Sein, who has been giving exactly the kind of graffiti tours in Toronto (among many other tours) that I’ve been wanting to embark on for years. So when the opportunity arose to do just this, it felt like an invitation into a long-awaited chapter of design I couldn’t wait to explore.
In this conversation, you’ll hear Alex’s story of becoming a Torontonian, including his link to graffiti culture in the city and how he accidentally became intwined in this community.
You’ll hear about the history of graffiti, why it matters and how graffiti is often a collaborative process. You’ll not only hear about physical infrastructure of a place (including the idea of a 15-minute city), but also the emotional infrastructure that signage, advertising and graffiti help shape. You’ll hear the surprising ways that graffiti is deeply-rooted in history of places all over the world and both consciously and subconsciously connect and foster belonging.
A quick note that this episode isn’t sponsored — as always I’m just a curious human trying to connect with interesting, creative people and projects out in the world.
Let’s listen in…
About Our Guest:
Alex Sein is a highly experienced educator and storyteller with a deep connection to Toronto's multifaceted culture and heritage. As a part-time professor teaching tourism, hospitality, and storytelling in a post secondary environment, he brings a wealth of academic knowledge combined with over 17 years of practical experience working with various cultural institutions and tourism organizations. His approach delves into cultural anthropology, going beyond the surface to explore the deeper connections within the city. Having a unique background as an immigrant who found his home in Toronto, Alex possesses a profound understanding of connections to belonging within this diverse urban infrastructure. He currently works in higher education, while pursuing a Master’s degree, and has a passion for helping others understand and connect with the places around them.
Drawing on his extensive experience as a tour guide and developer of educational experiences, Alex has a keen ability to illuminate Toronto's lively stories, heritage, and culture. He’s been involved with organizations like the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre, Jane's Walks, Toronto International Film Festival, Destination Toronto, and many more. His deep engagement with the city's cultural identity and public spaces brings an awareness of its various forms of expression.
Alex is also known as “BeardedProf416”, where “Prof” stands for Professor, Professional, Profound, and Proficient. You can catch artistic interpretations of him in a form of stickers all around the Toronto urban landscape.
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Music:
A Kwela Fella - John Bartmann licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License
Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle