Dear Hiliary and interested Critters,

My geography PhD research has involved recreational trespass into tunnels (storm water drains) to explore their use as spaces for therapeutic art-making.  This may not be the angle you are interested in, but I find it curious that people who engage in this activity call themselves 'pipe walkers' or 'cave clanners' in that their identification with the site of engagement in the art practice is as important to them psychologically as the practice itself (if not more so).  What is observable from the messages that are written on the walls in these tunnels is that going where others don't dare to go is a big part of it.  I also think in quite psychogeographic/situationist style the not knowing where it leads or where it comes out is part of it, too.  This puts the pipe walker on a journey of discovery which is often shared with a small number of peers, so it's a social experience as well.

My first experience of tunneling with a more experienced pipe walker was thrilling.  It was after heavy rain and the water was flowing quite quickly.  In order for us to proceed along the tunnel, we needed to climb a steel ladder that passed under the storm water.  We got couldn't see where we were going with water pouring all over us (we got soaked), but we got to the next level and the tunnel just kept on going.  The style of the graffiti changed dramatically in this second space, because it was much more exclusive/difficult to get to.  The art was less showy, the messages more psychologically revealing and emotional in content.  This was a space where some young men (and they are mostly men if the content of the messages are any guide) feel safe to express their emotions.  For me, this says something very interesting about tunnels - what it means to be underground rather than overground. 

On a separate occasion I went with a different research participant who had a lot of experience in 'cave clanning'.  This was at a more centrally urban location.  This was much more an experience in urban exploration rather than art-making in a more traditional sense.  We travelled for hours underground coming up into the city where ever possible (i.e., if drain covers could be opened).  In some instances, where we couldn't open the drains we would experiment in calling out to the public from down below.  I think these sorts of interventionist practices are also psychological (and they are also artistic) but there is certainly a geographical notion of 'to affect and be affected' operating in these moments.  For instance, on one particular occasion we came out at an opening underneath a 'al fresco' dining area.  I deliberately screamed as loud as I could and the loud conservations went suddenly silent - just for a second or two - and then it all the babble started up again.  Hopefully, it's not too long a bow to suggest that a young, unemployed male who feels that he has little social influence might find this sort of activity fulfilling and empowering (as a middle-aged, employed female I certainly did!).

Of course, the work of Bradley L. Garrett in this area is well regarded, and he might even like to comment.  It would be good if other critters could share their experiences of various forms of tunneling as well.  Thanks for raising it as a question, Hilary.