Happy anarchy
How many people contributed to this composition? It must have been quite a few, and all in the same style. Each person contributed their own piece to create a cheerful, diverse, yet cohesive whole. Even the wall, with its beautifully peeling green paint, seems to know exactly what’s expected of it. This is one of […]
The gymnast
Is he a gymnast or a footballer? The photo is full of energy either way. It almost looks like he’s kicking in the door he’s stuck to. His head is missing. In the bottom right corner, you see two words that link Berlin to its status as the techno capital: Techno and Berghain. Techno is […]
Kitkat
Berlin has long had the reputation of being a free city. The Weimar period, from 1918 to 1933, is famous for being a safe haven for free thinkers and unconventional spirits. It was a time brimming with art, culture, and nightclubs that stayed open until the early hours, until Hitler turned out the lights. In […]
Hidden
In Berlin, advertising posters are wrapped around lampposts until they form a thick layer, sometimes as much as 20 to 30 centimeters thick. A city worker comes with a crowbar and violently tries to rip off the entire paper layer. This occasionally results in fascinating compositions, like this face that emerged from beneath layers of […]
Müll
There’s little as unremarkable as a trash can. But doesn’t the same apply to a concrete wall or the fence around a construction site? Graffiti clings to everything and transforms something unremarkable into something beautiful. The RAW Gelände is an old industrial complex from the DDR era. Dilapidated, but now successfully repurposed; it hosts clubs, […]
ATM
The ATMs at the RAW Gelände are all broken. Yet, they still serve a purpose—they’ve become art objects with an anarchist edge, perfectly fitting the vibe of the area and the district of Friedrichshain, a neighborhood in East Berlin known for its famous techno clubs with long queues, cheap food, and crowds of young people […]
Old school
Stickers—who still uses them to convey a message? Once upon a time, stickers were everywhere, just like the buttons on your jacket with your favorite band on them. But nowadays, I can’t imagine any advertising agency including stickers in their campaigns. Germany, however, has a certain traditional vibe, and perhaps that’s why stickers are still […]
Scandalist
Mr. Scandalist is pasted on an electrical box near the Holzmarkt, a trendy spot by the water where you’ll also find a hotel and a club. The doors of the electrical box split the man in two. In each hand, he’s holding something, and a quick internet search reveals they are spray cans. “Scandalist” appears […]
Grand dame
She is stunning, as if she’s from the early 19th century. The impressionistic whites, along with the two shades of blue and orange, complement her beautifully. Should I have framed her differently? I could have made a painting out of it, but then I would have taken her out of her context. The blue and […]
Hello-goodbye
We can see who created this work. It was done by Margaret Hunter and Peter Russell. Margaret Hunter painted the hands, while Peter Russell created the geometric patterns, which he connected to an adjacent artwork. This piece was made when the Wall fell. To me, it’s a great example of how art and street art […]