Graffiti Series pt 3 - Berlin aka Graffiti City

Watup watup party people??!!

Following on from Mouse's awesome graf pics in Can Diego, I had to take some pics of the local grafs here in Berlin. Seriously this IS graffiti city and reminds me so much of New York. Everywhere you look there are tags, stencils and murals in a myriad of sizes.

Carpark Graf in city

The people here take great pride in shaping their identity since the fall of the Berlin wall and I would guess that also involves shaping their urban environment. I love that even my parents, who are in their mid 50s and used to hate 'vandalist' graffiti, can tell me their favourite tags (almost brand names here) and where to find them.

Skeleton stencil in city

I'm so impressed. This art form truly is everywhere and adds immensely to the character of this beautiful, historic and bustling city! I honestly want to come back to Berlin just to try and capture as much of the New York reminiscent art as I can.

Derelict building

These buildings become canvases for local graf artists.

Although the city is supposed to be defined by its bombed out churches, historic skyline and wall and check point remnants (which once split the German Capital), it is surprisingly in fact the graffiti bombing everywhere which actually defines the streetscape and gives Berlin its personality.

Weedy Lot with a few murals

Graf wall in the city, with the famous Alexanderturm in the distance. Built by the Russians after the war it was the tallest building in both Germanies and the pride of the DDR.

This is partly due to the endless supply of derelict buildings, fenced up weedy lots and the attitude of Berliners who seem to really embrace this form of expression - almost to the point where it symbolises their newly found freedom.

One of many buildings in the city centre which have become virtual canvases!

Nike endorsed graf? Or just an obsessed fan?

Joga Bonito - nutmeg!

The graffiti also becomes a very visual in-your-face reminder, an "up yours" so to speak, to the oppression of the former East Berlin, which lasted until the wall fell in 1989.

Building site used to promote a demonstration (left) and big mural in the city (right).

Mural closeup.

I am sure it also helps that the cops are slow to respond to graffiti reports and seemingly unmotivated to get rid of the graffiti (which in all honesty will just reappear as soon as it's taken down anyway).

One of the more famous tags - these bendy arm/hands are everywhere. This is right in the centre of the town near Friedrichstrasse - the final checkpoint to get to West Berlin when the wall was up.

I'm pretty sure I want to move here ASAP. Hope you enjoy the pics - next part of Berlin series coming soon! =)

Much love
Ingers