Berlin Street Art - Feature Image

A Playground for Artists

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Words by Dalene Heck / Photography by Pete Heck

We had 3 days in Berlin and on the 3rd day we finally were able to venture out and explore the city. Descriptive words swirled between us: hip, gritty, cool, tough, spirited, angry, political.

Berlin is a city that deserves all of it’s raging praise, and more, for evoking contemplation like none other. It’s not a shock that the city was awarded UNESCO’s City of Design, as even down the most nondescript side street we would always find something to capture our eye and imagination.

Berlin Street Art - Grid

The voice of the street art around Berlin has had many inspirations, but most are political. The Berlin Wall itself became a canvas for artists. Two famous French artists, Noir and Bouchet, became quite well known for their murals depicting the wall as an oppressive barrier. They painted many kilometres along the wall in efforts to ridicule it. Today one can still find traces of their work where the wall still stands.

Berlin Street Art - Screams
Berlin Street Art - Thumbs Up
Berlin Street Art - Behind a Mask


 
Now the art has spread throughout many of the city’s neighbourhoods in both the east and west. And the art immediately had a direct impact on us and how we view our own work. It made us to want to be better, to challenge the work we create. To express ourselves in ways we didn’t think of before. To push ourselves out of the comfort zone and not be afraid to stay within the boxes that sometimes constrain us.

Isn’t that what art is all about?

Berlin Street Art - Colour
Berlin Street Art - Life
Berlin Street Art - Masquerade
Berlin Street Art - Always watching
Berlin Street Art - Rats
Berlin Street Art - X's and O's
Berlin Street Art - Time to Dance

Some call street art a crime, but as many others do, I see it as a voice, a valued expression. And thankfully, Berlin embraces it.

 

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34 Comments

  1. Excellent photos. In recent times I’ve been making a point of noticing the street art where I live (often you just wander by oblivious) and thinking I should spend a day wandering around with camera. Looks like you could spend much longer doing that in Berlin!

  2. Wow, I didn’t know Berlin was such a center for street art! Luckily it’s already on my European bucket list 🙂

  3. Great selection of pictures! I too love how Berlin embraces its street art, and here in Buenos Aires, I’m reminded of that attitude. It’s quite refreshing.

  4. Berlin looks like an a walker’s treasure chest!
    Bet you could spend hours just turning left or right, take this side street or that and be entertained the entire time.

      1. That is one of the things I enjoy about your site and reporting style – you will wander, stroll and take full advantage of pedestrian adventures.

  5. I am a sucker for street art. Really love it. I remember seeing some great street art in Berlin, last time I have been there.

  6. Gorgeous detail and colors! I have heard so many people say all sorts of different great things about Berlin over the past couple of years, and I hope I’ll get to visit for myself in the not too distant future.

  7. Yes, that is definitely what art is all about!! The only hard part is deciding which cities have the coolest and most intriguing street art. San Francisco and London being my two favorites 🙂

  8. That was what I loved about Berlin the most as well… so much street art, I was constantly pulling out my camera! And that wall… I could just imagine what it must have felt to have been forced to live behind it.

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