A Playground for Artists
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.
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.
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?
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.
Looks quite beautiful!! Makes walking around such a joy! Thanks for sharing these pictures.
It truly does Arti, everywhere we walked there was something for the eye to behold.
This is just fantastic.
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!
It’s one of my favorite things to do, aimlessly wander with camera in tow. Thanks Hayley!
Reminds me of the walls in Belfast. Great artists out there!
Indeed wonderful murals in Belfast.
Amazing photos…. Makes me want to spend many days just wandering around Berlin, soaking these in.
It is definitely a cool city to soak in.
Wonderful post. I love street art because it has an inherit counter culture ingredient missing in most contemporary art.
100% agree Jeff, it’s my preference as well.
I would love to see the street art in Berlin, did you catch any of the 1UP crew stuff? Just downloaded their documentary about Berlin.
I did not catch any of the 1UP stuff, but I am going to download that now.
Wow, I didn’t know Berlin was such a center for street art! Luckily it’s already on my European bucket list 🙂
It’s certainly a fun place to be with a camera, I have a feeling you’ll like it a lot.
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.
BA is another superb city for street art. Thanks Sam!
Wow, I need to get you guys to take me on your street art tour of Berlin!
It’s a date if we’re ever in Berlin at the same time 😉
Amazing pictures! moving to Berlin in a year and with this post makes me wanna go now!
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.
It’s one of those cities where aimlessly wandering certainly rewards you.
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.
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.
I’m a sucker for it too, needless to say my memory gets soaked up whenever I start shooting.
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.
I hope so too Emily. It’s a pretty cool city to spend some time in.
Great pictures! I love street art, how it taps into the pulse of a city that you don’t read about or hear about.
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 🙂
Berlin’s street art is really awesome. Thumbs up to the artists.
Loooove the photos. I love street art all over the world, but it seems like some of it means a lot more in Berlin…
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.
Cool steet art! Thanks for the photos. Hope to get back to Berlin one of these days.
Wow, beautiful! Makes me love Berlin all the more