I was spoiled for choice when it came to street art in Berlin, I had arranged before I left to go on a walking tour and workshop on my second day there. The tour guide, Alex, a Greek guy with 23 years of experience as a graffiti writer was very knowledgable and interesting as he guided us around the city, taking us to various locations including Urban Spree, an artistic space, based in the Friedrichshain area, we then visited Kreuzberg to see the iconic “Astronaut Cosmonaut” mural by Victor Ash, and he explained how some of the surrounding graffiti was created. We then headed East to an old margarine factory in Lichtenberg where we were shown how to cut and use stencils to create our own masterpiece.
In the Workshop
In the workshop where were shown some of the ‘tricks of the trade’, there were plenty of good pieces, mainly by the tour guides, there even was what looked like a portrait of Gregg Wallace. I don’t think my efforts produced a piece worthy of inclusion here, perhaps once I get more practice you will see some of my work.
East Side Gallery
After I had been on a bicycle tour on Saturday, I stumbled upon another walking tour, this time led by an Aberdonian called Dave Maule. This tour took us to different areas of the city and Dave was a very informative guide pointing out the many paste-ups, and street sculptures in addition to the Graphs and Murals we came across, in places such as Hackeschen Höfe in Rosenthaler Straße, and YAAM.
Paste-up’s and sculptures
Rosenthaler Straße, Schwarzenberg courtyard
YAAM ~ (Young African Art Market)
Holzmarkt Murals
Urban Nation & Bülowstraße area
Even more from the same area
Street Art in Berlin > Art Park Tegel
This urban art project, curated by Urban Nation, consists of just 8 large-scale murals, but by some of my favourite street artists ever!
Fintan Magee’s image of a couple separated by war, with a baby representing their hope for what future holds, was inspired by a children’s book by Michal Foreman. Borondo’s dark piece, about immigration, was seen as so controversial that it risked being removed, but luckily it is still there! It depicted a girl with a sad face and covered with blood facing an eerie forest. In the forest, there is a man tied to a tree and pierced by a bunch of arrows. The Dutch duo made up of Collin Van Der Sluijs and Super A. painted a blue feathered bird that is full of impressive details, while the Amsterdam-based group The London Police expressed the importance of teamwork of human and robot working together, with their iconic stick figures.
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Jim's travels 