Graffiti task force, urban renewal, graffiti management plans, vandalism; these are all common terms thrown around by local councils and state governments here in Australia. The state is at war with those people who challenge the view that walls and surfaces should be kept in their original states.

Millions of dollars, countless meetings, and outraged energies are thrown into anti-graffiti technologies and cleaning programs around Australia each year just to keep walls a nice concrete grey. Berlin has a lot of graffiti: there are signs of it everywhere. But Berliners realise that they could either waste their money or come up with creative ways to accept the inevitable.

In August of this year, 2009, C and I stayed in an apartment on Torstraße, Mitte. All over buildings, parks and shops there were hundreds of quick tags and throw-ups; some of it good. But what I enjoyed seeing were shop owners and even whole blocks of units dedicating space to allow local artists to take the time and create something beautiful.

Berlin is an amazing city, with some oustanding street art.

 

Tags: Berlin, Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg