Exploring cities through street art

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Some people believe street art is vandalism. Others think it adds to a city’s unique character. In any case, street art was something I basically ignored in the past but today, thanks to my cousin Anna Marie’s passion for it, I’ve begun to love it too!

*A mural celebrating the history of ethnic Albanians in Skopje, Macedonia*

I’ve found that regardless of where I am, I can always find street art that inspires me, educates me about my environment or makes me ponder our own existence. So, by way of introduction, this post is the first in what I hope to be a series, depicting street art from my travels.

Here you can see the largest outdoor work by Joana Vasconcelos, made for the American steakhouse Steak’n Shake in Porto in Portugal. The mural is made up of more than 8,000 hand-painted tiles covering the facade of the building. This use of the tiles is seen as a renovation of the typical tiles that can be seen throughout the city

Street art has long been a popular movement. Found on buildings, pavements, street signs and pretty much everywhere and all around the world. What we once knew as just graffiti is now also a huge contributor to some of this street art. Although I’m not condoning the illegality of graffiti, some of it is pretty good. Even some museums display pieces of street art, which have been valued at significant prices.

While walking around Porto in Portugal, I stumbled upon this work, “Half Rabbit,” by Bordalo II. This artist from Lisbon is known for creating works of art from “waste.” He uses other people’s waste to create these fabulous abstract works to raise social awareness about sustainability.

What began as mere curiosity a couple of years ago has soon become a deep appreciation, and occasional obsession. In fact, I now do my best to see street art whenever I travel. There’s something so impressive about artists pouring themselves into works that in all likelihood will be removed or destroyed. Even in those street art cities that are friendly towards the scene, even commissioned pieces often fall victim to some deplorable vandal.

Some call it graffiti in a negative way but I think it’s reclaiming the nooks and crannies of the world that are considered “rundown” or “unpleasing.” Street art is an equaliser by giving all artists a place for expression from Tokyo and Paris to Harlem and Toronto.

*At Dozza, one of Italy’s most beautiful villages, where medieval history and contemporary art mee*t

The best art isn’t always behind velvet ropes. Graffiti, once a punishable act of pavement protest, has become a bona fide art form. It’s been the subject of major exhibitions at institutions like London’s Tate Modern and MOCA in Los Angeles, and has turned taggers like Banksy and Shepard Fairey into international superstars.

*Amazing mural in Kiev! ‘Revival of Ukraine’ by French-Ukrainian street duo Seth x Kislow*

Aside from the more technical aspects, street art is simply a beautiful way to liven the concrete backdrop of an otherwise bland, almost dismal scene. Sometimes it’s a multi-story mural exploding with colour, becoming a focal point of the neighbourhood. Other times it’s a simple stencil, maybe conveying some cheeky social commentary.

*Magnificent street art completed in 2015 in Vilnius, Lithuania, by Italian artist Millo*

One particular place I got to visit recently is Tallinn’s Cultural Kilometer, displaying a fine selection of street art and graffiti. There are murals and graffiti inside the cruise ship terminal area, along the Cultural Kilometer and (for as long as it’s standing), on the old Petrai prison.

Another place I’ve recently visited where I was impressed by the street art I saw was Reykjavik. The weather might be grey in Reykjavík for most of the year but a walk around the city quickly reveals a world of colour – there’s a treasure trove of street art adorning building walls, underpasses, houses, and everything in between. In fact, Reykjavík has gained a reputation of being one of the world’s capitals of street art.

*Some avian street art by Selur One – Reykjavik – Iceland*

Yet another place I got to see some street art was in Wroclaw, Poland’s 4th largest city. Unfortunately, I was only there for a couple of days and did not get the chance to see more of this.

One of the first murals in Poland’s 4th largest city, Wroclaw

Street art in Ireland’s capital city Dublin

Colourful street art down an unassuming side street in the Marrakech Medina in Morocco

Sometimes, it’s possible to see the artists at work and hang out amongst the crowds at a street art festival. Certain cities around the world host annual events. You can also search out street art in your home country, and you can revisit streets on your doorstep in a different light each time. Have you found any street art that inspires you?