There are those who reject graffiti as vandalism, but to the savvy, budget-conscious traveler, these scrawls of spray paint represent an ideal opportunity to enjoy some local art without the pricey admission fees. Here’s our list of graffiti to see before it gets painted over.
East Side Gallery, Berlin
This battered portion of the wall that once divided East and West Berlin now hosts a vibrant, unifying gallery of public art that runs for just a little less than a mile. Recurring messages plastered across the murals include “no more wars, no more walls” and a powerful illustration of the Communist and Socialist General Secretaries, Leonid Brezhnev and Erich Honecker, which reads “Oh God. Help me to survive this deadly love.”
Banksy, worldwide
Everyone’s heard of Banksy, right – that famous street artist whose artwork appears unexpectedly and mysteriously overnight? You can view his original graffiti on the streets of Bristol, England, where he started out, but you’ll catch his more recent works in areas of political conflict, such as the crumbling walls of war-torn Palestine.
The Slumlord Project, Baltimore
The spirit of graffiti is alive and well in this community-level project in Baltimore, the mission of which is to tag run-down or derelict buildings with street art. It’s designed to shame the negligent proprietors, but it also provides residents with an opportunity to improve their neighborhood aesthetic.
Balmy Alley, San Francisco
Located in the Mission District, insiders know that Balmy Alley and nearby Clarion Alley are goldmines of essential graffiti viewing. Gentrification post dot-com boom has caused much of the original Latino community to feel displaced, which residents have expressed in murals highlighting social inequality and discrimination against ethnic minorities.
Ernest Zacharevic, Malaysia
Popularly tagged as Malaysia’s answer to Banksy, Ernest Zacharevic is a famous Lithuanian street artist living in Johor Bahru. The city’s shady reputation for crime and social injustice informs his street art, and officials have been known to cover his works within days of them first appearing. Fortunately, it looks as though his more harmless illustrations are here to stay.
Bowery Graffiti Wall, New York City
New York City is the world’s prime destination for graffiti viewing, so don’t miss this one. Bowery Graffiti Wall is one of many graffiti-ridden spots in the Lower East Side, and is an ever-changing canvas of public art, featuring everything from expansive pop art murals to depictions of Hurricane Sandy.
(Main image © Jupiterimages/iStock/Thinkstock )
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to… whose guides cover all the best hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs, sights, shops and spas.
