Street Art of Berlin, Germany

A mural on the East Side Gallery, August 2005

I thought I’d do a little series on street art, one of my favorite photography subjects. Since Berlin is where I first fell in love with street art, it’s only fitting that I start there.

Berlin, Germany quickly became one of my favorite European cities. I could list features like architecture, museums, parks, and food, but those things could apply to most any city. No, what made Berlin stand out for me was the history. Rome has ancient history, but Berlin has recent, twentieth century history that hasn’t been erased, that still stands in the form of memorials and walls and haunting museums.

What I loved even more was how the artists of Berlin have come together and turned all the strife and turmoil into something beautiful.

These images were so powerful. I can’t begin to imagine what it was like for Berliners to live, separated from their neighbors by the Wall.

These images are from the East Side Gallery, a portion of the Berlin Wall that remains standing, featuring over 100 paintings, murals, song lyrics, poems, signatures, and illustrations of hope and freedom. (Keep in mind, I was in Berlin in 2005, so many of these images will not look the same today, due to vandalism and erosion.)

And some more favorite street art shots, unrelated to the Berlin Wall:

Who doesn’t want to read this?

Have you ever been to Berlin? What impressions did you come away with? Is there another city you’ve visited that is steeped in history and art?

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I soon realized that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within.   –-Lillian Smith