In the late night hours the true artists of our time brighten walls of this concrete jungle. They can transform the dull and monotonous into the vibrant and animated. There is no charge for admission and no fee to photograph. It is a completely free service that carries the added thrill of potential arrest. It is a gift for those who appreciate its beauty and an eyesore to those who misinterprets its purpose. Art in Berlin spills from the traditional gallery out its windows, on to the streets, and up its walls.
Maybe it’s due to my affinity with graffiti, but some days traveling about the city were more satisfying than the majority of art galleries I have visited in my lifetime. Mixed in with the traditional tags are messages about political injustices, insightful social observations, and unique caricatures. The city is a breeding ground for creativity and artistic innovation.
In what I observed this type of art lends itself to advertising targeting the younger generations. This form of urban art is used on flyers promoting parties, billboards promoting clothing, and in one case even window display for a cell phone company. It is the backbone of a youthful subculture that is closely tied to many forms of music and styles of dress.
Speaking of music – from what I observed, live instruments have become obsolete. The local music scene in Berlin is all about electronics. The digital representation of sound is very much a part of everyday life. Rock music is almost nonexistent, with the exception of a few bars still clinging to the music of the 1950’s and 60’s. Therefore with regards to the younger generations there are fewer dominant music scenes than exist in the United States, here your choices are Electric, R&B, or Black (which is really Hip Hop). I would get into the interesting choice in renaming the genre but that is a whole other blog.
Till next time.....
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