German Grafitti

A lot of people have asked if there is much graffiti in Germany. Well, I can only speak about eastern Germany when I say that it’s everywhere. With the exception of the newer buildings in the modern downtown shopping district, no building, tunnel, overpass, wall, post or pillar has escaped the ubiquitous musings of spray paint. This place is second only to Spain in the sheer volume of tagging.

I’m certain that some you think I give these things, especially the bad ones, far too much significance and that may be true. In one sense we can think of it as simply vandalism, the mark of disgruntled youth, or perhaps the public, spray paint version of the “selfie” that just says “Hey, it’s me, look at me. I’m here.” There is undoubtedly some of that in all of them, but I tend to think of them more as short stories. Someone has made a conscious effort to create these public doodles. They have amassed the raw materials necessary, searched for an appropriate surface or canvas, if you will, and then selected a time, either short or long, in which they will be free to render their masterpiece for all the world to see.

Like all stories, some are great and some are flat out horrible, but they have all been produced with a purpose in mind and it’s that intent that intrigues me.

Translation – In thoughts to Clement Meric on 05.06.2013 murdered in Paris by neo-Nazis.  No forgiveness – No pardon

Even if we view these things as vandalism I don’t think that deliberate destruction of property was the goal. I think the artist, creator or criminal somehow imagined they were enhancing their environment with their personal message or, at worst, were simply exercising a complete disregard for public or private property, which in itself says volumes about the mindset of the disenfranchised. If you live in a world were you feel powerless, well, here’s a little power right here.

Right here in our neighborhood, Chemie, Diablos, Pils, Misters Northside and the Radicals’ tags are everywhere.

They have to be local kids don’t they? People who live on these streets have to know who they are!

Finally, these 3″ stickers are spreading like wildfire.