Graffiti Seen 3

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No.3 summer.2016

N I L R E B L A I Z E SP Olly MacNamee - words & pictures

GRAFFITI Go to Berlin. That’s it really. If you like graffiti, then you’ll go and you’ll head directly to Kreutzberg if you know what’s good for you. A strange place, when compared to the illusion of intergration we claim to have achieved in the UK. This is a country that has come to terms with their past (and trust me, as a German born lad, I suffered a silly amount of xenophobia as a kid, even though I only lived there a year, or so) and has learnt valuable lessons. And, as such, Berlin is a city where it would seem people do indeed live in harmony. From the American tourists (and there’s a lot of ‘em) to the Gambian drug dealers in Goerlitzer Park, sitting around, soaking up the sun and being ignored by all but those looking for a score.

No hassle, no come on to tourists, no hard sell. Oh, and the beers cheap too.

It’s easy to forget that this is a capital city, but the reminders of their unfortunate past are everywhere to be seen. The immense Holocaust Memorial that stands as a bleak reminder of the wost of times, while tourist run freely through these granite-grey tombstones, the cobbled lined streets subtley reminding us of the once all enveloping wall, and the stark contrast between a city centre relatively newly minted and the outskirts, such as Kreustzberg, a wonderful cafe-society centred subburb that reminded me of New York. Well, there were definitely enough Americans for me to think that.

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But, above all, there’s the graffiti. Literally everywhere when we stayed in the aforementioned Kreuzberg and, one must imagine, encouraged, because of the sheer

volume of pieces as well as the well preseved Berlin Wall that boasts new pieces as well as carefully cared for pieces by local legend, Thierry Noir (pg.11) This is a city that is alive, vibrant and beautifula, even if you aren’t a graffiti geek. I loved every minute of it, and so I thought I’d share some of the great finds I came across in juts a mere three days.

I’m already looking forward to my next city break there.

Much better than any beach holiday.

Olly MacNamee

Berlin - Berlin Wall

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Stick ‘em up!

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Stick em up!

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Stick Em up!

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The Berlin Wall

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The Berlin Wall

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The Berlin Wall

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The Berlin Wall

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The Berlin Wall

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THierry Noir

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kreuzberg

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kreuzberg

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kreuzberg

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kreuzberg

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kreuzberg

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kreuzberg

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kreuzberg

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kreuzberg

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No.3 summer 2016

all words & pictures, copyright - Olly MacNamee