7 Places You Must Visit If You Love All Things Street Art And Graffiti

Street graffiti was once considered illegal and associated with gangs. In recent times, it has evolved to be an accepted medium of artistic expression. Prime cities of the world boast of areas exclusively for displays of street art in the form of murals, projections, installations and collaborations. Street art has found its rightful place, and here¡¯s where you can go looking for it:

1. Chapel Road, Mumbai, India

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The entire stretch from Mount Carmel Church to Hill Road, Bandra, is covered with street graffiti ¨C a visual treat for those who pass by. You will find most of the street art around Chapel Road and Waroda Road. The little village of Ranwar, which falls along the way, is the hidden gem. This vibrant enclave with its ancient bungalows and narrow streets has been transformed into a creative hub.

You¡¯ll find passionate lovers juxtaposed with toons, frogs and fish, and all sorts of other funky illustrations.

2. Brooklyn, New York

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Bushwick Collective, Moore Street and Williamsburg are the main areas for street art in Brooklyn. Bushwick and Moore Street are street galleries, while the art work in Williamsburg comprises mostly murals. Artists from all over the world have contributed to the designs and patterns. Walking tours are common to this area and several locals and tourists participate in these each day to learn more about the art on display.

Keep a lookout for the Popeye mural!

3. Shoreditch, London

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London has no dearth of art galleries with a thriving art scene. However, off late, its East End area has become home to a parallel universe of street art. The entire Brick Lane and Shoreditch area is covered with installations, stickers, pop up figures and art work. Like how it is in New York, there are special graffiti tours that run each day to explore the art works in this district of London too. Banksy¡¯s works are undoubtedly the most popular.

4. Berlin, Germany

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Berlin¡¯s street art can be traced back to the time when the Berlin Wall was broken down. So invariably most of the themes that are depicted on the streets and the buildings, are political in nature. People used the public space to express their views on the historical and political changes that were taking place. The main spots are East Side Gallery, and Mitte, to name a few.

Don¡¯t forget to walk past the iconic graffiti of the kiss between two political leaders.

5. Valpraiso, Chile

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The street art in Valpraiso is more contemporary in design. Most of it is concentrated in the hillside neighbourhoods of Cerro Concepcion and Cerro Alegre. It is commonly referred to as the Latin version of Berlin¡¯s street art. These two districts are also home to several galleries, restaurants, situated alongside brightly painted houses. You¡¯ll find works of emerging artists and a few international artists as well.

Walk down the piano painted stairway!

6. Bo Khaap, Cape Town

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While the above-mentioned cities are known for their street art, the next two boast of colourful streets and houses. The people who live in this neighbourhood were brought as slaves by the Dutch settlers, and some of the houses date back to the 18th century. The story goes that earlier the houses used to be white, but due to majority of the residents of Bo Khaap being Muslims, the colours were introduced as a mark of celebration for Eid.

7. Balat, Istanbul, Turkey

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Balat in Turkey is one of the most colourful destinations in the world. Once part of Istanbul¡¯s old Jewish quarter, today, this area is littered with trendy restaurants and cafes. Rich in history, this lesser explored part of the city should definitely be on every travellers¡¯ list!