new piece in whitehouse street, London EC1

click on image to enlarge

Was working at an agency at the lower end of Old Street the other day, and happened along whitehouse street for a spot of lunch when I came across this wall. Liked it a lot - great simplicity and style, and minimal palette. Not sure who the artist or business is, but nice job...
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Strok article brings me back to Berlin '08 trip

My photo of Strok self portrait, Berlin '08

My photo of Strok self portrait, Berlin '08

Strok's self portrait stencil, Location unknown

Reading the Wooster Collective article on Strok in Traena led me to his flickr site. The very last pic in his photoset sparked a distant memory od last years Berlin trip. I scrolled back through my pics and found the Strok stencils I'd shot in East Berlin on our second last day there. Have included Strok's pic (self portrait) for reference.

Oh, it's such a small world we live in isn't it...
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Street art is alive and kickin' in Berlin

(click to enlarge image)

I have just returned from a week in Berlin. The biggest surprise of the trip, for me, was to find out how in debt the city is.

An unbelievable €60 billion!

But for a city of just under 3.5 million people there still seems to be a feeling of optimism. This optimism is certainly reflected in the amount of street art that is going on there. Obviously street canvases are abundant in the form a considerable number of empty and disused buildings from a city in such financial turmoil. Add to this 17-25% unemployment, a community that actively supports squatters rights, and a high level of creativity and you have any graffiti artists nirvana.

I will be posting up some of the shots I took soon. Check www.flickr.com/photos/hamstar/sets

I will also post up info on where the best graf areas are there, and contact details for Matti, a native Berliner who runs a daily 3 hour walk that showcases the predominant street art areas, some famous squats, part of the Berlin wall and a generally alternative Berlin city walk (he's a great guy, and it’s free!).