Whereas the authorities in Istanbul are quick to buff any political graffiti, they seem to be quite tolerant to other public art — both sanctioned and unsanctioned. Here are a few more examples of what currently can be seen in the city:
Space InvaderGerman artist DomePortugese artist DemoLocal artist EskreynBoth local and international writers here — including Hure and UtahJust about every shutter has become a canvas for bombs and throw-ups
Thanks, again, to Erbil Sivaslioglu for sharing his knowledge of his city’s street art scene with us.
Relatively new to Istanbul, the modern street art movement is beginning to make its mark and gain recognition as a legitimate contemporary art form. In our few days in Istanbul, we — my son and I — saw everything from tags and throw-ups by both local and international writers to huge murals by first-rate artists. We also discovered some local street artists whose aesthetics fuse the best of Eastern and Western sensibilities. Here’s a sampling:
Local artists Hure and HeroKripo’s ever-present yellow handsUnidentified artistLocal artist EskreynBerlin-based artists Various and Gould
Special thanks to Erbil Sivaslioglu who shared with us his passion and knowledge of his city’s street art scene.