Art marvels, unites and enriches. It is the way to discover a destination in a new way and in a new light because street art highlights the soul of the city and its inhabitants. Artists give free rein to their creativity by transmitting their passion while exalting urban beauty.
dailynewsfortravelers.com offers you 3 original destinations around the world to discover cities in the open air from an artistic perspective! Cameras and phones in hand, to conquer the best colorful and original shot to immortalize your vacation!
Nashville – A communicative effervescence
Known as the country music capital of the world, Nashville, located in the state of Tennessee, has it all: a music scene, award-winning cuisine and top-notch art.
Marked by the recording industry since its inception and renowned for its recording studios, Nashville is known as « Music City ». With more than 120 concert halls throughout the city, music is the soul of Nashville.
You can also discover the city through its urban art works, to the rhythm of the different districts that display original creations that allow travellers to explore the city in a different way.
Direction, The Gulch, Nashville’s most upscale neighbourhood, home to some of the most famous street art works. It will take patience to pose in front of Kelsey Montague’s famous angel wings « What lifts you » that attract a host of tourists looking for the best Instagram shot – unmistakable when visiting the surroundings! A few steps away, it is very easy to find the famous wall with original patterns and colors that will be the perfect setting for another shot!
On the side of 12 South, considered one of the most fashionable neighbourhoods in Nashville, is the emblematic mural painting « I Believe in Nashville » which is located just across the street from the Draper James store with its highly visual painted facade and white and blue stripes. A few steps away, the old work « Nashville at Heart », widely posted on social networks, has given way to a new fresco… To discover! The East Nashville district is also a place where street art lovers can make many finds on the streets.
At lunchtime, Nashville will delight the appetite of food addicts with its booming culinary scene, many trendy restaurants with varied menus are settling in town.
Melbourne – An arty city in a privileged setting
Surprising and very famous for its « Street Art » works, Melbourne attracts many travellers who come to admire its colourful streets. Several times classified as « the most pleasant city in the world to live in », it has a climate but also a very attractive cultural market.
Australia’s capital of culture with a thriving art scene, many artists from all over the world gather here to express their creativity. Melbourne offers many places in the heart of the city where street art is celebrated. An initiative approved and encouraged by the city itself.
More than 150 artists have created a work: Space Invader, Banksy or Lush for the most famous. Nevertheless, anyone can use his talent as a graffiti artist in Melbourne’s narrow streets called « lane ». After a request for authorization from the town hall, passers-by will be able to admire the works created over a period of 6 months.
On the way to the Fitzroy district, which is full of works, especially in the alleys along Brunswick and Nicholson Street, a veritable open-air art gallery!
Hosier Lane, near Federation Square, is THE street art alley in Melbourne. Wherever you look, the walls are covered with sparkling works and colours: giant frescoes on the buildings, faces on the walls and even Knitt Graffity on the posts.
Other neighbourhoods, such as Collingwood, Prahran or Footscray for example, also have a few streets used by artists as canvases.
Rio de Janeiro – A committed and passionate city
Rio de Janeiro is not just about carnival, the mythical Copacabana beach and football!
With its brightly coloured buildings and enchanting atmosphere, the city is a true open-air museum.
From the Santa Teresa district, through the walls of the botanical garden, to the facades of an entire district in the Santa Marta favela, street art is everywhere!
In March 2009, the Brazilian government adopted a law decriminalizing street art, (provided that the artist is the owner’s consent). This has led to a profusion of colours and a real artistic richness in the streets.
Over the years, Rio de Janeiro has become a reference in street art and the city has seen the emergence of new Brazilian artists with a worldwide reputation.
Between Copacabana and Ipanema, a giant fresco was created by the artist Eduardo Kobra. It was commissioned for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Gigantic, it measures 15 metres high and 190 metres long, it represents the tolerance and cultural diversity of the Olympic Games. It has become one of the main attractions of the port area and is participating in the renewal of this district, which has been renovated for the Olympic Games.
Rio De Janeiro, Brasil, Grafitti, Olympic Boulevard