Street Art Hongdae: day 1

The street art walk begins in graffiti park, Hongdae. A tiny park nestled into the clubland streets that sprawl out of the local arts university, Hongik, is covered in Seoul’s familiar tags. When we meet up it’s flooded with people for a hand-made craft sale.

Snap a photo of a V-Vendetta mask poster-cut next to a tattooed suicide girl style pin up and the topical marker sketch: What Is Wikileaks?? The art in the park is always peeling off, covered by new lines and unlaboured sketches. Today there is a nostalgic 1950’s lass left in the corner of a torn poster, the word SEX all that’s still legible from the work.

The next morning the streets are empty, save for last night’s garbage. Down the steps, out the park, and into the back alleys. There is one of the most-seen images of street art in Seoul, and maybe larger Asia. Angry-girl, by Nana Is Real, is all over Hongdae and Tokyo. Next to it is often Metaphysics and a hand missing fingers and dripping blood.

An aged Art Is Over poster haunts the same alley, another work perhaps by Nana. Also, a stencil often seen in Seoul, Mother Teresa says Don’t Be Greedy. A rich man and an Indian, and some fading sign of Lincoln.

The street fashion girls are out for the flattering mid-morning lighting, SLRs following them with duty. I take a few more shots of their backdrops and disappear into another alley to find more art for blog posts forthcoming.