The Kasper Stromman Design Blog

Checking out the Helsinki graffiti scene

Graffiti is often considered vandalism, and is of course a punishable crime. But what not many people realize is that graffiti can also express underlying social and political messages, and is in fact by many considered an artistic genre. We took a stroll around Helsinki to see how Helsinki street artists are expressing themselves these days.

Helsinginkatu
The corner of Helsinginkatu and Fleminginkatu seems to be a real modern day hub for street artists. We wouldn’t be surpised here at the Kasper Stromman Design Blog if we see some of the artists who participated in this graffiti collaberation in one of the more upmarket galleries within a few months or so. Such is the untamed creativity of this piece.

Viipurinkatu
The raw and expressive style of graffiti continues when you move west towards Alppila. Society often shuns these spontaneous outbursts of inspiration, but let us ask you this: would this little house really be as beautiful without this intense street lettering? It would not.

Sturenkatu
“Some people become cops because they want to make the world a better place. Some people become vandals because they want to make the world a better looking place.” Banksy

Itäinen Brahenkatu
But let’s not forget graffiti isn’t solely about beauty – it can also be about getting a message across. And graffiti artist tend to have an eye for seeing things differently. That’s why when this street artist sees a Shell petrol station, he writes “Shell” on it in black marker. Things like these come naturally for the street artist.

Sörnäisten rantatie
Isn’t it funny the way only a graffiti artist can see anything as a blank canvas, even a parked truck? Not everyone could fill this moving easel with creativity – but that’s also the reason why everyone is not cut out to be a street artist.

Helsinki street artists – living by the paint, dying by the fumes.