Last Updated on 2020/10/31
Graffiti is a form of communication that has very ancient origins and is deeply linked to creativity, and the history of art.
The Chinese word for graffiti is tuya (涂鸦), a word used to describe “scribble”. Despite the ambiguity of the law against graffiti, it is possible to see many examples of street art in China. In China, the phenomenon of graffiti is on the rise.
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Chongqing
The Graffiti Street on the old Sichuan Fine Arts campus in Huangjueping is certainly one of the best places where to see graffiti in China. The old campus and the surrounding warehouse are now art venues, and the buildings were painted on the outside. Hundreds of students and artists painted the graffitis on a total of 37 buildings. It took 5 months to be completed.
Beijing
Factory 798
Since the legal uncertainty of the matter, it’s not an easy task to find them on the streets of Beijing. However, the 798 art district is a good starting point where to see graffiti paint. Here a collective of graffiti artists established the first specialist shop selling aerosol paint in China.
Tiancun Road
Tiancun Road is located in Beijing’s northwestern Haidian district. The walls are decorated with colorful graffiti works by artists from all over the world. The graffiti were commissioned by Haidian officials to paint the poor neighborhood walls with street art. 16 local and overseas artists decorated 1.5 km-long wall and the exteriors of local homes and shops.
Hong Kong
According to the Hong Kong’s basic law, graffitis are illegal. However, the local government promised to preserve the works of Tsang Tsou Choi, the King of Kowloon and the father of Hong Kong calligraphy graffiti. The best place where to see graffitis in Hong Kong is probably the Wall of fame in Mong Kok’s Argyle Street. The alleyway is filled with graffiti pieces, which provides a metropolitan canvas for local artists.
Shanghai
Moganshan Lu in Shanghai’s M5o neighborhood probably is the best place in the city where to see graffitis. The area today is a premier arts district and the graffitis here are respected and photographed. The government allows artists to paint on the wall of the area.
If you’re looking for places to see graffiti art in China, you are certainly spoilt for choice. Do you agree with our list? What would you add?
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