Tbilisi Street Art: Graffiti Underground

Photo credits: Russell Thompson (@steem-beat)

When you start to explore the backstreets and underpasses in Tbilisi, Georgia, you will notice straight away the prolific amount of street art in this city.

For a long time, it was only the less attractive examples of graffiti such as crude 'tags' or words scrawled on the walls with spray paint or even perhaps a brush, whether it be in Georgian, Russian, or English.

So these more elaborate murals are still quite a new thing here in Georgia.

But more recently, some talented local artists are emerging on the Tbilisi graffiti scene, and this street art has become part of the city's vibrant urban culture.

Unlike the more typical figures of authority, we might expect to find around the various capitals of Europe - where graffiti seems to get removed from buildings as fast as it goes up. The government here has even started to encourage it!

In 2017, 41 graffiti artists were allowed to freely express themselves to brighten up some of Tbilisi's more run-down areas, particularly the underground passages which run beneath the busy main roads.

It is some of this artwork I have chosen to share today. There are genuinely too many just for one post, so I hope to make this part of a series.

Another high-profile event in 2017, saw street artists from all over Europe being invited to Georgia to showcase their skills.

Possibly the most famous local artist is a mysterious individual, known only by his monicker of 'Dr. Love.'

We do know that he is from Tbilisi, at least, and also that he has been enjoying rave reviews on many websites and social media dedicated to the European graffiti scene. He was even invited to Bristol, in the United Kingdom by the local Mayor last year to paint some of his graffiti there!

Another famous local graffiti artist who isn't so shy to reveal his identity is Mishiko Sulakauri, also knows as 'Lamb,' who paints more humourous pieces that display his dry wit.

One of the most famous graffiti spots in Tbilisi is found around the hostel complex known as 'Fabrika.'

They even have a 'Legal' graffiti wall where artists are encouraged to do their thing at any time of the day.

Fabrika deserves a post of its own, maybe as part of my 'Architecture of Tbilisi' series, the main complex has a compelling history going back to Soviet times, so please watch this space!

I passionately believe Tbilisi deserves more acknowledgment for its street art. It is comparable in my opinion to the vibrant graffiti scenes in Hamburg or Barcelona. It really shows off the artistic side of the Georgian people, which is something that within only a very short space of time, I have grown to love and respect about living here among them.

Photo credits: @steem-beat

Tbilisi Nomad

I hope you all enjoyed the pictures! If you have any questions or feedback, I'll be very interested in your comments, please feel free to post links to your own articles below if they are relevant.😎

Let's support each other here on our journey! It's the best way to build a strong community in these uncertain times.. 🙏😊

Take care, and be safe!

Russell Thompson (@steem-beat)

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