Subway Art: Graffiti, Murals & More

Popular urban artist Clemens Behr and graphic designer Raby Florence Fofana teamed up not long ago and together created a subway sculpture for Berlin’s probably most famous subway line U1! The so-called U1 Objekt is a two meters tall sculpture on wheels built out of wood and aluminium plates. The plates have been screenprinted with pattern-designs by Raby which where afterwards arranged and screwed together by Clemens… This Berlin subway sculpture is not just adding another part to Clemens Behr’s Places and Spaces series, but also objectifies the look and feel of a well-known means of local transport. Great! ...

This subway parasite project is quite old, it was invented by Frédéric Eyl at the University of the Arts in Berlin back in 2005 (long before about 2,200 people liked Urban Art Core on Facebook), but it’s that great that I have to share it with you… Parasite is an independant projection-system that can be attached to subways and other trains with suction pads. Parasite projects films inside a tunnel. These tunnels bear something mystic – most people usually have never made a step inside any of those tunnels. Confusing the routine of your train-travelling-journey, your habits and perception the projections parallel worlds – making use of parasite – allow you a glimpse into a different world full of surrealist imagery. (thegreeneyl.com) ...

About 2500 old NYC subway cars, including 1000 so-called Redbirds, have been buried about 80 feet underwater off the US east coast during the last years, as the Spiegel recently published! After running round about 40 years in one of the world’s largest subway networks, this is their last stop… Redbirds - Anti-Graffiti Subway The Redbirds, which are named after their cinnabar red anti-graffiti coat of paint and got famous during the early 1980th, when New York Cities graffiti scene reached the peak, are now helping to create an artificial reef off the coast of Delaware (named Redbirds Reef), what sounds really weird in my ears… ...

Berlin’s iconic 1UP crew has done it again. On a memorable evening at the Babylon Cinema, the highly anticipated film One United Power finally premiered, drawing an enthusiastic crowd of street art enthusiasts, filmmakers, and curious onlookers. The sold-out screening delivered a unique blend of thrill, art, and cultural commentary that cements 1UP’s legacy as a powerhouse in graffiti culture. The Premiere Experience The atmosphere inside the cinema was electric. Despite whispers of undercover police presence, attendees were unphased, fully immersed in the excitement of the event. A standout moment came when the audience was asked to don complimentary 1UP supporter ski masks for a group photo—a sea of masked faces celebrating the spirit of unity and rebellion. The sight was unforgettable, and official photos are eagerly awaited. ...

Berlin’s legendary 1UP crew is set to release their highly anticipated DVD, 1UP Berlin – One United Power, this December. This groundbreaking collection promises to offer an unparalleled glimpse into the vibrant world of graffiti over the past eight years. What to Expect The DVD, spanning an impressive four hours of content, chronicles 1UP’s graffiti journey through Berlin and beyond. Packed with dope writing actions, street pieces, rooftop rollers, whole cars, and more, the compilation serves as both a retrospective and a celebration of the crew’s artistry. While much of the footage is rooted in Berlin, the DVD also takes viewers on an international tour, showcasing 1UP’s adventures in cities like Istanbul, Paris, and Havana. ...

subway networks Subway Systems | Did you know that our planet has now 178 metro systems including 84 metros and 21 subways, and that the rest has other official names, such as MRT, Metrorail, or U-Bahn? Or that trains on 34 circle lines are orbiting through 27 cities, 33 systems run on the left track, 113 on the right and that 33 cities have driverless lines? These and much more interesting facts as well as all the original schematic rail network maps, logos, news, statistics and a lot more about Metro, Subway, MRT, Rapid Transit, U-Bahn, Metrorail or whatever you like to call it, can be found on metrobits.org, a brilliant source for info about all subways around the globe! ...

Graffiti Photography | Alex Fakso is well-known around the world and with good reason part of my top urban art photographers list! Although his astonishing graffiti action photographs have already been featured in the nice “Heavy Metal” book, Fakso recently published a new book called “Fast or Die”! And although this is something like a successor “Fast or Die” focuses not just on the atmosphere of plain graffiti, but also on subways… ...

Berlin’s 1UP crew is legendary in the city’s graffiti scene, known for their bold and daring actions that push the boundaries of urban art. Their work can be found throughout Berlin, often in seemingly impossible-to-reach locations, showcasing their skill and fearlessness. This notoriety caught the attention of the filmmakers behind “Unlike U”, a documentary exploring Berlin’s train-writing subculture. The film features a thrilling sequence showcasing 1UP’s audacious style: a subway bombing in broad daylight. ...

Some days after this year’s “No Pants Subway Ride” action day the report is online, including a lot of photos and a video! On Sunday, January 9th, 2011 over 5,000 people took off their pants on subways in 48 cities in 22 countries around the world. In New York, our 10th Annual No Pants Subway Ride had over 3,500 participants, spread out over six meeting points and ten subway lines. (Improv Everywhere) ...

Graffiti Documentary | Another trainwriting film premiers in Berlin: February 2nd, Unlike U - Trainwriting in Berlin will be shown first at the Babylon cinema in Berlin-Mitte. Unlike U portrais four generations of sprayers in Berlin, of which the oldest of the hardcore artists is already over 40 years old, while the youngest are around 17. All protagonists have one thing in common. Each one has sprayed countless trains in their lives, some of them even over a 1000. ...