Let Hugo and John explore these and more as we take you through the famous street art laneways of Melbourne. Melbourne is a city known for its vibrancy and cosmopolitanism. It’s is no surprise then that its street art scene is one of the most prominent in the world.
“People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and childish… but that’s only if it’s done properly.”
This tongue-in-cheek quote is from Bansky- the most prominent figure in the Street Art scene touches on the fact that graffiti or Street Art is the most accessible and divisive of all the art mediums. Why does it polarise and captivate us the way it does? Why is Melbourne considered one of the great street art cities in the world – and where does one go to find these pieces and what is Banksy’s connection to Melbourne?
Let Hugo and John explore these and more as we take you through the famous street art laneways of Melbourne. Melbourne is a city known for its vibrancy and cosmopolitanism. It’s is no surprise then that its street art scene is one of the most prominent in the world.
Come and watch as we explore these colourful and diverse streets. Learn how the street art scene developed from a criminal activity to an integral part of the fabric of the city that the council actively promotes and encourages. Today a trip to Melbourne is not complete without a trip to one of it’s many graffiti-filled laneways like Hosier Lane, Duckboard Place and ACDC Lane.
Join us as we head to these areas and reveal some of the most prominent Melbourne artists, their pieces, and the stories behind them. Where can you disappear ‘down the rabbit-hole’ in our CBD and why was this Alice in Wonderland street art piece not loved by the council as much as the public.
Let John revel the different mediums of street art- the difference between a stencil and a paste-up and a tag and a ‘piece’. Learn about Banksy and his visits to Melbourne. The story of Banksy’s little diver is famous in Melbourne. Find out what it was and what happened to it.
Lastly, we discuss who decides what is art and what is vandalism? How long do they pieces last and how long has this been going on. Melbourne has had artists painting, spraying and putting up works on our walls for close to three decades – copying trends that had emerged in New York.
Arguably though we humans have been participating in street art for a long time. The term graffiti in fact comes from the Italian word graffio – meaning ‘a scratch’. Indeed the ancient Italian city of Pompeii reveals that humans have been scribbling or scratching on surfaces for a very long time. The content also hasn’t changed much. In Pompeii archeologist have discovered graffiti ranging from sexual boating, political commentary and the simple declarations of “I was here!” Near the Vesuvius gate the phrase “ Marcus loves Spendusa” can be read.
In goes back even further. The earliest cave paintings in modern day France date back around 40,000 years. Some archaeologists have argued that these are likely the works of young adolescent males, perhaps left out of hunting trips- and that the paintings are nothing more than doodlings and scribbles of the very first artists. Cave art or street art we have been putting our messages up on walls for a long time!
This is a production of Walks 101, Melbourne’s largest walking tour company. Since 2017, they’ve been welcoming guests from around the world to Melbourne and Sydney, primarily through their Free Walking Tours and Uncover Hidden Laneway Bars tour. Their Free Walking Tour operates on a tips-only basis and supports the livelihoods of over a dozen guides. The Hidden Bar Tour is an exciting jaunt into the city to explore the best of its speakeasies.
Now with digital events, Walks 101 opens up for a global audience. New digital tours coming out twice weekly.
