I used to work in Exharia, Athens-Greece. I read the walls from the Ommonia Metro station all the way to Exharia's platia. For me, reading the walls shared the visual pulse of the city, the issues, the political climate, the stories unheard. Today, I don't read the walls. I live in South Africa. But today I read the Athens News from the internet: "Racist violence escalates." Citizens hating citizens, humans attacking humans within these man-made borders we create.
The unrest in Greece is not isolated there. The messages I read on the walls in Greece reaffirmed why I love graffiti. They portray different headlines and display opinions in different syntax without a web address or a printing press. Just some spray paint, a marker or a sticker will do.
They are public forums. Tales are told. I took these photos last summer and the messages still ring true. Anti-violence. Anti-Xenophobic. What is Xenios Zeus, the Athens police campaign to kick out anyone without govt. papers, going to do for the betterment of our world? To all the writers in Athens: Keep pasting, keep writing peace on Athens streets and advocate for change.
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| A wheat paste paper sticker on the wall with the image of HATE. Eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. |
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| This is my favorite of our cultural pluralism. Freedom is a global right. |
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| Greedy servings of the pie. Austerity serving anyone? Pro-Hemp stencil on the top right corner. |
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| Anti-Nazi stencil, Anti-Prejudice, Anti-Racism, Anti-Xenophobic! |
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| The Television will not be Revolutionised |
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| "Running from the thoughts, I keep bumping back into it, trying to get away-keeps dragging me into" Note: look are the Burqa stencil and then the X over it. |
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| In the streets near the public university |
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| Anyone is a Citizen member |
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| Pissing on the Golden Dawn (far-right political party in Athens, Greece) |
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