An Open Gallery: Melbourne’s Street Art and Graffiti

Arti January 23, 2014
St. Paul's cathedral - MELBOURNE MEMORY #2 (LANES AND ALLEYWAYS: ART CULTURE) - Tram Rides - Queen Victoria's Market - Eureka Sky Deck 88 - Captain cook's cottage - Flinder's street station - Yarra River - MCG - Federation Square - Cuisine - Extras.
---------------- *** --------------------

 While walking your way in Melbourne, don’t be surprised if you find yourself standing in a whole little lane tucked away in the busy sprawling metropolis awash in a big palette of vibrant colors and artistic pieces. Melbourne is one city that wears its cultural spirit on its sleeve for all to see! Using the vocabulary of colorful paints and pictures, Melbournians showcase all that is sacred and profane in their life, their expressions and emotions, their dreams and aspirations. All this and more in Melbourne’s much celebrated lanes and alleyways – a must watch cultural attraction for any visitor travelling to this part of the world today.

These lanes and alleyways invite you to enter and lose yourself and flow into their being by happily doubling up as open canvases for artists to paint their heart out and for others to savor all of it absolutely free of cost. Enter them and you realize just what happens when imagination runs free and colors explode in celebration! You realize just how beautifully art can complement the vibrant urban facets of a city’s personality, how creativity can thoughtfully find a way in the city’s chaos.

No wonder, this visual street art of Melbourne features as a distinctive Melbournian way of life in the eye of the world. Below is a picture walk through one such alleyway I bumped into while wandering around Bourke street mall, one of Melbourne's pretentious neighborhoods.
----------- *** -----------

Time for a story...
Come along...
An open gallery calls...
Amazing Melbourne Street art in the lanes and alleyways of Australia
The witch is thirsty...
... She is scared!
Graffiti art in the lanes and alleyways of Melbourne, Australia
Is there an escape route?
Graffiti Street art in Melbourne Victoria, Australia
To a different city, may be?
Melbourne graffiti street art in the lanes and alleyways of Australia
Not a city but a haven... giving birth to the real her... the real self,
Graffiti culture in the lanes and alleyways of Melbourne, Australia
Where her soul counts its blessings,
Graffiti in the lanes of Melbourne, Australia
And, joys laugh in her heart!
Melbourne Street culture art in the lanes and alleyways of Australia
A place thus, shall be her very own country...
Street art in the lanes and alleyways of Melbourne, Australia
Where she is completely free -
Interesting Melbourne Street art in the lanes and alleyways of Australia
... Free to color her own destiny,

... Write her own life story ...

----------- *** -----------

This is just one but there are many more. So many stories and colors galore. Colors that are evocative, eccentric, half finished and inspiring, all at the same time. And speaking through the hearts of its people … in a language that is deep, perhaps even unfathomable and possessing such a strange pulsating vibrancy… that it lingers in a traveler’s mind ... in my mind’s eye... for long....

Art is never finished only abandoned ~ Leonardo Da Vinci.

Addresses of Melbourne Art lanes and alleyways?

Google it and it shall throw you a host of names like Union lane, Hosier and Rutledge Lane, Degraves street, etc. on the Melbourne map where you can discover these hidden artistic gems but my personal experience says that these lanes and alleyways have no fixed addresses and the best way to discover them is by chance. I myself had asked a lot of people for their whereabouts but found no success until on the second last day of my trip when I bumped into this alleyway - by ‘chance’ while strolling around the Bourke street mall area. So just grab a map and get out there. Explore. All you need is a bit of curiosity and a bit of trust for chance to do the rest!

Previous stories from Melbourne:

Tags
Arti

Posted by Arti

Hi there! I am Arti - constantly on the road, both figuratively and literally, unwrapping my unique gift called life. My blog, which focuses on spiritual journeys, is all about my love of sharing, exploring and learning; a continuous journey where I strive to seek the truth, discover myself, the world, my place therein and experience the real treasures of life along the way. I hope to help those planning to make a trip to these places or simply provide a virtual tour to the rest. If you have any queries, do leave a comment, I will be pleased to help! You can also contact me at - 22arti@gmail.com

Post a Comment

48 Comments

  1. Prasad NpJanuary 23, 2014 at 5:39 PM

    Some street art there...looks like people in Melbourne are very creative and expressive...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArtiJanuary 24, 2014 at 2:22 PM

      Oh yes, they are! The city is very much expressive and creative in more ways than one. And that is one aspect I truly love about this city. This post is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to their expression, wait till I show you more.

      Delete
  2. you-wee becauseJanuary 23, 2014 at 8:50 PM

    Great, great, even greater! I LOVE street art photography and I could spend hours a day to stroll through the streets of different cities like a discoverer of street art and mural painting. It's a kind of art with limited durability - and you never know if the street art you shot yesterday will be still there the next time you may visit the same destination in the city.

    Here's a link to my Hamburg street art photography I took last year in autumn.
    http://you-wee-because.blogspot.de/2013/10/schanzenviertel-hamburg-neighborhood.html

    ...and from Berlin street art from April 2012:
    http://you-wee-because.blogspot.de/2012/04/berlin-street-art.html

    Thanks for sharing, Arti!

    Uwe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArtiJanuary 24, 2014 at 2:40 PM

      Thank you so much for sharing those links, Uwe, loved your perspective! I love this magic about street art too, therein lies the charm!

      Delete
  3. AnuJanuary 23, 2014 at 8:54 PM

    They are beautiful street art Arti. So vibrant and rich in colors. I would love to take time and walk through such lanes admiring these art work!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sally Tharpe RowlesJanuary 23, 2014 at 10:21 PM

    I love street art….great finds!

    ReplyDelete
  5. betchaiJanuary 24, 2014 at 7:25 AM

    oh wow, Arti, I love so much the free verse that you wrote for those street wall art. their stories and colors sure brought you to a trance and we are recipient of those thoughts.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mareta KusumaningrumJanuary 24, 2014 at 8:46 AM

    the grafity is look colourful , but i just thinking, it's look like not safe place to walk alone..?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArtiJanuary 24, 2014 at 2:45 PM

      I think it should be safe, Mareta. Can't say of the others since I don't know but this lane was very much situated in the heart of the city with a lot of hustle and bustle outside. I was there during the daytime and I found a couple of giggling girls for company - tourists as well.

      Delete
  7. rupam sarmaJanuary 24, 2014 at 9:15 AM

    Arti, wow , Amazing Graffiti works, Nice captured , Thank you so much for sharing.
    Have a nice weekend. ~ da

    ReplyDelete
  8. BarbJanuary 24, 2014 at 9:35 AM

    What vivid street art, Arti. Sometimes, stumbling upon a sight heightens its meaning. It is psychedelic - I might feel claustrophobic in that narrow alleyway surrounded by these graphic images! You saw so many different sights on this trip to Melbourne.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArtiJanuary 24, 2014 at 2:47 PM

      Claustrophobic is the word! Walls close in and colors pop out and dance - I felt it too.

      Delete
  9. AnonymousJanuary 24, 2014 at 9:52 AM

    What amazing, hidden alleys. Lovely shots of those murals!

    ReplyDelete
  10. R Niranjan DasJanuary 24, 2014 at 4:31 PM

    Gorgeous graffiti! Lovely shots of them.

    ReplyDelete
  11. kulasaJanuary 24, 2014 at 6:33 PM

    Wow....art overload!!! And I love it so!!! Thank you for the virtual tour! I sound like a broken record but you always write your travel post ao beautifully one is drawn to read from start to finish! Am just curious what camera are you using? I also love your captured images so much! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArtiJanuary 25, 2014 at 3:50 PM

      Thank you so much kulasa, your words always bring a wide smile on my face! I am so glad for your kind appreciation, it really motivates me no end. Thank you! :) About the camera, I use is Nikon cool pix S200 and sometimes alternate it with my mobile camera which is Sony Ericsson 8 MP.

      Delete
  12. Felicity Grace TerryJanuary 24, 2014 at 7:06 PM

    Wonderful post. I love graffiti if artistic, creative and well done like this which is a world away from someone merely signing their name or other such thing which I always regard as mere vandalism.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Puru@ShadowsGaloreJanuary 24, 2014 at 11:58 PM

    Wow ! Thats some heavy duty graffiti ! I can see Krishna and Rama too .. btw there is something like this in Bandra right ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArtiJanuary 25, 2014 at 3:45 PM

      Thanks, Puru! Melbourne is real high on this kind of graffiti! I am not very sure about Bandra as I have personally not explored those areas, but I think you are right, I do remember reading about it somewhere.

      Delete
  14. Draffin BearsJanuary 25, 2014 at 10:27 AM

    Hi Arti,

    Great graffiti on the walls of Melbourne - isn't it a lovely City - I enjoyed my time there.
    Happy weekend and thanks for showing us your photos
    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  15. Mary {The World IS A Book}January 25, 2014 at 11:08 AM

    I didn't realize there was quite a collection of street art in Melbourne.Love hunting for street art and there are some colorful and unique ones here.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sallie (FullTime-Life)January 26, 2014 at 12:25 AM

    It's always more fun to stumble on things in a city than to follow a plan! Makes me feel as if I'd discovered them myself.

    ReplyDelete
  17. PallaviJanuary 26, 2014 at 4:29 PM

    I have always been so intrigued by street art. Some of the best artists are out there . Beautiful images Arti :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. NevinJanuary 27, 2014 at 9:10 AM

    Colorful!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. magiceyeJanuary 27, 2014 at 9:43 AM

    Beautifully captured and presented!!! Loved it!

    ReplyDelete
  20. A Homemaker's UtopiaJanuary 27, 2014 at 10:49 AM

    Wonderful street art :-) Great shots Arti :-)

    ReplyDelete
  21. IanJanuary 27, 2014 at 11:11 AM

    Those are really wonderful street art, especially the witch! Great post!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Sabyasachi PatraJanuary 27, 2014 at 11:20 AM

    Pretty interesting stuff. Nice to see these. Often the street art talks volumes about the pysche of the people and is an indicator of the trends and beliefs. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  23. IndraniJanuary 27, 2014 at 12:43 PM

    Great series! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Sindhu Devi KJanuary 27, 2014 at 3:22 PM

    How creative the street is! Nice pictures!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anita SabatJanuary 27, 2014 at 6:57 PM

    Nice ones Arti :) Love the colorful stories through the bright pics :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. RajeshJanuary 27, 2014 at 7:49 PM

    very colorful.

    ReplyDelete
  27. smJanuary 27, 2014 at 8:16 PM

    beautiful in depth post

    ReplyDelete
  28. ErinJanuary 27, 2014 at 11:01 PM

    Great post. Very much enjoyed.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Someone is SpecialJanuary 28, 2014 at 1:16 AM

    Wonderful photographs. Great write-ups :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. ManiparnaJanuary 28, 2014 at 3:02 AM

    Amazing graffiti..Great post !

    ReplyDelete
  31. JeevanJanuary 28, 2014 at 9:04 PM

    simply amazing captures! your captions make it more interesting and guide on the arts

    ReplyDelete
  32. MohiniJanuary 28, 2014 at 10:34 PM

    I felt like I was there, while reading the article. Honestly speaking I am speechless....my mind is still wandering there. :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. ashokJanuary 28, 2014 at 10:42 PM

    Wow..this is so much like Brighton...Arti, did u see the post on brighton graffiti in my blog some months ago?!

    ReplyDelete
  34. indu chhibberJanuary 29, 2014 at 7:33 AM

    Wow Arti,what beautiful paintings-this is a total surprise.Whenever you show us pics of other countries i cannot but help comparing them with our countries--look at our lanes-when will we sudhrofy?

    ReplyDelete
  35. NasreenJanuary 29, 2014 at 4:32 PM

    Hai arti.. Amazing arts lanes.. Interesting....

    ReplyDelete
  36. RaghavJanuary 29, 2014 at 7:09 PM

    Brilliant captures... love street art

    ReplyDelete
  37. Krishna/കൃഷ്ണJanuary 30, 2014 at 10:35 AM

    beautiful photos...

    thanks

    ReplyDelete
  38. SatyaFebruary 3, 2014 at 9:33 PM

    very interesting artwork ... looks very vibrant indeed

    ReplyDelete
  39. RajlakshmiFebruary 6, 2014 at 8:09 AM

    The street art looks pretty cool. More than that I loved your words and the way you have described them

    ReplyDelete
  40. Deepa GopalFebruary 22, 2014 at 9:02 AM

    Beautiful Art...have seen some beautiful ones in Germany's lanes too but in tv though :)

    ReplyDelete
  41. UnknownApril 19, 2014 at 4:15 PM

    So much color and vibrancy there.
    Nice to see a desi Graffiti too.
    Journey going well.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Yogi SaraswatJanuary 27, 2015 at 4:02 PM

    They are beautiful street art Arti. So vibrant and rich in colors. I would love to take time and walk through such lanes admiring these art work! very interesting artwork ... looks very vibrant indeed

    ReplyDelete

Delighted you stopped by... Your suggestions, feedback are really appreciated. Thanks a lot :) Hope you visit again!

If you have asked a question, please give me at least 2 days to reply back. Thank you :)