Top 5 in five: Melbourne Street Art.

February 2014, Melbourne, Victoria.

Melbourne's lanes and alleyways were notorious in Victorian times as the City's worst slums, and cesspits of crime and deprivation. They now feature prominently as one of the major tourist crowd pullers in a city with no shortage of things to see and do. And it's all down to its burgeoning Street Art. Don't mistake it with tagging and illegal graffiti. That's strictly for the amateurs. Here's five of the best ways to enjoy Melbourne's free outdoor art galleries.....



In five words:
FANTASY, COLOUR, FREEDOM, EXPRESSION, LEGAL.

1. The World of Fantasy Art (Hosier Lane)

Hosier Lane is a great place to start in your search for Melbourne's finest. It's just a five minute walk from Flinders Street station, and has become a bona fide tourist attraction its own right. If you can fight your way past the hordes of camera snappy Asian tourists, there's the highest concentration of street art on this back lane than anywhere in Melbourne. Maybe even the world. Hosier Lane takes you into a delightful world of fantasy in an explosion of colour. The street has recently been given a complete street art makeover (maybe a world first?) and whilst the street artists and graffiti purists may not totally approve of a structured and planned approach to their art form, the impact is terrific for the casual middle class observers like myself. I particularly like how they've now gone vertical. 

2. Hip Hop and B-Boys (Fitzroy)

 

The sites are spread out and it's best to download a map and mark it up with individual sites found on a google search. You're then fully armed to enjoy a full morning or afternoon sight seeing, zig zagging across Brunswick Street as you go. If Hosier Lane is one big fantasy street scape, then Fitzroy is a throwback to the old school world of graffiti. Hip Hop Don't Stop. Criminal Minded. 2 legit 2 quit. I love KRS-One peering round the street corner, the Harlem Globetrotters and the shout out to Jam Master Jay. Respect.

3. Shops and Homes. 

Crime clearly pays. Judging by how many pieces of street art have recently been commissioned by shop and home owners across the city. The irony. A few years ago the owners would have called the cops if graffiti had appeared within one hundred yards of their property for fear of a property price crash. Now it's called Street Art, all is forgiven. Time to get my street art themed house re-valued yet? Yes please, cha-ching.

 

4. Wedding Backdrops
It's all the rage. A civic wedding ceremony in the city, followed by bridal photographs in the Park graffiti infested alleyway. Pop down to lane near you at the weekend and the wedding parties are queuing up to take their turn. I think I uncovered the worst wedding shot of all time in the process. Girls what were you thinking. Never ever trust a photographer in a full leopard skin suit. Girl Power. Ahem.

 

5. Degraves Street
It's probably Melbourne's most famous alleyway, tucked away between Flinders Street and Collins street. The art work isn't that inspiring to be honest. But it gets on my list as it was my first ever taste of the street art scene, and I love this photo. My wife Alison rues that day. She now has to indulge me whenever we are in town.



Degraves Street. Full on graffiti experience. Maybe not street art.  But it kind of works for me.