Underground On the Ground

Authorities of Moscow often complain that the city is kinda gray and gloomy and it lacks some fresh and showy colors. So, in some way it’s true, the city is not so bright especially during fall and winter seasons. But not whole Moscow is like that.

There is one district, situated near Babushkinskaya subway station, which is totally different. Many houses in this neighborhood are splattered all over with graffiti. The campaign was organized by some Moscow real-state agency in 2007, and by now these bright drawings keep on satisfying the eyes of the inhabitants of this place.

And these graffiti are not just some tags or messy and unfulfilled works of unknown street artists. We can call them works of art. The pictures on the walls were made with the help of Dutch and Russian painters. Some drafts were even made by Brazil and American designers and then brought to life by the skilful Russian graffiti-drawers.

Though there is just one house with its side facing to the open street, it doesn’t strip the neighborhood of the freshness. The style of drawings is very distinctive and combines the elements of modern surrealism with speckles of fairy-like, cartoon and even true to life views.

By the way, this unusual approach to the animation of such dull “Khruschevka” houses also makes its contribution to the position of the hood. As you can see on the map, the district is situated between Yantarniy Passage and Izumrudnaya Street which in English mean: Amber Passage and Emerald Street.