An art form that was once shunned by mainstream society and classed as vandalism is now being embraced in a coastal Georgian town and celebrated in a festival.
In the quaint Black Sea coastal town of Batumi street art is blooming.
Wherever you look you’re bound to see an odd mix of traditional graffiti that clashes with stencil art or colourful 3D chalk drawings that engross and entertain the public. What’s more is that in the city’s most unexpected places you can find many abstract things; attempts at art, excerpts from works of literature and eternal words of wisdom sketched onto street walls.
At the most unexpected places you can stumble across many abstract things, attempts at art or excerpts from works of literature. Photo by Batumi Grafikart Festival Facebook page.
One of the most striking creations is a piece of 3D street art depicting the traditional tale of Jason of the Argonauts removing the Golden Fleece after overcoming the sleepless dragon with a potion, given by Princess Medea. Georgia has long been associated with the legend of Jason and the Argonauts, who ventured to Colchis (modern day Georgia) to retrieve the Golden Fleece.
This 3D street art depicts the legend of Jason of the Argonauts removing the Golden Fleece after overcoming the dragon with a potion. Photo by Georgia About Facebook page.
For Batumi, a city that embraces modernism, is the home of a new festival dedicated to graphics and urban art. The festival, called Batumi Grafikart, will be held from August 23-27.
See how the same place looks before and after the touch of the street artists in Batumi. Photo from Batumi Facebook page.
Co-organised by the gallery L'Attrape Rêve and Dotcomma, this artistic event is supported by Batumi city and the Georgian Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection. Its purpose is to bring together artists of international and Georgian artists currently on the scene and present their work for the first time at a major group exhibition that includes live performances and mural paintings on all walls of the city.
Urban art strikes with its creativity. The piece from the Vakhtang Gorgasali Street, Batumi. Photo from Batumi Facebook page.
Story of Jason and Medea in its modern, street art interpretation. Photo from Batumi Facebook page.
During the festival an exhibition of paintings created by Georgian and French artists is planned to be held at Batumi’s Trump Tower and Alphabet Tower.