FMP Research: The Berlin Wall

Fig. 1 Berlin Wall Design I (author's own)

Fig. 2 Berlin Wall- 'Get Human' (author's own)

Fig. 3 Berlin Wall- 'Dawn of Peace' (author's own)

Fig. 4 Berlin Wall- Breaking Down Wall (author's own)

Fig. 5 Berlin Wall Design II (author's own)

Fig. 6 Berlin Wall- Faces (author's own)

Graffiti, to me is a form of protest, a form of expression, expression of politics, issues, views, emotions, personality, music, etc. Just an expression of life itself, and probably one of the most natural ways to voice it visually, through passion and aggression. Graffiti is a very strong art form, it is full of meaning and controversy, what you see you feel, and what you feel is never subtle.

The Berlin Wall is filled with messages either expressed through patterns, drawings or writing, and almost each and every one of them are a cry for freedom and peace, they are all fighting for some sort of change. My project is based on change and awareness, creating awareness about the portrayal of women in advertising, or in other words, highlighting what we are actually aware of.

With graffiti, it's usually either the colours used, or the size of the image that first gets your attention. Figure 1 and 5 are good examples of bright colours being used, whereas Figure 3 is an example of how a simple message can stand out by just using a contrast of two colours, even a simple white on blue works.

Figure 6 is an image of a beautiful section of the Berlin Wall, what I see is society being brought together but not in peace, but being forced to have a single mind. Being forced to follow rules and large groups of people without your views and feelings being cared for. I see sheep being herded in this image, towards the same path, through the same gates and with people that are made to be the same. People in society are different, and this is beautiful, what's even more beautiful is accepting those differences and living in harmony, what's important isn't having a single mind, but having a single heart as a society.