Street Art

Street art is a contemporary genre that is often overlooked. This art style was dosed in surprises throughout the trip due to its spontaneity, with bursts of vibrant paint and the warm glow of neon lights popping out at any given moment. Most of the imagery showcased on this page resides in the 798 District, an art district, in Beijing. What once was a nuclear factory is now home to shops and a plethora of art.

These compositions not only give insight into potential eye-grabbing trends, but also into individualized experiences and emotions. Some may view the "I WAS HERE" piece as nothing more than vandalism, while others may view it as another human exclaiming their existence, hoping to evoke an emotion out of the viewer. Through imaginative figures and simple phrases created by anonymous artists, we are able to share an unspoken connection that resonates across continents. I believe the inherent nature that provokes individuals to create street art can be traced back to prehistoric times when our ancestors would use cave walls as their canvas. The messages and compositions may morph into something new, but the subconscious desire for human connection has never strayed.

Top left: a zodiac wheel spotted in Xi'an. Top middle, top right, bottom left: graffiti scattered throughout the 798 District. Bottom right: a sliver of this tree in Xi'an was filled with vibrant paints, then outlined in LED lights.