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More than 100 artists from 28 countries have covered 2000 square
meter of walls at Rruga B (Street B) in the city with art at a
festival over the past three days.
This road divides old communist buildings on the west with new
ones on the east, which all have one thing in common - scant
space for public use and an abundance of concrete.
"When you see the concrete, it gives the impression that it is
still under construction," said Agon Xhelili, organizer of the
festival, Meeting of Styles Kosovo. "When artists see these
locations they say: ‘hell, this is the best place to paint’."
The non-profit organization of the same name, Meeting of Styles,
was created in the mid-90s in Germany, supporting artists who
could legally paint thousands of square meters of abandoned
areas.
Since its creation, it has organized more than 400 events such
as the one in Pristina, helping thousands of artists all over
the world.
Daniel Sharon, an artist from London participating in the event
with his brother, was painting motifs from the 1950s black and
white horror film, Creature from the Black Lagoon.
"I think it will be really positive (visually and for tourism)
if they allowed more public art murals," said Sharon.
After the war ended in Kosovo in 1999, the Balkan country saw a
boom in construction, though the government has said more than
70% of all apartments and houses were constructed without
official approval.
The government has promised to legalize most of them.
(Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
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