First impression entering Warsaw was the contrast between all of the green and the graffiti. The country as a whole is almost 50% covered in grass and trees and that was obvious by the parks we passed leaving the airport. As we came on to more buildings there was a lot of graffiti which I thought was really interesting because there seems to be no attempt to cover it up, like there would be in America. The difference between how natural the city is and the harsh, modern and artistic graffiti makes an interesting setting and gives me a sense of life here. I couldn’t understand why they let the graffiti stay, likely it outgrew what the city could cover up in a timely manner, but I was also interested in the why it was there. My interpretation of it, after learning about the history of Poland and Polish Jews is this: The citizens are trying to break free from their history and show there is life here. Poland is so associated with the Holocaust and is constantly viewed for its history, meaning people forget there is life and growth here. Warsaw is so much more than an epicenter of the Holocaust. It is a beautiful city that is flourishing with life and culture. There’s a strong city life, people are constantly walking the streets, riding bikes and walking dogs just as any normal city would, because that’s what it is. The Warsaw history is important to remember but its also important to move on and let the city breathe and to have a new beginning. Which is what I believe the citizens are attempting to do through art in the form of graffiti.
