Someone In Berlin Came Up With A Creative Way To Fight Swastikas That Started Appearing On The Streets
Like the protestors in the 60’s putting flowers in the barrels of guns, some people know that the best way to fight against hate is with love, beauty and creativity.
Ibo Omari is one of those people. Through his NGO Die kulturellen Erben (The Cultural Heritage) he started Paintback, a campaign to turn hateful symbols and slogans on the streets into something fun and artistic.
Based in Berlin, Germany, the Paintback concept has so far covered up several swastikas around the streets of the city, as far-right groups in Germany begin to show signs of increased activity. Using simple designs and templates, the graffiti artists involved in Paintback hope to inspire others to respond to ugly hate messages in their cities, and make something beautiful out of them. Via a short video shared on social media, which went viral in Germany, the campaign has quickly spread to other cities in the country and beyond with others posting their own swastika alterations under the hashtag #Paintback.
Scroll down below to see some of the examples of Paintback at work, be inspired, and don’t forget to vote for your favourite!
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Reminds me of this art book .. I wonder if burne Hogarth also painted over a swastika. 516xVoz5sd...861ade.jpg
As an Indian this makes me sad... wanna elaborate on my feelings but guess they are pretty obvious..
I can just imagine the artist walking down the street and seeing a swastika and going, alright I see how it is. *angrily putting down backpack and taking out spray paint cans and face mask* Can't even take a walk without this b******t...
There is an elderly woman in Berlin who is doing something similar with stickers and paint. She just goes out everyday and covers up hateful symbols with beautiful things. She herself lived through Nazi Germany and it's a great story if you have CNNGO you can find it on there.
A clever idea with interesting art as the result. On the other hand, if I were in a hurry, I'd simply slop some paint on to cover the offending symbol.
It's a pitty the Swastika was adopted by Nazis in the 30's and lost its original - 15 thousand year old, at least- meaning. From from Japan, India (today) Mesopotamia or the Basc "Lauburu" it has been used in a positive way almost in any prehistoric culture. I like swastikas, not Nazis.
Nice artwork.... and really creative doodles! .... but I feel bad that a symbol of prosperity for the Indian people has gathered world wide notoriety as a symbol of hate and genocide. Why can't the world perform the cleanse and start recognising the Swastik symbol for what it is, I.e a good luck symbol and one of hope and wellness...
I Love the results <3 Yet it is terrible that the swastika is associated mainly with Nazism (for those who do NOT know - Hitler didn't invent it)
This is a good idea. How come all but one of the swastikas have a black bar across them?
The swastika is an antient indian and euro-asian symbol which happens to appear even in pre-Columbus America. You don't really need to censor it... seriously.
The swastika is NOT a "hateful" symbol. It is an ancient symbol that reverenced the cosmos, which has been converted to symbolize hate. In reality it represents the big dipper or big bear circling the north star, to help the ancients map the sky, and is the foundation of stellar cartography and maritime navigation. We should really take it back instead of erasing it.
Are some people so sensitive that the swastikas need to be censored like graphic porn?
This isn’t Nazi swastik. It is Hindu’s instead which is made on cars, walls which symbolises growth and wealth.
As an Indian this makes me sad... wanna elaborate on my feelings but guess they are pretty obvious..
I can just imagine the artist walking down the street and seeing a swastika and going, alright I see how it is. *angrily putting down backpack and taking out spray paint cans and face mask* Can't even take a walk without this b******t...
There is an elderly woman in Berlin who is doing something similar with stickers and paint. She just goes out everyday and covers up hateful symbols with beautiful things. She herself lived through Nazi Germany and it's a great story if you have CNNGO you can find it on there.
A clever idea with interesting art as the result. On the other hand, if I were in a hurry, I'd simply slop some paint on to cover the offending symbol.
It's a pitty the Swastika was adopted by Nazis in the 30's and lost its original - 15 thousand year old, at least- meaning. From from Japan, India (today) Mesopotamia or the Basc "Lauburu" it has been used in a positive way almost in any prehistoric culture. I like swastikas, not Nazis.
Nice artwork.... and really creative doodles! .... but I feel bad that a symbol of prosperity for the Indian people has gathered world wide notoriety as a symbol of hate and genocide. Why can't the world perform the cleanse and start recognising the Swastik symbol for what it is, I.e a good luck symbol and one of hope and wellness...
I Love the results <3 Yet it is terrible that the swastika is associated mainly with Nazism (for those who do NOT know - Hitler didn't invent it)
This is a good idea. How come all but one of the swastikas have a black bar across them?
The swastika is an antient indian and euro-asian symbol which happens to appear even in pre-Columbus America. You don't really need to censor it... seriously.
The swastika is NOT a "hateful" symbol. It is an ancient symbol that reverenced the cosmos, which has been converted to symbolize hate. In reality it represents the big dipper or big bear circling the north star, to help the ancients map the sky, and is the foundation of stellar cartography and maritime navigation. We should really take it back instead of erasing it.
Are some people so sensitive that the swastikas need to be censored like graphic porn?
This isn’t Nazi swastik. It is Hindu’s instead which is made on cars, walls which symbolises growth and wealth.