One of the most important aspects of street art is social engagement – involving passersby in your work. Creative projects around the world are bringing about visual and social transformation in dangerous or disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Some are fighting against “hostile architecture”. Others are sparking empathy between people of different backgrounds and genders. Here’s a list of artists whose projects and actions exemplify this ethos.
1. A group of local street artists called Germen Crew painted a 20,000 square meter mural across the facades of 209 homes in the disadvantaged district of Palmitas in Pachuca, Mexico.
2. Indians call it “Rapist Lane,” now a group of female artists launched the program “Talk To Me”, inviting strangers to sit at tables along the road and share their experiences.
3. Artist collective Outsiders Krew is working on #ShareTheWordProject, face-lifting slums worldwide.
4. INSIDE OUT is a global participatory art project initiated by the French photographer JR, which involves pasting giant portraits of ordinary people across the globe.
