Vibrant alleys of Berlin enlivened by street artist Dared's vivid creations
In the vibrant streets of Berlin, a local artist known as Dared has been making a name for himself with his unique cast of furry characters that can now be found all over the world.
Dared, whose street art career began as a teenage graffiti artist in Marzahn, found inspiration in the city's diverse street artists through Graffiti Lobby Berlin. His first character, inspired by his friend's French bulldog named Phatty, was the starting point of a journey that would take his art to cities like Texas, Paris, London, and Mallorca.
Phatty, in Dared's world, is a cartoon version of his friend's dog, complete with human-like attributes such as being cosy, sporty, and liking to dress up. Another character, Faye the fox, was born from Dared's encounters with urban foxes while putting up his Phatty pictures. Faye, a female character, represents a bridge between the worlds of wild animals and people, often associated with positive meanings in various cultures.
Batsy, a new character in Dared's series, is a goofy and science-oriented bat. Batsy shadows Faye, ensuring her safety and protecting the balance of the Red Forest, an imaginary land inhabited by Dared's characters. Batsy is often depicted reading, representing vision in Dared's world.
Together, Phatty, Faye, Batsy, and potential future characters form a harmonious tapestry, intertwining nature and humanity. Dared's goal is to create a mirror to society and surprise the audience with tales around his heroes.
Currently, Dared is working on a private piece for a cafe in Kreuzberg. He also holds workshops for aspiring artists in stencil-making and character development. The city of Munich was chosen by Dared from Germany as the first outer city for his street art, with the first characters of his works appearing there in 2010.
Dared walks around looking for inviting spots to paste his characters and heads out at night to brighten those spots. His paste-up Phattys began appearing in 2017, and his work continues to bring a touch of whimsy and wonder to streets worldwide.
