Graffiti Hostel Officially Opens

Within the framework of The Graffiti Youth Art Festival, Graffiti Hostel opened its doors to guests on July 23, 2009. The economy-class hotel with 156 beds offers young travelers inexpensive boarding with European quality service.

The Graffiti Youth Art Festival was co-organized by the St. Petersburg Branch of the State Center of Modern Art and Montana Jam Youth Organization. The event was dedicated to the opening of the hostel. Young artists could not miss the chance of decorating the gray façade of the plain-looking building from all side in the graffiti technique and style. As many people watched, the artists created a 580 sq. m piece of art in the minimalist, suprematist, and constructivist manner, reminiscent, in particular, of the work of Dutch artist Piet Modrian. New technologies used during the event included the Queek Piqs high-speed performance technique, showing the work in progress on enormous plasma panels in real time as the picture was being painted before their eyes. The Graffiti Youth Art Festival included performances of hip-hop artists and beatbox performers who imitated the sound of the drum set in real time. Several people performing concurrently created the effect of an entire group performance. Break dance champions showed the unique battle show. To the music played by DJs, the dancers shared an open lesson with the audience. The event also featured an exclusive art on canvas exhibition by the leading graffiti artists from Russia and the CIS, created during the Meeting of Styles International Graffiti Festival, which took place in St. Petersburg in the fall of 2008. The event was held with the support of the Committee for Youth Policy and Relations with Public Organizations, the Committee of Urban Development and Architecture, and the Administration of Admiralteisky District.