Vibrant Graffiti Transformations: Street Artist Dare Illuminates Berlin's Concrete Landscape

In the heart of Berlin, a street artist named Dared is making a name for himself by creating a cast of furry characters that recur across the city. Known for his works depicting the animals Phatty, Faye, and Batsy, Dared's art can now be found all over the world, from Texas to Paris, London, and Mallorca.

Dared's artistic journey began as a teenage graffiti artist in Marzahn, where he would tag on his own. After swapping nighttime graffiti for a degree in design, his passion for street art remained dormant for about a decade. However, Dared rekindled his passion after coming into contact with Graffiti Lobby Berlin and meeting street artists from around the world.

One of Dared's most iconic characters is Phatty, inspired by his friend's charismatic dog. Phatty has human-like attributes such as being cosy, sporty, and liking to dress up. Phatty's paste-ups began appearing in 2017, and Dared often came across urban foxes while putting up his pictures, which led to the creation of his next character, Faye the fox.

Faye was created to represent a figure that is in between the worlds of wild animals and people. According to Dared, Faye represents a character that is smarter than Phatty, who represents humans. Faye is often depicted holding a glass of wine, dancing, or reading, but has a deeper role in Dared's narrative. According to Dared, Batsy shadows Faye, ensuring her safety and protecting the balance of the mystical haven, the Red Forest.

Batsy, a new character in Dared's street art, is a bat with human-like attributes and represents vision in his world. Batsy is often depicted holding a glass of wine, dancing, or reading, but has a deeper role in Dared's narrative.

Dared conducts workshops for aspiring artists in stencil-making and character development. He has plans to introduce new characters, including a squirrel and an imaginative animal that he will develop entirely by himself.

Currently, Dared is working on the facade of a new cafe in Kreuzberg. You can follow his work and updates on Instagram at @dared.artist.

In most cultures, foxes have a positive meaning, and Faye was created to represent a character that is smarter than Phatty, who represents humans. Dared's goal is to create a mirror to society and to tell surprising tales around his heroes that draw people out of their everyday lives and struggles.

Dared often works alone and ventures out around 3am to put up his pictures, usually until the sun rises. As his art continues to grow in popularity, it is clear that Dared's characters will continue to captivate audiences and bring a touch of magic to the streets of Berlin and beyond.

Vibrant Graffiti Transformations: Street Artist Dare Illuminates Berlin's Concrete Landscape