Vibrant Metropolis: Street Artist Dared Illuminates Berlin's Urban Landscape

In the vibrant streets of Berlin, a unique cast of furry characters has taken residence, thanks to the talented street artist known as Dared. These anthropomorphic creatures, including French bulldogs, foxes, and bats, can be found adorning walls across the city.

At the heart of this menagerie is Phatty, a character that represents humans, with human-like attributes such as being cosy, sporty, and dressing up. Phatty's creation was inspired by Dared's friend's charismatic French bulldog. Phattys began appearing in 2017, and Dared often worked alone at night to put them up on Berlin's walls.

Another character, Faye the fox, symbolizes the boundary between wild animals and people. Faye's creation was inspired by urban foxes Dared encountered while putting up his Phatty pictures. In most cultures, foxes have a positive meaning, and Faye embodies this, serving as a mirror to our society, according to Dared. The figure of Faye in Berlin was created by the artist Rocco und seine Freunde, and the figure was established around 2020.

Batsy, a new character created by Dared, is goofy and science-oriented, representing vision in his world. Batsy shadows Faye, ensuring her safety and protecting the delicate balance of the Red Forest, an imaginary land created by Dared. Batsy is often depicted holding a book, while Phatty is pictured with a glass of wine, and Faye is depicted dancing.

Dared's goal is to create tales around his heroes that surprise the audience and draw them out of their everyday lives and struggles. His work, which leans towards Japanese anime, is also influenced by anthroposophical art and his time spent living in India.

In addition to his existing characters, Dared has plans to create new ones, including a squirrel and an imaginative animal that will be developed entirely by him.

Dared's passion for street art remained dormant for about a decade before he re-engaged with it through Graffiti Lobby Berlin. Today, his characters, including Phatty, Faye, and Batsy, are now all over the world, with pastings in various cities such as Texas, Paris, London, and Mallorca.

Currently, Dared is working on the facade of a new cafe in Kreuzberg, continuing to bring his unique and captivating characters to life in the heart of Berlin.