Schahrazade Halfaoui goes South to SE1 where the graffiti comes from.
Next to House of Vans near Waterloo, Leake Street tunnel is the go-to place for graffiti artists. Anyone is welcome to paint, spray and pretty much do anything they want in the tunnel, which first gained notoriety as the site of the Cans Festival organised by Banksy in 2008.
As an exhibition space for graffiti, the tunnel has a few house rules: no racism, no sexism, no adverts – and clean up after you’ve finished writing.
There is a regular turnover of graffiti artists who don’t mind working as you watch – although graffiti remains formally a criminal offence, in this particular spot the law has agreed to look the other way.
East London graffiti artist Ali Haman points out that the tunnel is a special place and that’s why it’s packed with people from all over the country. “When I want some timeout or therapeutic time I come here and draw my heart out. It’s the perfect place to escape everyday troubles and be yourself.”
So if you did not know this place existed you know now. But be careful, avoid painting in the afternoon – you don’t want gangs looking for mischief and free paint.
