Stencils & Pochoirs

Boya !

2010-01-17T10:25:00.000+02:00

Excuse Me I Think I am Naked

2010-01-16T10:24:00.000+02:00

Google Search - Graffiti Kings

2010-01-15T10:22:00.000+02:00

The King is Alive

2010-01-14T10:21:00.000+02:00

Kaos - Ashe

2010-01-13T21:20:00.000+02:00

Magic Hands

2010-01-12T09:11:00.000+02:00

Red Box

2010-01-11T09:18:00.000+02:00

FAO & Kripoe

2010-01-10T09:17:00.000+02:00

So Sad

2010-01-09T09:16:00.000+02:00

Elvis is Dead

2010-01-08T09:11:00.000+02:00

S2K

2010-01-07T20:49:00.002+02:00

W

2010-01-06T15:19:00.002+02:00

Eminönü, Istanbul

Monkey Says I love Istanbul

2009-08-25T11:00:00.000+03:00

I saw those one near the Tepebaşı district, right behind the Istiklal Near Taksim. On the first one you can see there's a fly near the lock. On the last one you can see the "Alexis" one. The ones in Kallavi street (3rd photo)have been erased.

Door Two : Fix One

2009-08-24T11:00:00.000+03:00

This is the other door from the parking lot entrance in Tepebaşı near Taksim. You still can see the BSK's and the Kont's but here there are more Fix One apparently.

Kont / BSK - All Together

2009-08-23T07:44:00.000+03:00

Kont / BSK - Face 2 Face - Number 11

2009-08-23T07:43:00.001+03:00

Kont / BSK - Fix - Number 10

2009-08-22T08:08:00.000+03:00

Kont / BSK - Daze - Number 09

2009-08-21T08:17:00.001+03:00

Kont / BSK - RED - Number 08

2009-08-20T08:16:00.000+03:00

Kont / BSK - Old School - Number 07

2009-08-19T08:14:00.001+03:00

Kont / BSK - Number 06

2009-08-18T08:20:00.000+03:00

Kont / BSK - Number 05

2009-08-17T08:33:00.000+03:00

Kont / BSK - Cadillac - Number 04

2009-08-16T08:26:00.001+03:00

Kont / BSK - Number 03

2009-08-15T08:12:00.002+03:00

Kont / BSK - Number 02

2009-08-14T08:21:00.001+03:00

Kont / BSK - Number 01

2009-08-13T08:12:00.005+03:00

Here is a series of 11 stencils done probably by the same guy(s). You can see them in Tepebaşı near Taksim on the Kasımpaşa side of the road at the exit of the Tepebaşı Parking Lot.
Most of them are signed Kont or BSK or Fix. I don't know what it stands for but if you have any infos on those ones, it would be cool. I'll post the general view at the end of the series.

Mayor of Istanbul

2009-08-12T08:27:00.002+03:00

This is a portrait of the actual mayor of Istanbul since 2004, Kadir Topbaş. He's from the AKP (Justice and Development Party). You have to know the symbol of the AKP (which is a light bulb) to understand the stencil. They replaced the light bulb with his head and let the rays of light around.
Those stencil where found in Cihangir respectively in Başkurt Street, in Somuncu Street and in Güneşli Street near Susam Street.

Bodega Skull

2009-08-11T08:30:00.004+03:00

In Taksim's back streets (Tosbağa Street and Akarsu Street) near Galatasaray High School, behind Ara Cafe. On the first picture,on the right down corner, you can read "Buraya çöp atan topdur" - You're gay if you litter here !!

Worth Less ?

2009-08-10T08:29:00.001+03:00

Think !

2009-08-09T08:30:00.001+03:00

Happy Lamb Dude

2009-08-08T07:48:00.000+03:00

Lolipop Army

2009-08-07T08:36:00.000+03:00

Nato Kills

2009-08-06T09:33:00.000+03:00

By the starbucks in Kallavi Street in Taksim.

Zero

2009-08-05T23:32:00.001+03:00

Back

2009-08-05T23:31:00.000+03:00

After a too long break, Stencils & Pochoirs is finally back !

BREAK

2009-04-14T10:14:00.002+03:00

Due to some human difficulties the updates have slowed down drastically here.

I'll be back soon, hopefully in the week.

Wall Paintings 07

2009-02-10T07:45:00.000+02:00

And we finally arrive at the other end of this narrow street with this excellent art piece done by an anonymous artist.

Wall Paintings 06

2009-02-09T07:44:00.001+02:00

Wall Paintings 05

2009-02-08T07:51:00.000+02:00

This one is in front of the Thai restaurant "Lokal".

Wall Paintings 04

2009-02-07T17:43:00.001+02:00

Wall Paintings 03

2009-02-06T13:42:00.001+02:00

Wall Paintings 02

2009-02-05T14:40:00.000+02:00

Wall Paintings 01

2009-02-04T05:24:00.002+02:00

This is in Taksim, near Tünel, in Müeyyet street, there is a long mural. Actually different murals. I will post them in the coming days. We'll go from right to left. It goes from cubism to graffiti by postcard style painting.

Colored

2009-02-03T08:02:00.005+02:00

I already posted about this one more than a year ago and instead of updating the post itself I decided to create a new one since it has grow up so much. It's everywhere, in all the Taksim, Cihangir, Maçka, Tophane area. I couldn't put all of them in here but you get the idea.

Whenever U Walk

2009-02-02T07:57:00.002+02:00

Found this writing in Turnacıbaşı street near the Istiklal Street in Taksim. I thought it was cool so I share it, it is so true.

Darth and Cie

2009-02-01T20:00:00.000+02:00

I found this recent one behind the Atlas Passage in Taksim. There are actually 3 different people. Two of which I don't know but look familiar. The first one being Darth Vader. Feel free to post a comment if you know who are the 2 others.

Freak Boy

2009-01-31T08:00:00.000+02:00

From the drawings post.

Paper Deer

2009-01-30T07:53:00.000+02:00

As promised here is the deer from the drawings posted yesterday. Done on paper and then glued to this metal box in Kartal Street.

Drawings

2009-01-29T07:53:00.000+02:00

These drawings are pretty recent and were found in Kartal street in Taksim. Along with some stencils (ninja, Lord Spyke, Liebe, the Bears, Mask and Dinosaur). I find them pretty cool. There is also a paper work related to the 4th picture, I will post about it tomorrow.

Ninja

2009-01-28T20:03:00.000+02:00

This ninja stencil can be found along some other stencils I posted about earlier or I will post about later on (the dinosaur, the mask, the bears, friends, Lord Spyke, Liebe and the drawings). Also found in the Taksim area.

The Bears

2009-01-27T07:52:00.001+02:00

Those bears surrounded by some trees were seen in the Taksim area along with some others (ninja, mask, dinosaur, drawings, Lord Spyke, Liebe, friends).

Dinosaur

2009-01-26T20:10:00.001+02:00

Again, along with the previous posted stencils (the masked one, the ninja, the bears, the drawings and the two friends) you can find this dinosaur. In Taksim, A4 formatted stencil.

The Mask

2009-01-25T08:02:00.003+02:00

This is a new stencil mainly seen in the Taksim area. Almost always seen along with the dinosaur, the dancing bears and the Ninja and the Friends. Probably all done by the same artist. Unfortunately, it was done every 3 meters and then loses its interest. I'll also post about the the

Lord Spyke

2009-01-24T07:55:00.000+02:00

As seen in an earlier post, this Lord Spyke stencil was mainly found in the Taksim/Cihangir area. This is an A4 formatted stencil and is always seen with the "Liebe" one next to it. On this wall, in Kartal Street, you can see other stencils I will post about in the coming days (drawings as well).

Guilty People Are Among Us

2009-01-23T08:00:00.000+02:00

I found this one in Cihangir. A4 formatted stencil. Probably from the same artist who did this one.

Fleeing Couple

2009-01-22T08:00:00.000+02:00

Found those ones in Cihangir. Very cute. Very similar to this one. 15x7 cm.

Liebe

2009-01-21T21:54:00.002+02:00

this one is pretty recent and is always next to the Lord Spyke one, I will post later on. A4 formatted stencil. mainly found in the Taksim/Cihangir area. It looks like a guy/girl pointing with a rifle.

Where Are You Now

2009-01-20T07:51:00.000+02:00

This is a huge one found in Taksim in Kartal Street again. You can see that each continent was made out of one stencil. each one is an A4 formatted board. About 100x70cm.

Handala

2009-01-19T08:06:00.000+02:00

You can spot this one in many districts of Istanbul. The first time I saw it, it was in the Fatih district, a very conservative and religious district of Istanbul, probably the most religious district. It represents a little boy seen from behind. I didn't really know what it represented until I saw this sticker in Taksim. Handala (Hanzala in Turkish) is the name of this 10 year old boy drawn by Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali (on the left on the sticker). Naji al-Ali was killed by a man in London in 1987. via Wikipedia : "Noted for the political criticism of Israel in his works. He drew over 40,000 cartoons, which often rflected Palestinian and Arab public opinion and were sharply critical commentaries on Palestinian and Arab politics and political leaders. He is perhaps best known as creator of the character Handala, pictured in his cartoons as a young witness of the satirized policy or event depicted, and who has since become an icon of Palestinian defiance".
Handala has the same age Naji Al-Ali had when he had to go into exile (message on the sticker).

Dot in a Rectangle

2009-01-18T07:34:00.000+02:00

About 20x7 cm.

Electric Chair

2009-01-17T08:32:00.000+02:00

I found this one in the Cihangir district. It's a pretty big one. About 120x60 cm. It's a well done one as well. It is surrounded by many other stencils and graffitis.

Roketto

2009-01-16T07:43:00.001+02:00

I found this one today while going to work. The first one in the Setüstü district and the second one in Gümüşsuyu near Taksim. About 20x30 cm.

Infinita

2009-01-15T15:54:00.003+02:00

I found these drawings mainly around the Tunel district by the Istiklal street.

Football Against Fascim

2009-01-14T19:48:00.001+02:00

I found this one in Şimal Street near the Şişhane district. A4 formatted stencil from unknown artist.

Nayır - Nolamaz

2009-01-13T07:45:00.000+02:00

This is taken from old Turkish movies. Turkish movies used to be dubbed and mostly by the same people and there was this man qyho added "N" at the beginning of some words. Nayır is actually "hayır" meaning "no". Nolamaz is actually "olamaz" meaning "it can't be".
I found this one in the street leading from Tunel to the Galata Tower.

One Line

2009-01-12T07:41:00.000+02:00

This is my first non stenciled post but since this website is also about street art I decided to finally post one. I saw this one in the Cukurcuma district near the Cihangir district in Taksim.
It's someone's face drawn with one line only. A pretty good job specially when you see the size of it.

Urban Guerilla

2009-01-10T07:52:00.001+02:00

Next to the previous posted stencil you can also see this one. It's a pretty good one too.

Corporation

2009-01-09T08:00:00.001+02:00

I particularly like this one of a business man portrayed as devilish but saint at the same time. The Paper it is sprayed on is part of the concept. I saw another one upper in the same street but it was at night so I don't have a photo but it's the same. This is in the street leading to the Galata Tower if coming from Tünel.
Thanks to Serhan, this is the reproduction of the poster from the documentary movie "The Corporation" from Directors Mark Achbar and Jennifer Abbott.

Conscientious Objection

2009-01-08T12:16:00.004+02:00

Found those in the Cihangir area. The first two are older version. You can see how it has evolved. The third one was found on the old pink wall where a dozen stencils took place. It is standing next to the Festus Okey stencil. This is a A4 formatted Stencil. "Ret" means "rejection". "Vicdani" means "of conscience". This is a A4 formatted Stencil.

Gübür

2009-01-07T08:09:00.000+02:00

I found this one near Tünel at the other end of the Istiklal street in Taksim. It must have taken a good time to carve those letters out. You can read the onomatopoeia word "gübür" many times that could probably be translated as "grumble" (thx Elif) or anything to express a noise. 30x30 cm.

Hell-o

2009-01-06T07:57:00.000+02:00

Found those ones in the Cihangir Park a few months ago. They're no more since they've torn the park down. The hands are of real size.

Tv Family

2009-01-05T08:01:00.003+02:00

I found those one representing a family with TV heads near Taksim by the Galatasaray H.S. (Bogaz Kesen Street). I erased the general view picture by accident so I'll try to go and get it quickly. 25x25 cm.

Ah !

2009-01-04T08:37:00.004+02:00

I like this leaking heart found in the Cihangir area by the stairs leading to the Findikli District. 40x30 cm.

Dali

2009-01-03T08:00:00.002+02:00

I found those ones of artist Salvador Dali in the Taksim and Cihangir area. A4 formatted stencil made by an anonymous artist.

Lonely

2009-01-02T08:00:00.002+02:00

I found this reversed stencil in Taksim near Tunel by the Asmali Mescit Street. particularly like thiso ne because of the reverse effect and the used colors. 150x50 cm.

Happy Face

2009-01-01T08:38:00.000+02:00

Happy New Year. Happy face found in Cihangir at the corner of Susam Street (Sesame street) and Guneş street (Sun Street). 30x25 cm.

Little Robot

2008-12-31T08:37:00.000+02:00

I don't know why I think this little guy looks like a robot... I found in Besiktas, 2 miles north of Taksim. 20x10cm.

No Gun

2008-12-30T08:02:00.004+02:00

This "No Gun" stencil was also found in Tunel near Taksim (same street as the previous stencil). 20x15 cm.

Fingerprint

2008-12-29T06:50:00.002+02:00

Big fingerprint found in Tunel near Taksim. This is actually a pretty good one, think of the work it must have taken to cut all the lines. The inscription below reads "Fişlenme!" meaning "Don't get filed". 40x30 cm.

Street Design Studio

2008-12-28T08:06:00.002+02:00

This one was made in Acara Street in Taksim at the corner from the Istiklal pedestrian avenue. On this wall there used to be a stencil of the music band Depeche Mode. All of them are gone now. Lower in the street you can find Alexis' ones. 15x15 cm.

Stars

2008-12-27T08:01:00.002+02:00

I saw this one in Cihangir behind the German Hospital (Gunesli Street). It represents 3 big stars. There is another one in the next street (Sogancı street). Done with A4 formatted stencil.

Heart to Brain

2008-12-26T07:48:00.000+02:00

I spotted this one in the Tophane district down at the corner of Meclis-i Mebusan boulevard and Salı Pazarı Yokusu. It was done pretty recently I guess because I've been there on scout not too long ago and I didn't see it. I really like the design of this one. The way it runs. 20x20 cm.
If you look well you can see a very small one on the second photo (on the right) representing a small "guy" standing still with a big heart linked to his brain as well.

Jesus - Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T07:18:00.000+02:00

I found this one of Jesus on the cross in Kartal Street in Taksim. In this street you could find many many stencils but most of them are gone now. There is a big nice fresco (a wall painting) now at this spot. You can see three other stencils on this photo. One of 645, one of the Chiquita banana and one of the band Kreş.

The Cockatoo and the Octopus

2008-12-24T15:03:00.004+02:00

I found this one near Cihangir while going down to Tophane by the back alleys (Findikli Yokusu).
This stencil represents a cockatoo and an octopus with the writing "Même Pas Mal" just below. It's French for "Didn't Even hurt". It's signed by O&C. Is the artist(s) French or going to the French school or just French speaking ? I don't know. This is the second stencil I find with French text.
Above this stencil you can see another stencil of Bruce Lee that I published a while ago.

Against Institutions

2008-12-23T07:36:00.001+02:00

I found this one in Tünel near Taksim. You can actually see many stencils on this wall on top of which a big graffiti was done. I will share about those stencils later on. I will also share about this graffiti and more, later. Today's stencil is on the right. It represents a man from the prehistoric era with a lance in his hand. On the side you can read "Kurumlar! Dağılın Lan!" which is actually not that easy to translate (for me). It means :"Institutions! Disperse!" or "move away". A socially engaged message actually done by an anonymous artist but it looks like Osman's work (here, here, here or here).

Euro Apartimani

2008-12-22T07:59:00.004+02:00

I found this one in Bogazkesen street near the Galatasaray H.S. It represents Turkish P.M. Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the left and what looks like Russian P.M. Valdimir Putin on the right, but I'm not sure. If someone could enlightened me. 50x40 cm.
In Turkey all the buildings have a name. This one is represented as the old (early 19th century) Beyoglu's buildings of european style.

Weather

2008-12-21T19:28:00.002+02:00

I found this little one (15x10 cm) in the Taksim area near the Tünel. In Babylon's street, in Sehbender Street.

Babalar

2008-12-20T07:58:00.001+02:00

A while ago, I posted a stencil of the number eight. On the same wall you could see this one with three faces. Who are they ? Three singers considered to be the best singers of the Turkish folk music (mostly Turkish folk and Ottoman classical music, with an arabesque style).

The one on the left is Müslüm Gürses, "Gürses" being a scene name meaning "strong voice". His talent and his special style have put him to a different place among other folk singers. In his songs he mostly expresses sorrow and painful feelings (listen here). He is considered a cult figure in Turkish folk music and has a very dedicated group of fans, most of whom being young, low-income urban people. He is mostly called Müslüm Baba ("Papa Müslüm") among them (wikipedia).

İn the middle, Ibrahim Tatlises (Sweet Voice), also known as Ibo (short for Ibrahim). One of Turkey's most prolific recording artists, hosts a popular television program İbo Show and has appeared in several dozen films. He is the archetype of the Turkish male, real macho man. Known for beating his wife(s).

Third one : Orhan Gencebay is a bağlama virtuoso, composer, singer, arranger, music producer, music director, and actor. Pioneer in Turkish music as he combined Arabic motives with the elements of Turkish classical and folk music. His music includes also psychedelic notions since he's also familiar with rock and jazz music. He also played in more than 30 films.

No Happy Love

2008-12-18T07:57:00.005+02:00

I particularly like this one because the one(s) who did it took the time to do a great job. This is a pretty big stencil (about 1m x 1m) and you don't find it every 10 feet around the neighborhood. This one was found in Akarsu sokak near the Indigo bar in the Taksim area. There were some other nice stencils in this street I will share later on.
The French writing underneath the girl's face reads :"there is no happy love" (Il n'y a pas d'amour heureux).

Skull-A-Day Tribute

2008-12-18T00:07:00.000+02:00

This one is for my friend Noah Scalin, who created the skull-a-day project. He did, created, invented, one skull, every day, for one year. As the holidays approach, you might be interested in buying his book SKULLS, for you or someone else ;)
I found this A4 formatted stencil of a punk skull in Akarsu sokak near the Galatasaray H.S. by the church. This is actually the church's wall.

Horsiphant

2008-12-17T07:46:00.000+02:00

This pink animal seems to be a mix of a horse and an elephant or a tamanoir. I also found this one in the Nişantaşı district. Its size is about 20x20 cm. It was made by Zübide, a young grafic designer. I think this is her first stencil.

Vali Konağı Boulevard

Dersane Street

On the Dolmuş (dolmoosh : minibuses) stop, I had to wait for the minibus to leave to take this photo.

Zafer Street

Süleyman Nazif Street

La Linea - Kreuzberg

2008-12-16T07:20:00.000+02:00

This one represents the little character from the Italian cartoon "La Linea" created by Osvaldo Cavandoli with the writing Kreuzberg. Kreuzberg is both the Turkish and trendy district in Berlin, Germany. The creator of this stencil is Daniel (a german psychiatrist), he actually lives in Kreuzberg in Berlin. You can find them in the Nişantaşı area. It's a pretty smaşş one, about 15x10 cm.

Dersane Street

Süleyman Nazif Street

"Temiz Şişli" means "A Clean Şişli", Şişli (sheeshlee) being the name of the municipality. Someone wrote "Çişli" (tcheeshlee) on the left side meaning "with pee". Underneath the writing, above the stencil, it says "Kirletriz" (mispelled) meaning "we'll litter".

Vali Konağı Boulevard

Kardeşimsin Alexis

2008-12-15T07:33:00.003+02:00

Those stencils are very recent ones and when I first saw them (on the Istiklal Boulevard and adjacent streets) I was wondering about this guy, of who he was. As I took photos I saw a guy 30 feet in front of me taking photos of the same things too. I was like :"there's nothing on those walls, what's he taking a picture of ?". He was taking a picture of the stencils and "posters" of this guy too until I realized they were (he was actually with a friend) the one doing this by gluing those on walls. But they were looking at me suspiciously as I was kind of following them and taking photos too. They just disappeared at a corner before I could ask them what it was about.

I found a website with more photos and the pattern for the sticker or/and stencil to download : http://kardesimsinalexis.blogspot.com/

Interested in photos of the riots, it's on my other blog.

Alexis (Alexandros) Grigoropoulos is actually the reason the Greek riots are happening since December the 6th. 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos was deliberately killed (according to the Chief of Police of Athens) by a special guard of the Greek Police, following an altercation between police and a group of youths in the Exarcheia district of Athens, Greece.

The writing below the image says "Kardeşimsin Alexis", meaning "You are my brother Alexis". This is a strong sign in Turkey if you know the relationship Turkey has with Greece, depending of course of who did this.

No School

2008-12-14T08:19:00.005+02:00

I found this one between the Cihangir (Djeehangear) and the Tophane District in the Ilyas Çelebi Street (Google Maps). The person on this purple stencil looks like a friend of mine, a girl who is crazy about purple but she's not a student. The stencil says : Okullar Açılmasa : If only schools wouldn't start. Its size is about 25x25 cm.

Done in front of a school:

School Entrance :

School Entrance:

In a back alley with the Gübür stencil above.

Drummer

2008-12-13T08:00:00.000+02:00

I think he looks like a drummer, don't you ? With his two cymbals in front and a microphone on top with a loudspeaker or/and amplifier. I found this one in Teşvikiye near Nişantaşı at the corner of Şakayık Street and Süreyya Ağaoğlu Street (google maps).

Burning Money

2008-12-12T07:49:00.002+02:00

Since it's the holiday here, I decided that today's stencil should be a different one. This one is from Seattle, sent to me by my friends Noah Scalin (skulladay, ALR Design). He spotted this in the neighborhood where he was staying. "It was a pretty residential areas, so this was basically on the edge of someone's yard, which was kind of crappy, but still a nice stencil (and small only 20cm long maybe)" he says. Excellent one anyway, thanks a lot to him.

Leg Shaving

2008-12-11T07:44:00.002+02:00

I saw this one recently in Bogazkesen Street near the Galatasaray H.S.right next to the tattoo place. You can see a hand shaving a hairy leg. Some Asian letters seem to appear under the hair.
The red letter and numbers you see on the left (P0931014) is the pipe's number.

Bruce Lee

2008-12-10T08:19:00.001+02:00

I found this one near the Italian H.S. between Galatasaray and Tophane on a door in a very narrow street. It's actually a pretty good one considering its size (about 15x15 cm). It's also a three layered one with black, yellow and orange. Did one of the students did that ?

Decco

2008-12-09T07:56:00.003+02:00

Decco (pronounce DeDjjo) seems to be a contemporary writer but also a photographer. Mystery man for me, I could not find the name(s) of his book(s). Anyway the guy seems pretty cool with his sunglasses and trendy hairdo. On the large photo you can also see a "colored" stencil. Section that I will update very soon.

Steps

2008-12-08T08:47:00.002+02:00

In Taksim, near the Galatasaray H.S. I found those steps going up the wall ! This is right accross the German Cultural Institute in Bogaz Kesen Street.