Two of Melbourne's famous graffiti lanes getting a new look - ABC Local

Updated November 08, 2013 16:10:32

Work has begun on the first complete makeover of the walls of two of Melbourne's famed lanes known for their edgy street art.

Hosier Lane and Rutledge Lane in Melbourne's CBD have been a venue for street art since the 1990s and have taken street art to the world.

The walls of the lanes have functioned as an unsanctioned, self-moderated exhibition site for local and international street artists.

Now more than 50 street artists are blacking out the walls and respraying it with their own work.

Organiser Dean Sunshine says the project will be completed in two stages over the next few weeks.

First they will paint over the art already on the walls.

Then artists will use scissor lifts to paint the top part of the wall.

At the end of November, the work will be completed at street level.

Mr Sunshine says street art is ephemeral and needs to change.

"There is a colour palette that we're working to but at the same time the artists do have free reign to paint whatever they want," he said.

"It's about uniting all the streets, bringing a gallery of art for everyone to enjoy."

In September, artist Adrian Doyle got council permission to paint Rutledge Lane blue.

But it only lasted 45 minutes before artists moved in and started painting over it.

Topics: painting, visual-art, popular-culture, melbourne-3000

First posted November 08, 2013 14:29:03