The subway has literally floated into Linz. The wagon came on a truck and was lifted into place with the help of a crane. Without wheels. But she shouldn’t drive anyway. Directly on the Industriezeile is the subway train, which offers space for 100 people standing, sooner or later the new tourist information point for the graffiti gallery. “We want to use it multifunctionally,” says Mural Harbor boss Leonhard Gruber.
The railcar, which was still in use in Munich until a year ago, as evidenced by the Covid sticker attached, will not only become a meeting place for guided tours and workshops in the internationally renowned graffiti gallery in the port, but also an art object.
This not only fulfills a dream that Gruber has had for more than three years, it also closes a circle, so to speak. Because in the 1970s, it was trains on which the first colorful graffiti rolled from the hotspots of New York and Philadelphia to every corner of America, thus making the still new art form known throughout the country. Within the city limits, it was mainly the S-Bahn and U-Bahn that became mobile galleries – the rest is history.
Following the American example, the first trains were soon painted in Europe. What few people know: Munich was at the forefront here. When hip hop culture flourished in the Bavarian state capital, it was only a short way to Upper Austria.
The Series A railcar for the Munich U-Bahn was built in 1983, is 18.5 meters long and is one of a total of 194 cars that were built. 20 have already been retired, one has now found its way to Linz. In addition to Gruber, who doggedly pursued the idea for years, the first Linz subway was possible thanks to the support of Stadtwerke München, the Munich transport company, LINZ AG and a one-time investment grant from the Linz City Council.
From now on, the old wagon will be used as a canvas, as a steel art mediator, intended to symbolize the old harbor and industrial charm. The onslaught of graffiti sprayers is great, as Gruber says in the OÖN interview. He wants to try to lure well-known train sprayers to Linz. The Mural Harbor boss is certain of one thing: “The Linz subway will write its own history.” That’s a good thing. Because a subculture cannot and should not be curated.
Source: Nachrichten
