Belarusian artist Gleb Kashtanov recently created a spectacularly symbolic mural “The Origins” in Polatsk, Belarus, a place known as the center of the ancient Belarusian statehood. The commanding symbol of a great sword growing into the soil is depicted on the front of a nine-story building. The sword has a three-dimensional feel, as roots and blossoms flow and swirl around it.
The mural was developed via the project ”Traditions for the Future,” which is sponsored by Belarusbank and Urban Myths, a street art team. The project is a series of motivating murals in Belarusian cities and towns that reflect the values of entrepreneurship and personal initiative through the prism of Belarusian legends and history.
“I was honored to be invited to create a mural for Polatsk that embodies this spirit and pays tribute to the rich history of the city,” said Kastanov.“I hope the mural tells the story of our strength and perseverance through powerful images and commanding representations of ancient artifacts.”
Kashtanov came up with the idea of the mural during a dream, with the final composition developed in collaboration with local historians.
A 10th century Viking sword is the key element of the picture. The relic is kept in the local museum and features a unique stamping “VLFBERHT” made by a European craftsman. The stamping signifies the integration of an ancient nation into European economic processes.The historians helped to reconstruct the sword for the mural’s creation.
Interestingly, the primary marking for the wall uses the quote from the ancient Russian annals, the Primary Chronicles, where Polatsk (Polotesk) was first mentioned in 862 AD. According the author, there are three basic components of the creation’s composition:
A sword in the soil: Symbolizes the beginning of statehood and peaceful development.
A trade road river: Symbolizes economic growth and prosperity of the ancient Belarusian statehood.
The Cathedral of Holy Wisdom: Symbolizes spiritual fundamentals. The oldest church in Belarus. Ancient Belarusians treated the church as a symbol of independence from other population centers of the ancient Vikings, also called the ancient Rus.
The fourth component, the personalities area is reflected in the tree roots, which display the faces of significant brave and adventurous Belarusian personalities who сontributed to the rich history of the country.
The mural is located at Doilid Ioann str. in the heart of Polatsk’s ancient district.
About the Project
The monumental mural “The Origins” is a part of the ambitious art project “Traditions for the Future.” The project is a series of motivating murals in Belarusian cities and towns that reflect the values of entrepreneurship and personal initiative through the prism of Belarusian legends and history. The project is being implemented by Belarusbank and the street art team Urban Myths.
Gleb Kashtanov: website | facebook | instagram
Signal Project: website | facebook
by Kat Kennedy via street art united states
Back to the Style is a graffiti and hip-hop event whose annual jams have been a fixture in the European style-writing calendar for well over a decade. Past writers have included such illustrious names as 
The festival has been an important part of the European graffiti calendar for over a decade. What factors have allowed you to be so consistent? The artistic choice has always been the fundamental pillar of the event. The key is the love for graffiti and the desire to share our passion and knowledge with the community. The Team has always worked to bring to Naples writers of the highest order, from the sacred monsters who have made history to the youngest talents who are doing it and will do it. “Knowledge is power” if you want to promote quality things. 
What help do you have from the local council and brands, if any? The main support we owe to brands such as Urban Jungle, Mapei, Montana Colors and Spectrum. This year Black Box and the International School of Comics of Naples have been added to the family and we hope to continue the journey with partners who will allow us to raise the bar of our cultural offer more and more. But basically we self-finance. During the year we produce our own merchandising. (
The selection of burners was absolutely first rate, as we have come to expect from BTTS. Which artists/crews participated? The list would be very long if you are referring to the last few years. We speak of more than 100 writers from all over the world. I am always excited to think about who has passed by here. CESISM, YES2, REVOK, RIME, TOTEM, DMOTE, MAST, JURNE, TOTEM, STAE, CUBA, just to name a few from the USA. But there are many: AROE, JAPON, SWET, RESO, BATES, GREAT, ROSY ONE, MUSA, SOTEN, FASIM, ROICE, SAWE, RAGE, TONES, PRO, DRUID, DIZER, DYRE, KID KASH, SERVAL, NOMAD, HEIS, FLYING FORTRESS, RIAM, to return to Italy, LUGOSIS, BRUS, SPICE .. and many others .. This year, KEO X-MEN from New York City, JAKE, RIOT1394, DEBZA, SOMEY, OJEY80, MOST, MIND, GIOSE took part in the event, in addition to the very talented locals of which our land is fertile. 
How do you choose the artists? Is there an open call or are they selected at your discretion? The writers have always been selected by the team. The first years were invited by Zeus40, in the last editions this arduous task has fallen to Tres. ☺ 
There is an important element of music and dance a part from the graffiti exhibition. Who was involved this year?
Music and dance are fundamental parts to share the culture at 360 ° with the local community. The BTTS is a moment of meeting between generations, between successful artists and young and talented artists. A mix of well-known and lesser-known graffiti writers, so for rap, breakdance and DJs, the philosophy is the same, to promote healthy competition to give space to the new. Kurtis Blow, La Famiglia, Speaker Cenzou, have been guests in the past editions with live concerts. In recent editions we have promoted DJ sets. Naples is fertile ground and we can count on the support of local realities that make noise throughout the national territory and beyond. DJs of the level of Uncino, Ekspo, Ciccio Sciò, were placed side by side by young talents such as Dj Lento for the rap area and Dj Frello for the breaking area. 
FUN FACT: This year, 
Have you any idea how many people came to see the graffiti jam and DJs in total? Ours jam is an open event, which takes place in a public park with free entry. So I can't give you precise numbers, it will be about 3000/4000 people in the three days, but I can say that the audience grows from year to year and the best thing is that it is more and more varied. We aim to share the BTTS with a broad and transversal community, not just lovers of the genre, so we can count on 
Do you have dates confirmed for 2023? There are no official dates for the 2023 edition, but stay tuned to our social networks for updates :) 
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