Pärnu street artist: young people now have more legal ways to learn graffiti

Pärnu artist Kristjan Tamm, who works under the name Kryptik, entered the graffiti world at a time when the internet was still rare in Estonian homes. During school computer classes, he searched for American graffiti websites and tried to recreate what he saw from memory. His earliest pieces went up on abandoned buildings and ruins, and by his own admission, the results weren't very good at first.

Although Tamm never got into trouble with police — he was careful about choosing where to work — he says the landscape has since changed considerably. Young people no longer need to sneak out at night to find a place to practice, since various workshop formats now exist, including ones Tamm himself runs at youth centers.

From classic graffiti to modern street art

While Tamm's roots remain firmly in classic graffiti — particularly the lettering tradition through which artists develop their name and personal style — street art as a whole has broadened considerably, with a wider range of paints and tools now available. For his murals, which can take one to three days to finish depending on size, he carries a large suitcase packed with spray paint. Weather poses a practical challenge, since rain can derail an outdoor workday, so he checks the forecast every morning. Outdoor work pauses during winter, though he continues working indoors year-round.

Commissions and recognition

Today Tamm mainly works on commissioned murals, with the location and client's wishes shaping each piece. Animals and birds appear frequently in his work, and one of his more unusual projects turned a wastewater pumping station into an aquarium-themed mural. Several years ago, Tamm received the Pärnu City Cultural Award, which he called unexpected but also a sign of how much street art's standing has changed in Estonia.