Street art on the rooftops of Paris

Walls and rooftops in different parts of Paris are tagged to varying degrees. Graffiti artists are known as street artists. They are also true acrobats, gaining access to these surfaces at a premium despite the danger involved. In this sense, street-art is one of the few artistic movements in which young people are prepared to risk their lives to practice their art. What motivates them? A thirst for adrenalin? Passion? Or is it simply a challenge?

French duo Ella and Pitr are street art enthusiasts. In 2019, they embarked on a huge project to paint a gigantic elderly person towering over the noisy hustle and bustle of the nearby ring road. The work will stretch over the roof of Pavilion 3 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, covering almost 2.3 acres. The duo will have covered the surface area of four soccer pitches with paint.

For 23-year-old artist Pangol, vertigo is a thing of the past; according to him, once he's at the top of the buildings, it's imperative to stay focused and pay attention to his every move, as the slightest misstep could cause him to fall. Pangol and his gang manage to climb to the roofs of Paris via scaffolding, taking care not to activate the security alarms.

These street art enthusiasts have also gone so far as to steal keys from letter carriers, which can be used to open almost any building, or even to open the gates of the metro.