Tatarstan's First Graffiti Festival

Some 60 artists from across Europe visited Kazan to transform public spaces during the city's first graffiti festival.

The artists had access to some 40 locations, including apartment buildings, bridges, and fences, totaling about 10,000 square meters of paintable surfaces. 

Some of the artists had the help of industrial cranes to reach the upper stories.

Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov (left) and Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin (right) tour the works in progress during the festival.

Organizer Anastasia Zakirova said that the participants were given no guidelines for their work, and could create anything they wanted.

A mural lines the edges of a reservoir near a central mosque.