We Were Pioneers

mural

We Were Pioneers

Our mural, born from a sense of pioneering spirit, sought to transcend borders and history, uniting diverse communities through a shared vision of hope and transformation.

A pioneer movement, under the purview of the Yugoslav Communist Party, enrolled children from elementary school into their ranks, with the expectation that they would transition to full-fledged Communist Party members as they reached adolescence. It was a mandatory journey, and upon completing our first grade, we too became pioneers, an initiation neither our parents nor ourselves had a say in, as it was obligatory, much like it was for generations before us.

During our childhood, this held immense significance. For instance, my elementary school bore the name of a local World War II hero, and we were well-acquainted with the tales of his life, family, and legacy. Thus, on notable school occasions, the wife of a WWII hero held a position of honor, occupying the front row during school plays and events.

Such iconography permeated our daily lives, with us pioneers offering salutes to the flag, donning red flags, pins, and neckerchiefs. It was all a part of the tapestry of that era. We conjectured that these youngsters from Munich had likely never encountered anything like it. So, we resolved to gift them something entirely distinct from their usual street art experiences—an image that would convey the semblance of a creation by one of our own school teachers, a touch of our school-day spirit.

The Local Police

At around 2 AM, a police car made its appearance, and as we were approximately 75% through our work, a German police officer approached me and requested that I descend from my position of leadership.

In response, I explained that we had been informed that this area in Munich was designated for graffiti and permitted our creative endeavor, further noting that we were equipped with worker's vests, as we were operating alongside the road.

One of the policemen then clarified that we had inadvertently chosen the wrong wall, as this particular one was off-limits and strictly prohibited.

Inquisitively, the German officer inquired about our origin, to which I replied, "Serbia." This declaration left him momentarily stunned as he exchanged a bewildered glance with his colleague before returning his attention to me.

His advice was succinct, "You should create your graffiti when there are no police around."

To which I asked, "So, does that mean we should finish this?"

Affirmatively, the German officer replied, "Yes, when there are no police around," and with that, they departed from the scene.