slothis · English

Arbat Street in Moscow: Haven for Street Artists

2016-05-31 · Updated: 2026-08-11 · Original (Korean)

This article was translated from the original Korean post with AI assistance. Read the original Korean post →

After passing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, I arrived at my new destination for the afternoon: Arbat Street. It's a street for youth and artists, giving off a vibe similar to Hongdae (a vibrant arts district in Seoul). I could hear music even before stepping into the entrance. The street is filled with spontaneous performances, from passionate one-man plays to guitarists showcasing their musical talents.

View of Arbat Street with people walking.

Arbat Street has plenty of food and street performances, but it also features the memorial wall of Viktor Tsoi, whom many Koreans know not for his songs, but just for being of Korean descent. I hadn't actually listened to his music myself, but I remembered seeing a few documentaries about him, so I at least knew who he was. Looking him up a bit more on the way here, I learned he wasn't just a famous singer, but an incredible musician who sang about freedom and love during the Soviet era. Furthermore, he reportedly disliked being labeled simply as a rock musician in the Soviet Union. He was someone who wanted to be recognized solely for his music.

They say that if you really want to appreciate the songs of 'Kino,' the band Viktor Tsoi was in, you absolutely have to read the lyrics.

Wall full of colorful graffiti and people walking past it.
The Viktor Tsoi memorial wall on Arbat Street
Close-up of a graffiti wall with human faces and lettering.
Portrait graffiti painted on an old wall.
Next to the street of Viktor Tsoi, who led the music scene 30 years ago, many artists—both young and old—are connecting with people in their own unique ways.
Black-and-white portrait photo and graffiti on a wall, and a hand touching the wall.
Graffiti wall covered with various lettering and drawings.
Bouquet of flowers placed in a small crevice of a graffiti-covered brick wall, with cigarette butts scattered below.
Because he loved smoking during his lifetime, people leave cigarettes instead of incense for him. And a homeless man who tried to sneakily steal and smoke one got cursed out completely.

If there's a difference from Korean street culture, it's that our so-called busking culture is heavily focused on music, specifically bands or pop songs. On the other hand, the busking you see in Moscow is incredibly diverse, including one-man plays, speeches, bands, traditional instrument performances, live painting, violin playing, and club DJing. People of various ages and races showcase their own art to the public. While in Korea you might find artists swayed by the gaze of others and audiences judging whether they are good or bad, here, busking is very simple and clear: even if a singer hasn't memorized the lyrics and sings while looking at their phone, people will pay if they watched and enjoyed it.

You can't say one culture is better or worse than the other, but it's such a free and equal street that if I were a professional performer, I'd definitely feel the urge to try busking on Arbat.

Large mural of a person in uniform painted on the exterior wall of a building, with a Starbucks sign below it.
A photo that perfectly captures present-day Russia
Antique white building exterior on Arbat Street.
Woman wearing sunglasses standing and holding a microphone on a balcony with a white sign.
A DJ playing music that made every passerby stop in their tracks
Several young people gathered in a circle holding hands in the middle of the street.
B-boying
Street view of people passing around an arched sculpture and a statue of a walking person.
Woman performing with passionate gestures while standing on a small square block on the street.
The most unique one-man play. It's a shame I couldn't understand the lines; it would have been even better.
Elderly woman sitting by the roadside playing a traditional string instrument, with an instrument case and crutches placed in front of her.
And the grandmother who I thought was the most professional on this street. While others received coins, she put on such an overwhelming performance that she constantly received paper bills.

This place is like an open art competition. They might not be on TV, but they are in a competitive relationship, watching and marveling at each other's performances. If you feel like there's no place like this in Korea, head to Moscow. The Arbat I saw is wide open to artists.

Expenses based on 1 person / might be for 2

Total expenses 6,140RUB

Total trip expenses 525,936 KRW + 18,491RUB + $53.16