Helmut Seethaler

This slips-of-paper-poet ('Zetteldichter’) was born in Vienna in 1953. He studied philosophy. Since 1974, he is responsible for spreading millions of poems on lamp posts, pillars, lanterns, trees and walls in the world.

For this, he received 23,000 hate and fanmails, various media attention, and 1,109 notifications and punishments for contamination, violation of public order, damage of property, hindrance of pedestrians, etc. 1,109 appeals, and 19 punishments were found legally binding.

According to the latest findings of the Supreme Court, his paper slips are to be acknowledged as art and they must be protected.

See also

Vienna CityPoem 2.

Inspiring Cities Museum of CityPoems

Inspiring Cities has collected many citypoems over the years, as well as organized salons with citypoets and cities doing special projects. We have two criteria for what a citypoem is: the intention must be poetic, and it must be in the public realm of cities. Shapes, form and locations can and do differ.