A popular form of street art, graffiti has been knocked down as vandalism and an urban blight for a long time. Born in the Güngören district on the outskirts of Istanbul, Ulaş Çelik, nicknamed the "Madman," is successfully showing how graffiti can change the lives of disadvantaged youth, including himself.Turkey's first graffiti agency "Boyalı Eller" (Painted Hands), founded by Çelik, introduces disadvantaged young people to social life by giving them an opportunity to earn a living and show their talents through graffiti, a form of art that is seen as illegal for many.Çelik was introduced to graffiti at a young age and it has since changed his life."If I had not begun making in graffiti, I would have had a completely different childhood and my life would have taken another direction. Obviously, there was no bright future for me because I did not excel in school," Çelik said. "In some case, parents do not plan your future. For example, if everyone in your neighborhood is taking piano lessons, you will also wind up taking lessons, however; piano lessons are not available on the street, which is where I grew up. On the streets there are drug dealers, thugs, killers and thieves and growing up in the back alleys, I saw them as role models."This is because the graffiti collecting is giving effort to introduce a better role model to similar young people through art."When I was drawing graffiti, I got involved in the hip-hop culture more and more. Once I adopted hip-hop culture as a way of life, I realized that graffiti, one of its subcultures, was a great fit for me. One particular graffiti piece that read 'Vatan,' or homeland, had a profound influence on me. It just fascinated me and triggered me to draw graffiti," he continued.Some members of "Boyalı Eller" painting a wall in Istanbul. With the group's founder, Ulaş Çelik (R), the collective has made a name with their successful design projects.Çelik initially made graffiti by painting the walls around his neighborhood of Güngören at night. "We used to go out and paint the streets anyway we wanted. The adrenaline we got at that time tied and attracted us to this task. It was becoming increasingly dangerous for us. In the end, our paths crossed with the Güngören Municipality," Çelik said.With the help of the then-Güngören mayor, Çelik and his friends got chance to do graffiti in public spaces."The municipality asked us to do what we wanted in a legal way. They offered us a place to make graffiti and bought materials for us, including 500 cans of spray paint. We were so happy then," he explained.Çelik said that while making graffiti, they also direct homeless children towards this art form as well as breakdancing."Indeed, these children need to be given toys in their hands. We have an alternative toy, which is spray paint. We are giving cans of spray paint to children so they can show the extent of their imagination. This is our way of giving back what we have received on the street. We are trying to extend the hands that were extended to us to others. We are also spiritually satisfied," he said.Seymen, a 14-year-old boy living on the streets, said he met Çelik four years ago."They used to make very nice graffiti. I also wanted to get involved in it. After I asked he said, 'Why not?'" Seymen said, adding that graffiti has kept them away from bad habits and that they were having fun. "He sometimes takes us to draw graffiti. He makes us get more involved in hip-hop culture and respect it, and helps us stay away from other things as we get closer to that culture."Umut, who is also living on the streets, said that Çelik always gives them advice."Çelik always tells us 'to get involved in hip-hop, stay away from bad things, be good and succeed.' Because rap soothes one's soul," Umut said.Eypio, a rap singer known for his track "Günah Benim" (The Sin is Mine), said that he met Ulaş Çelik in 2009."We were making hip-hop and they were making graffiti. We were not that far from each other since both of these art forms come from the same culture. They went to a studio and paint it so that I could record my tracks," the rap artist said.Recalling that the projects carried out by "Boyalı Eller" included hospitals, side roads, municipalities, stores and schools as well as walls, Eypio said, "If you come across a big graffiti project, we can say 'Boyalı Eller' was the mastermind behind it."Rap singer Emir Monoman also said that for those who do not know, graffiti is generally associated with vandalism and bad things but "Boyalı Eller" has changed this perspective."They are doing very artistic and easily digestible projects for people who are not familiar with this culture. I'm proud when people take photographs in front of the graffiti made by 'Boyalı Eller.' I believe they have turned Istanbul into an outdoor art gallery," Monoman said.