Graffiti South Africa The definitive African graffiti and street art website.

Graffiti by Skarz in Madagascar…

Pics courtesy of Skarz

The small crew of Chaoze One, Rebelz, Michael Fritz, Lutz Zaumseil and filmmaker Julia Dragon were recently involved with a project in the East African country of Uganda. They are from Viva con Agua, a charity organization that is involved with the creation and support of drinking water sources in developing countries. Along with partners, the World Hunger Relief, the organisation helps with the construction and rehabilitation of wells and spring mounts

Some members of the crew are artists and have painted these graffiti pieces on their visit thus far:

Source: Viva con Agua

LAZER X SCAPE X SMET X CROS

GLOCKERS PRESENTS: LAZER X SCAPE X SMET X CROS from Glock on Vimeo.

http://www.glockstars.blogspot.com/

Sketch Warz & Life Check present…

Shhh… Artists Drawing! - A live art battle

10 artists, 1 winner, R1000 cash in hand.

Where: Green Hub, 31 Steibel Place, Blue Lagoon, Durban
When: Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Time: 5pm - 9pm
Price: Free

Additional Info for Participants:

• Each artist receives 3x markers:
  1x skinny marker, 1x average chisel marker, 1x fatty.
• Black paint & markers provided, bring any additional stationary. Brushes may be used with the black paint.
• Canvas of 1m x 1m is provided.
• Judging: Wild card drawn from the crowd.

Sponsored by LIFE CHECK Youth Development Initiative

Participating Artists:

• Mpilo Manzini
• Bobby Cross
• Natalie Fossey
• Wesley Van Eeden
• Claude Chandler
• Samantha Brooke
• Jono Hornby
• Tyran Roy
• Murray Cowan
• Michael Leggat
• Travis Cottrell (Reserve)
• Sifiso Snyire Nyirenda (Reserve)

>> RSVP on Facebook

Also, check out the blog:

www.sketchwarz.blogspot.com/

We are all Khaled Said – Berlin Wall from Traverse Streetcultures on Vimeo.

Khaled Said, a symbolic figure and the face of the revolution in Egypt, was recently awarded the Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation‘s Human Rights Award 2011 together with Slim Amamou from Tunisia in Berlin on September 19th 2011. The tragic death of the Egyptian Internet activist, rapper and blogger sparked massive protests, with the Facebook page “We are all Khaled Said” becoming a strong force within the revolution.

Many have paid tribute to Khaled Said with graffiti, street art murals and stencils in Cairo and Alexandria where he died on 6 June 2010 - brutally beaten by policemen. At the award ceremony in Berlin, he was honoured by having his portrait painted by German artist Andreas von Chrzanowski aka Case from the famous photo realist graffiti crew, Ma’Claim. This commemorative portrait was painted on a piece of the Berlin wall and transported to the venue.

Khaled Said’s portrait, painted by Case. Text above: “Khaled’s rights are Egypt’s rights” painted by Zahraa Kassem. Text below: “We are all Khaled Said”, calligraphy by Mohamed Gaber painted by Case.

“They broke down the Berlin Wall for freedom and unity. Khaled Said got killed for the same reason, for freedom and democracy. Khaled would be very happy if he was with us today. We will not forget you Khaled and we will bring your rights back. And we will bring every Egyptian’s right back. We are all Khaled Said!” - Zahraa Said Kassem, Khaled’s sister who received the award on his behalf.

Zahraa Said Kassem with Slim Amanou

Now, as part of a project with the Goethe Institute, new portraits have been painted by Case in Khaled Said’s home town of Alexandria and in the capital, Cairo. The rest of the Ma’Claim crew were also present and together they painted a mural symbolising peace, freedom and victory.

Portrait in front of the Townhouse Gallery of an Egyptian boy whom Case met in the street while painting in Cairo.

“Tribute to the Arab Revolution” by Ma’Claim crew (Akut, Tasso, Case, Rusk), Alexandria, 2011.

GIF-Animation: Like the revolution, the mural “uses” the Internet to reveal its message.

Below are videos of Joel Sames (documentarian of the project from the beginning) with Khaled’s Said’s mother Laila Marzouk and his sister Zahraa Kassem, discussing the project on an Egyptian TV show. Both Khaled’s mother and sister are still strong advocates in Egypt’s unfinished revolution.

This is a project by Don Karl, publisher and co-author of the book “Arabic Graffiti” & Hip Hop Stuetzpunkt Berlin - in collaboration with The Dudes Factory (Freedom Park) & Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation.

Photos and video by Joel Sames (courtesy of From Here to Fame).

The infamous Ma’Claim crew have painted new murals in Egypt…

>> Read more about it

Photos: Joel Sames
Source: www.maclaim.blogspot.com/

Below are pics from the F.A.T.S logo competition, “A Load Off”. The event took place over the weekend at the F.A.T.S premises at 180 Sydney Road, Durban.

1st Place:

2nd Place:

3rd Place:

>> VIEW THE REST OF THE PICS

The winner was Jason “ Jase” van Zyl, receiving the R10 000 cash prize at a F.A.T.S Cheese and Wine function last night. The artist also painted the F.A.T.S company logo on the outside of their building.

350.org, an organisation that aims to build a global movement to solve the climate crisis, launched Earth in 2010, a collaborative arts project to help spark this movement. Now, select artists (including South Africa’s Freddy Sam) have taken to the streets, creating works that are in public space for all to see.

‘Art has the power to move the masses and get people to stop, think and ideally act on the greatest challenge of our time.’

Below is Freddy Sam’s contribution to the project, ‘Wake Up To The Sun To Change Tomorrow’:

New videos added to our Video Archive.
Click on the image to watch the video…

>> Check out more videos HERE

“IN TO YOU” is an exhibition by Yumanizumu (Tokyo, Japan) featuring drawings, sculptures, paintings and installations made during the artists 2 month residency with /A WORD OF ART.

The show launches tomorrow night with guest DJs and an installation by new artist in residence, Veronica Casellas Jimenez (Venezuela).

Where: /A WORD OF ART, 66-68 Albert Rd, Woodstock, Cape Town
When: 3 November 2011, 8pm

>> RSVP on Facebook

Be sure to check out the artists travel blogs…
http://www.awoa-residency-yumanizumu.blogspot.com/
and
http://www.awoa-residency-casellasjimenez.tumblr.com/

As mentioned in a post earlier this year, the second phase of the DK “R” project will take place in November and December 2011. This time round the artists Jérôme Désert (Belgium) and Jerome Maillet aka Jeronimo (France) will collaborate with two Senegalese artists; Mamadou Diallo Sadio (SAADIO) and Barkinado BOCOUM.

Here are more videos from the first phase of the project which took place in April and May 2011:

All pics courtesy of Jéronimo

Amidst the few revolutionaries that are trying to make any real impact in today’s society, one artist consistently brings a kind of positive reinforcement and commentary to the walls of cities around the globe. This artist is BLU, an Italian street artist that paints huge roller pieces reflecting various themes and ideas, sometimes focusing on topical but always relevant subjects.

We’ll let his amazing work speak for itself…

“BIG BANG BIG BOOM” - the new wall-painted animation by BLU

BIG BANG BIG BOOM - the new wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

We are very excited that BLU will be displaying art works in Cape Town for “Outside”, a contemporary urban art group exhibition featuring internationally acclaimed street artists.

For more information on this exciting exhibition, click HERE

>> Feeling BLU? Go here: www.blublu.org/

Yip, you saw it - R10 000 prize up for grabs…

>> DOWNLOAD ENTRY FORM <<

(Right click and open in new tab, 0.2mb PDF file)

>> MORE INFO

There’s still time to check out “The October Show” at Salon91 Contemporary Art Collection in Cape Town. The show runs until Saturday 29 October and is a mixed media group exhibition, blending fine art, design, and street art.

Featured Artists:

• Paul Senyol
• Jordan Metcalf
• Daniel Ting Chong
• Andrew Sutherland

The artists also worked on collaborative pieces - Daniel & Jordan, Andrew & Paul.
Check out some of these works HERE and HERE.

VENUE:
Salon91 Contemporary Art Collection
91 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town

CONTACT:
Monique Du Preez (Gallery Director) 082 679 3906 or 021 424 6930
info@salon91art.co.za / salon91.art@gmail.com
www.salon91art.co.za

GALLERY HOURS:
Tue-Fri: 10am - 6pm
Sat: 10am - 2pm
Sun / Mon: Closed

>> RSVP on Facebook

34FineArt proudly presents “Outside”, a contemporary urban art group exhibition with artworks by some well-known names in the more acknowledged world of street art.

Banksy
Choose your weapon 2010
Serigraph edition 25
60x60cm

This invigorating show opens on 25 October 2011 and features work by:

• Banksy (UK)
• RD357 (USA)
• D*Face (UK)
• Blek le Rat (France)
• AME72 (UK)
• FAKE (Netherlands)
• DAL (China)
• Shepard Fairey (USA)
• Nick Walker (UK)
• The London Police (UK)
• BLU (Italy)
• Invader (France)
• Mr Brainwash (USA / France)

Artworks by local artists Faith47, Motel7, Falko, Jade Doreen Waller, Black Koki, Jop Kunneke, Norman Catherine and others will also be on show.

Mr Brainwash
Madonna 2011
Mixed media on canvas
57x57cm

34FineArt
Second Floor Hills Building, Buchanan Square
160 Sir Lowry Road
Woodstock

Gallery Hours:
Tuesday - Friday 10:34-16:34
Saturday 10:34-13:34

The exhibition ends 19 November 2011.

>> MORE INFO

>> Check out pics of Asha Zero’s “micro cluster picnic”, the current graffiti related exhibition presented by 34FineArt HERE. The exhibition runs until 4 November at The Rooke Gallery in Johannesburg.

A short video on CNN’s Inside Africa about Ricky Lee Gordon a.k.a Freddy Sam, a Cape Town artist and curator who is doing amazing work uplifting communities with street art murals.

Video produced by Rowan Pybus at Makhulu Productions.

>> Read the article HERE.

From Here To Fame Publishing present two upcoming events in Egypt to promote their recently published book, Arabic Graffiti.

20 October – Alexandria, Egypt

• Arabic Graffiti – book and project presentation by the Don STONE Karl
• Street Art & the Revolution – lecture by Mohamed Gaber
  >> @ Goethe Institute Alexandria

22 October – Cairo, Egypt

• Arabic Graffiti – book and project presentation by the Don STONE Karl
• Street Art & the Revolution – lecture by Mohamed Gaber
  >> @ The Townhouse Gallery

For further information please contact:

From Here To Fame Publishing
Inga Dehl | Sales & Marketing
Tel: 0049-(0)30-21021 86-70 | Fax: 0049-(0)30-21021 86-77
Marienburgerstr. 16 A | 10405 Berlin / Germany
email: inga@fhtf.de
www.fromheretofame.com

Be sure to check out their publication of South African artist Faith47.

After all the turmoil that took place in Sydney Road, Durban with the 031 Seven, a local business - F.A.T.S - plan to host a graffiti jam on their premises with a R10,000 prize plus public wall space up for grabs.

The allocated space is a red brick wall 258m², which will divided into 11 equally sized sections. Each section of wall will measure approximately 24m² (8m wide x 3m high) and shall be allocated to an individual artist to decorate to their heart’s delight.

The guidelines given to each artist will be as follows:

• Each artist to do their interpretation of the F.A.T.S logo (size to be 1.8m high x 1.4m wide)
• Each artist to do company logo of a section sponsor (size to be 1m high x 1.4m wide)
• The theme of the whole wall is transport and world maps (trucks, aeroplanes, trains, containers, cranes, ships, atlas etc)

Event details:

Where: 180 Sydney Rd, Congella, Durban

When: Saturday 5 November 2011

Further info contact john@fats.co.za

>> Watch the “I Art Woodstock” video HERE

Aybe recently painted in Rome. Check out more pics HERE

A short video documenting the recent street art/paste-up project, Paste, which took place in Cape Town, curated by Shani Judes of SJ ARTISTS and Between 10and5.

18 local artists were selected for the exhibition, stepping out of the gallery space and into the inner city streets of Cape Town and the nearby township of Khayelitsha. Artworks were brought directly to the people, beautifying the streets and creating inspiration.

This is the first time a project like this has happened in South Africa and it looks like it was a big success. The curators are looking forward to having more street art exhibitions like this in other cities, and they would appreciate any support for future projects.

Artists that took part in the first Paste project, Khayelitsha Culture:

• Simon Berndt (One Horse Town)
• Cassandra Leigh
• Lauren Fowler
• Wesley Van Eeden
• Jonx Pillemer
• Russel Goodman
• Linsey Levendall
• Swain Hoogervorst and Paul Ward
• Miné Jonker and Clinton Campbell (Studio Muti)
• Ello and Black Koki (Love and Hate Studio)
• Julia Merrett
• Claire Homewood
• Mak1one
• Fuzzy Slippers (Mafuta Ink)
• Donna Solovei
• Yuma Yoshimura (visiting artist from Tokyo, Japan)

>> MORE INFO: capital_vibe_promo_1.mp3

Satellite spaces///the untitled gallery from lebogang rasethaba on Vimeo.

A short video documenting The Painters Show, part of the “Satellite Spaces - The Untitled Gallery” series of exhibitions in the Johannesburg CBD.

The event was held at “Ourspace” at Main Street Life on Saturday the 27th of August, and was curated by MJ Turpin.

TK Crew

8 October
10am-5pm
33 De Korte St, Braamfontein, Jhb
Free entrance

BELIEVE/Visual Intervention from Ian Wilson on Vimeo.

Believe is a short documentary of a public art/mural project which took place in Rochester, New York in July 2011. The goal: to inspire the local community and communicate a positive message. Ian Wilson, co-founder of non-profit organisation The Synthesis Collaborative, brought the project to life and invited South African artists to participate. Cape Town’s Faith47, Mak1one, Freddy Sam and Dal were among the artists involved and several murals were painted.

Danish artist Asbjørn Skou a.k.a Armsrock visited Egypt in June 2010 and participated in the “Streets of Cairo” event. He made temporary light installations from projected needle-etched slides. He also did the paste-up below…

This charcoal paste-up was then painted over with white paint by the Cairo Police.

http://www.armsrock.blogspot.com/

Having recently returned from an artist residency in Finland along with Paul Senyol, Durban artist Wesley van Eeden and Hope Project present “BROADCASTS” - A series of paintings and illustrations on found objects, translated from stories by people around the world who Wesley has interviewed.

The show opens next month at the KZNSA gallery with invited friends: Paul Senyol (Cape Town) , Christian Mugnai, Pete Reynolds and Duane Smith. There will be live performances, a film screening and a week long installation mural.

>> RSVP on Facebook

Shot B & Spank One in Maputo, Mozambique…
The first wall in the country done with Montana Colors.

Read the article on the Montana World blog HERE

Photos: Dilayla Romeo.

The Loser

The blog of graffiti artist, Lozr.
http://www.thelozr.blogspot.com/

Propa

The blog of artist, Propa.
http://www.propatingsdem.blogspot.com/

Baka Beanz

The blog of artist, Baka Beanz
http://www.bakabeanz.blogspot.com/

Peace Kidd

The blog of street artist, Peace Kidd 021
http://www.peacekidd021.blogspot.com/

Graffiti Research Lab Africa

The South African group of the Graffiti Research Lab, established by The Führer Crew.
http://www.thefuehrercrew.webs.com/

“Graffiti Research Lab, founded by Evan Roth and James Powderly during their fellowships at the Eyebeam OpenLab, is an art group dedicated to outfitting graffiti writers, artists and protesters with open source technologies for urban communication. The members of the group experiment in a lab and in the field to develop and test a range of experimental technologies. They document those efforts with video documentation and DIY instructions for each project and make it available for everybody.” It is now it is part of the Free Art & Technology Lab.

I ART SOWETO - the second part of the I ART SA project - took place earlier this month. An exhibition will be held on October 7th at Main Street Life in Johannesburg that documents both I ART SOWETO and I ART WOODSTOCK.

>> MORE INFO

www.tunisiagraffitiproject.wordpress.com/

Also, check out Graffiti Tunisia on Facebook.

I AM THE LO$ER from The Lozer on Vimeo.

The graffiti movie “WHOLETRAIN” will be screening in ZIMBABWE…

Location: Shoko Festival at Alliance Francaise, 328 Herbert Chitepo, Harare
Date: September 24, 16h00

Director Florian Gaag will be present for Q&A.

>> MORE INFO

Some graffiti in Uganda…

Source: Streetfiles.org

Some pics to get you excited for the upcoming street art exhibition, Paste. The project is taking place in Cape Town and begins this Friday in Khayelitsha township and in the city center on Monday and Tuesday…

>> MORE INFO

Contact curator Shani Judes for further info and also if you’d like to be a part of the project - shani@shanijudes.co.za

Paste is a street art exhibition inspired by the recent Inside Out Project…

“Fifteen local artists have been selected to design, illustrate or photograph work around the theme of Khayelitsha Culture. The work will be turned into large scale wheat pastes and will be pasted around Khayelitsha and the inner city of Cape Town.”

“The aim: to take the exhibition out of the gallery space and into the streets of both city and township. Spreading the art into the different cultures and allowing the greater community access.”

There will be live updates on the SJ Artists twitter feed. Final images will be on sale on the Between10&5 website to raise funds for this project and other projects in the future.

Participating artists:

• Simon Berndt (One Horse Town)
• Cassandra Leigh
• Lauren Fowler
• Wesley Van Eeden
• Russel Goodman
• Swain Hoogervorst & Paul Ward
• Miné Jonker & Clinton Campbell (Studio Muti)
• Black Koki & 35ten73 (Love & Hate)
• Julia Merrett
• Claire Homewood
• Mak1one
• Fuzzy Slippers (Mafuta Ink)
• Donna Solovei
• Yuma Yoshimura (TOKYO)
• Linsey Levendall
• Jonx Pillemer

The project begins this Friday, 9 September until 30 September 2011.

The concept of Splitpiece is to join photographs of artworks that have been created on different walls, forming one whole picture that has diverse backgrounds. The theory behind this concept, created by Falko, is to create unity. This is a unique idea and Falko has been creating more exciting murals with Nard in the small town of Darling.

New murals will be revealed on his Flickr photostream this week. All the murals are in one residential street - Akkerboom Laan - and form a living gallery like no other.

Watch videos of previous Splitpiece projects here

ASHA ZERO: MICRO CLUSTER PICNIC - SOLO EXHIBITION

“Since the first solo exhibition in 2008 Asha Zero’s work has caused uproar amongst local and international art collectors. Zero’s paintings are laboriously produced and time consuming to make, hence the reason why there are so few of them, snapped-up by observant collectors who buy any Zero work they can find. All previous Zero exhibitions have sold-out, and those collectors who did not manage to purchase paintings have turned to the secondary market where auction prices have consistently soared. Another solo exhibition by Zero is planned for 2012 at The Gallery in Cork Street, London, substituting for a previous exhibition (2009) that was postponed because all works were sold at the preview at 34Long gallery in Cape Town.”

Safari Tronn 2011
Acrylic on board
150x120cm

“Asha Zero is an artist known for a collagist approach to painting. Zero’s work is a blend of Pop art parody, Dada conceptualism, and pictorial illusionism. Zero effectively renders the heterogeneity of post-industrial urban life, fettered by the omnipresence of mass media, which Zero readily borrows from to construct detailed trompe l’oeil compositions. Zero’s stance suggests that ideologies are rendering agents for consumer society; presenting the bricolage as it stands, inspired by newspaper headlines, street art, posters, album covers, fashion spreads, and print ads.

Zero’s work is as deceptive as it is honest, at first glance bearing the appearance of paper collage, but on closer inspection revealing careful and considered surface juxtapositions executed in acrylic paint. By transitioning from the prosaic to the uncanny using anything from hijacked typographical topologies to dirty grunge-inspired textures, Zero puts a new spin on things. When viewed from a distance each painting appears to be hyper-realistic visions pieced together from found media blips. When each blip is appreciated for its individual, segmented surface qualities they display abstract expressionist tendencies, marking a seminal tabula rasa in the context of Modern painting, also evinced by Zero’s contemporaries, including Gajin Fujita, Takashi Murakami and Barry McGee.

Dazed in the media haze of cosmopolitanism, Zero finds subject matter by measure of happy accidents and readymade circumstances, illustrating the neurosis of late capitalism. Zero pieces together fragmented visions of the counterfeit, transmitted truths that erase any distinction between the authentic and inauthentic; where dominant values no longer teeter on the opposition between good and evil, but tinker on the pitting of evil against ‘evil’. More so, Zero attempts to make such polarizations null and void. Ultimately, Zero is neutral, merely delivering facsimiled captions from ground zero, stumbling upon the ubiquitous and moribund relationship between the original and the representation.

Zero’s latest body of work progresses past such Manichean binaries, in a post- hyperrealist realm that is inadvertent towards humanist or capitalist polemics and politics. With this shift in perspective towards the media, comes an almost satirical, ultra-political, super-mediated understanding, which differs from previous exhibitions, say for me (2008) and macro soda text hits (2009), often including Zero’s own self-made content, such as custom designed stickers and propaganda-style graphics, and not only found material.”

Mugshot of the artist

” micro cluster pinic is Asha Zero’s first solo exhibition at the Rooke Gallery in Newtown, Johannesburg, comprising fifteen new and painstakingly executed paintings; the first body of work to be seen since 2009. The exhibition will open on 6 October and conclude on 4 November 2011. An exclusive viewing of micro cluster pinic will be held at 34FineArt in Cape Town on 13 September and will run until 17 September.

To RSVP for the Cape Town viewing contact Andries Loots on +27 (0)82 354 1500, or visit www.34fineart.com, or to inquire about the main event in Johannesburg contact the Rooke Gallery on +27 (0)72 383 5091, or visit www.rookegallery.com. As a sneak preview, Safari Tronn, will be exhibited as a part of the Rooke Gallery’s stall at the Joburg Art Fair.”

EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW:
13 TO 17 SEPTEMBER
34FINEART, CAPE TOWN

EXHIBITION:
6 OCTOBER TO 4 NOVEMBER 2011
ROOKE GALLERY, JOHANNESBURG

>> http://www.34fineart.com/

A body art and chalk drawing competition took place at Durban’s uShaka Marine World on Saturday August 27. The event was hosted by Ewok and had an under water theme. Eight artists from around the country competed in a chalk board competition and twelve artists in the body painting competition. There was a guest chalk street artist from Florida, USA who demonstrated his art to the masses.

Durban artist Pastel Heart took first place in the chalk art competition…

>> MORE PHOTOS HERE AND HERE

Monk and Crio, UND/BA (Germany)
Freetown, Sierra Leone, 2010

Makweni, Sierra Leone, 2010

All images from Street Files, used under the Creative Commons licence.

Shelflife store launched it’s first worldwide release sneaker collaboration project with Puma. In classic Shelflife style this special occasion was celebrated with a very memorable party event. VIPs, celebrities, friends & family were all in attendance along with local graffiti artists, sneaker heads & facebook photo competition winners. It was history in the making with plenty of party entertainment including a killer line up of Dj’s, an art exhibition, live graffiti bombing, live “shriiimping” art & even the opportunity for guests to shop in store and make their own mark on a full 3D model train!

More pics of the sneakers HERE

Images and text courtesy of Dr Zulu Green

The local graffiti world is buzzing after news of what happened in Durban on Sunday. Seven graffiti artists were arrested at the Eiy5 Memorial Graffiti Jam in Sydney Road and are now appearing in court on September 14. This event was organised and publicised weeks before, with permission from the perceived owner of the wall. It now seems like the wall had been leased from the municipality and was never a legal graffiti wall.

The Citizen and The Mercury newspapers published articles on Monday stating that these men were related to gangs and that this was gang graffiti. Find these here

The overwhelming response is that these articles were sensationalist, melodramatic and pieces of irresponsible journalism. A new website has been set up to create awareness and respond to what has happened…
www.gangsofgraffiti.wordpress.com

Other coverage of this incident:
>> Mahala
>> Zero31 i
>> Zero31 ii

Some interesting responses from both sides of the fence.

A graffiti jam that took place in Durban yesterday took a turn for the worse when seven people were arrested on charges relating to vandalism. The event was created to pay tribute to a deceased friend and was held at a location where several graffiti jams have taken place over the last few years.

Read what the press had to say:

Click the picture to view it larger or go to The Citizen Online

Click the picture to view it larger or go to The Mercury Online

Space Invader in Mombasa, Kenya (2006)…

>> MORE PICS HERE

Source: http://www.space-invaders.com/

David Choe searches for a legendary dinosaur in the jungles of The Congo…

WATCH THE OTHER VIDEO OF DAVE IN THE CONGO HERE

More of David and his work: www.davechoe.blogspot.com/

More cool GIFs…

The online exhibition, Mirror On The Wall, has launched today…

The exhibition is a showcase of new murals done in Philipi, Cape town by Falko and Nard over the last 30 days.

>> View the artworks here

This emigrant is really killing it in New Zealand these days…

>> Check out other South Africans overseas HERE

Thanks to Editor for sharing the pics with us.

Spanish artist Laguna in Tanger, Morocco (2009)

Click on a thumbnail to view larger image…

All pics courtesy of Laguna

PUMA and SHELFLIFE, Cape Town’s premium street-wear and graffiti supply store, have joined forces once again. The two have collaborated to create their first range of mens and ladies sneakers, a first for an independent retailer in South African history. The collection will be released worldwide on the 8th of August 2011. The featured release is the “Train Runner”. This sneaker is inspired by the bold yellow & grey South African metro trains that are notoriously dangerous for many reasons. These are a must for art fanatics and sneaker collectors alike.

LAUNCH-PARTY ENTRY COMPETITION

To stand a chance to win a ticket to the PUMA X SHELFLIFE
sneaker launch party, all you have to do is submit any picture of
a South African train. It can be anything from the insides to the
outside and does not have to include graffiti. Best photos win.

Competition winners will be announced daily on the SHELFLIFE facebook
group and the PUMA X SHELFLIFE Sneaker Release Page.

Pictures can be submitted to: pumaxshelflife@shelflife.co.za
Remember to include your name and details.
Good hunting!

Inside Out is a project conceived by 2011 TED winner JR. The project just hit the streets of Cape Town…

JR - Inside Out project, Cape Town

Photo by Jonx Pillemer

JR - Inside Out project, Cape Town

Photo by Jonx Pillemer

JR - Inside Out project, Cape Town

Photo by Jonx Pillemer

JR - Inside Out project, Cape Town

Photo by Jonx Pillemer

JR - Inside Out project, Cape Town

Photo by Jonx Pillemer

JR - Inside Out project, Cape Town

Photo by Jonx Pillemer

>> More info on the Cape Town activation HERE

Freddy Sam is back in the US - painting murals, exhibiting works and doing some sight-seeing.

He has already painted great stuff with international artists in New York and Rochester, and is currently in Portland. He is taking part in Living Walls which takes place next month in Atlanta.

Mak1one, Faith47 and Dal are also stateside and they too have been painting.

Check out some of the new works that Freddy Sam has done:

Freddy Sam and Jaz (Argentina)

Bushwick, NYC

Freddy Sam

Rochester

Freddy Sam, DAL

Canvas session, Rochester

Mak1one

Rochester

Freddy Sam

Rochester

Freddy Sam

Rochester

Faith47 and DAL

NYC

Freddy Sam collaboration with Jaz (Argentina), Two One (Australia) and David Shillinglaw (UK)

Freddy Sam with Rae (USA), Pink Cloud (USA), Jaz (Argentina), Zéh Palito (Brazil)

Brooklyn Community Block Party with whoever else wanted to add to the wall

Freddy Sam

Brooklyn, NYC

Freddy Sam

Brooklyn, NYC

Freddy Sam in studio

Portland

Freddy Sam

Portland

All pics courtesy of Freddy Sam, with thanks

Life Check is a Durban based non-profit Hip Hop events organisation. Using the resources provided by various funding groups and the continued support provided by Redbull SA Culture department, a platform has been created for Durban youth to express themselves through Hip Hop culture and related performance styles.

Originally Life Check was a gathering of youth from the Durban metro every first Saturday of the month at The BAT Centre, located in the city Yacht Basin. This event would run for approximately 5 hour as people expressed themselves through rapping, dancing, poetry and music in a safe and controlled environment. Today the organisation has moved the event away from one dedicated venue and given it more flexibility to control ’satellite’ events. These ’satellite’ events are located wherever an existing scene is in evidence. “Life Check attempts to provide a boost in the form of a daytime free Hip Hop Open Mic concert featuring guest artists from outside of the location, as well as heads from within the scene itself.”

READ MORE ABOUT LIFE CHECK HERE

Ewok Interview about Life Check from Rory Jacobs on Vimeo.

Life Check Battle Of The Year events happening in Durban, South Africa in August 2011

Schedule

Tuesday, 2 August
Film Screening (in association with Hip Hop Education SA)
Unit 11
6pm & 8pm
FREE

Wednesday, 3 August
Slaghuis King of the Street Rap
Unit 11
8pm
FREE

Thursday, 4 August
Film Screening (in association with Hip Hop Education SA)
Unit 11
6pm & 8pm
FREE

Friday, 5 August
Cipher
The Terminal
1pm
Dance Workshops (in association with STR CRD)
Unit 11
12pm & 2pm
FREE

Classics party in association with The Chief Rockers
Unit 11
9pm
R40

Saturday, 6 August
Life Check All Elements Battle 2011 (in association with ADIDAS & Sportscene)
Curry’s Fountain
Registration 9am - Battle commences 11am (1-on-1 battles)
Prizes for 1st and 2nd place
MC, BBOY, GRAFFITI, DJ, BEATBOX, PRODUCTION, KRUMP
Guest Performers
FREE

>> RSVP on Facebook

Life Check All Elements Battle 2010 from Karen Logan on Vimeo.

>> http://www.lifecheckydi.com/

Mirror On The Wall is an online exhibition of new murals by Falko and Nard.

Launches on 3 August 2011 at 13h00 (GMT) HERE

The DK “R” project is a street art project in Dakar, Senegal. The two artists behind the project are Jérôme Désert (Belgium) and Jerome Maillet aka Jeronimo (France).

Jeronimo lived in Dakar between 2007 and 2009 and Jerome made a trip to Senegal in 2010. Both artists had a common desire to talk about identity, movement, energy and the people of Dakar directly on the walls.

The city became their canvas as they left the gallery space and plastered many walls with large format images of the people. The first stage of the project took place in April and May 2011.

The second phase of the DK “R” project takes place in November and December 2011 in collaboration with two Senegalese artists; Mamadou Diallo Sadio (SAADIO) and Barkinado BOCOUM. They will help Jerome and Jeronimo because they are very familiar with the city. This time they will split into two pairs to cover more ground.

During this second phase, from November 20 to December 15, an interaction with the public and the owners of the walls will be identified. The artists will interview the locals and gather oral evidence of the history and current events of the walls on which interventions take place. These stories will then be transcribed (in fragments) and inserted into the monumental compositions using typography cut on site. The participation of the people will form an integral part in the project, manifesting greater relevance and enabling local residents to have their say.

All the artists will make drawings in their respective workshops, thus keeping their own point of view. All compositions and associations of the pasted drawings will be improvised on the walls, leaving a possibility of interaction with the places and people. The walls covered will be between 5 and 7 meters high, each collage becoming its very own urban event.

All pics courtesy of Jéronimo

The first event of Underground Exchange took place on 8 July 2011. The exhibition was created by Shelflife and held at Ficton Bar in Cape Town in order expose the art to people in a different setting, aside from a gallery. These events are part of an exchange program to showcase the best UK underground street culture right here in South Africa.

The exhibition is still running and all prints are up for sale. Artists that featured in this exhibition were Banksy, Part2ism, She One, Solo One, Mark Ireland and Ink Fetish.

Check out the video where the curator, Dr Zulu takes you on a walkabout…

The Underground Exchange UK from one small seed on Vimeo.

There’s this guy from Cape Town who was responsible for Roadkill, SA’s first graffiti magazine, and now he’s up to no good with a clothing brand called One Eyed King. His name is Play and we thought we’d toss a whole bunch of silly questions his way…

>> READ THE INTERVIEW

Check out the first episode of the Inside Out Project HERE.

The first episode of a long series about JR’s Inside Out Project.

Since the 2011 TED Prize winner JR announced his wish in March to turn the world Inside Out, thousands of people have participated in what we hope will be the world’s largest participatory art project.

>> http://www.insideoutproject.net/

We featured Spanish graffiti artist Cook’s pixel graffiti in Namibia. While there he also got round to some sticker bombing which he showcases on a separate blog…

>> http://gigglycook.wordpress.com/

A collection of experiences that celebrate diverse creativity, expression and unconventional thinking. Offering an eclectic mix of creative productions, from Music to Visual Artwork, Motion Picture and Fashion.

Focused towards the creative youth, this project allows people to emerge amoungst their peers and communicate their vision to a unique and relevant audience. Located at MASH, part of the historic Mills Building in Newtown, over looking the heart of the inner city.

Date: Saturday 16 July 2011
Venue: Mash, 66 Carr Street, Newtown, Johannesburg

• All artwork on exhibition from 1pm
• Vintage Clothing Sale & Food Market from 1pm till 6pm
• Graffiti Demo from 3pm
• Tattoo Demo from 3pm till 6.30pm
• Film Premiere from 6.30 pm till 8pm
• Fashion Show at 8.30pm
• Sketch Battles from 9pm
• After Party @ The Woods 10pm till 3am

Featured Artists:

• MJ Turpin
• Mr. Cross
• Lenny Dee Doucha
• Alex Vlachos
• Tamara Osso
• Inger Holstvic Faerch
• REKZO
• DEKOR
• Says Who?
• Justin McGee
• Brent Goudie
• Ziggy Hofmeyr & Muthaland Productions
• Tim Apter, Matthew Stonier & Mustard Productions

Free entrance before 4pm, R40 after (includes ticket to after party)

>> MORE INFO

German artist Addentry visited and painted in Kenya in 2010. During their time in Nairobi they were also involved in a one month workcamp with a group called Simama e.V.

Simama e.V (which means get up, start over, make a difference) is a group that runs social projects to promote cross-cultural communication. They connect with artists living in the slums of Nairobi to help them with developing infrastructure like gallery space as well as getting them in contact with the art scene. Addentry joined the group as they gave art workshops and they taught the community how to print T-shirts, how to knit with plastic waste and general painting.

The orphanage called Halfway House was painted as part of the project by some Simama members, artists of the Mukuru slums and the children that live in the home.

The slum house was painted by Addentry with two artists of Mukuru. One of the artists was invited to Germany this year and they painted a mural together.

The Simama e.V group also bought a lot of paintings from the Kenyan artists where they presented those works in two big exhibitions.

More about Simama e.V:
http://www.simama.de/ and on Facebook

Special thanks to Addentry

Shelflife & Fiction present
UNDERGROUND EXCHANGE UK
Friday 8th July

The objective of the exhibition is to showcase the finest underground street culture from the UK as it is part of an up and coming creative exchange program between the United Kingdom & South Africa. It is set to be the first of many events & exhibitions of this kind to promote creative & cultural exchange between regions. The art exhibition will feature some of the finest examples of underground graffiti & street art, as well some BIG names… did someone say Banksy?

In addition to the opening night, the works will be presented to the British Arts Council of South Africa. The exhibition will run for one month, with all the prints being up for sale. The line up of local DJs will uphold the UK theme with some of the finest hip-hop, beat, dubstep & grime around!

Be apart of history as SA & the UK forge a creative bond that will set the stage for future projects! Supporting sponsor New Balance will display some of its finest premium UK made sneakers, exclusively available at Shelflife.

Make sure to not miss this exciting new project.

>> MORE INFO

>> MORE INFO

Graffiti South Africa brings you another exclusive interview with a SA graffiti artist…

CoeOne, a versatile writer from Cape Town has been in the scene for 10 years and has painted in London, Paris and New York. He is part of the infamous RL crew and is always bringing something fresh - from pieces, characters, bombs, panels, canvas, sketches and even a bit of street art fun…

>> READ THE INTERVIEW

Reflections on the 2011 Wide Open Walls project from some of those involved:

(All images by Jonx Pillemer, except where noted).

Freddy Sam

pic by Sydelle Willow Smith:

Freddy Sam (Artist, South Africa / Curator)
The idea that art can effect positive change is a sensitive one, in my heart it is right, but responsible action is the key word here. I think we carried this out not only with glowing open hearts and full belief, but also viewed this with complex and analytical thought during and after the project, we are left with an experience that will effect us and the villages for life, a moment that we will share forever and that I know we will continue to build on with the input of the communities. The project has also given me so many insights that I will carry through into my community art projects back home in South Africa. It was inspiring to witness artists dancing in their work, to allow their environment to affect them and to release this energy with love into the walls, conversations and moments shared, with real interest and support in what they are doing from the community. A visual song, a dialogue, a true cultural exchange.

Freddy Sam

Know Hope (Artist, Israel)
Painting in the villages was different from painting in a city because I actually met and got to know the people on whose wall I was painting on, which is usually not the case. One thing that I think wasn’t new, but definitely amplified and more present, was the direct interaction, impact and transformation (I only use this word for the lack of finding a more precise one) that the work had on the village. It became a happening-as, for, by and with the community.

Know Hope

Know Hope

TIKA (Artist, Switzerland)
At first, the fact of me being invited to come and paint in a rural village, where the roads are made of red, bouncy soil, water has to be pumped and electricity is not yet for everyone, roused a lot of questions… Does the village life in it’s humble, present way, need to be changed? Should these villages really become a tourist attraction? Shouldn’t it be the people from the villages themselves painting their compounds? But then, very soon, I realised that the Internet has already reached and Toubabs (white tourists) have already been throwing minthies (sweets) from their vans to the kids.

So, my conclusion is that it’s better to have a bunch of artist like us to come, with all our concerns, wanting to do good and beautiful and our, maybe naive, belief of sharing friendship, art and thoughts to give the circle of change a twist in the direction where humans treat each other respectfully and equal despite gender, race or social background.

TIKA

TIKA

Remed (Artist, Spain)
It is completely different painting here to painting in Europe. In the west a spray-can often represents a tool of vandalism, here I really feel welcome. I feel free. There is a great sense of support towards your art, a really strong sense of peace and unity, everything is flowing so easily. I think public street art can affect positive change as it alters the environment in a good way if it spreads a positive message in direct combat to advertising billboards for example.

Remed

Remed

Njogu (Artist: Bushdwellers)
Wide Open Walls is a democratic and interactive street art project bringing artist of the world to celebrate through art, all good things in life, environmental awareness, peace, love and respect for our cultural values. For me as a Gambian artist it is inspirational to work alongside and share with our international friends that make the long journey to experience Africa. The community spirit will stay alive through such projects. Africa and the world unite!

Bushdwellers

Selah (Artist, South Africa)
My art is entirely relational and contextual. As a process it starts with a conversation and in practice is realised literally as a publication on the wall. This process was very closely aligned to the values of the family heads and chiefs with whom I spoke – in terms of the power of conversation, negotiation, listening – and was therefore received with enthusiasm and joy. My texts were always already present within the thought and values of these Gambians with whom I shared so much tea – and had then only to be illuminated on their homes.

Selah

Selah

Rowan Pybus (Film-maker / Photographer)
I have been working with street artists in communities for a few years now in South Africa and often we don’t have enough time to understand our surroundings. WOW allows for more interaction, more conversation, and in the end more of a connection with the community. It’s about sharing. With the film I am hoping to show off the mixing of two worlds and the peace that came from it.

ROA by Rowan Pybus:

pic by Rowan Pybus:

Jonx Pillemer (Photographer)
Cool, and unique project. [I’m] very interested in watching this grow over the years, and [it’s] fantastic to have been part of it.

Sydelle Willow Smith (Anthropologist/Photographer)
I am always quite sceptacle of development projects coming into an area and deciding what is best for the communities living there, I have seen them fail far to often back home in South Africa. I like the fact that art creates a subtle, malleable platform that bridges boundaries allowing for conversations between communities and outsiders to stand as equals engaging, voicing their concerns, through a “universal” language to some degree. WOW is in its beginning stages and needs some ironing out in terms of this dialectic, but I believe it is off to a strong and worthy start and [I] look forward to what the future holds.

pic by Sydelle Willow Smith:

ROA by Sydelle Willow Smith:

James English (Artist: Bushdwellers / Founder of WOW)
The Ballabu Conservation Project is an 85 square kilometer area, encompassing 14 villages with roughly 100,000 people living within the area. The Ballabu was created to bring unity to the community, to encourage sustainability and conservation and to keep traditional rural lifestyles in place. I believe that the Wide Open Walls project can help stop the Rural Urban Drift, where the young people of the rural communities leave the family structure and go to the cities, which leads to the death of traditional practices and culture. By giving the young people of these villages something to be proud of they are more willing to stay and keep the traditions of the village alive. The Eden Project in the UK has given the Ballabu a full time exhibit in the Tropical Biome, which is seen by over one million people a year.

Bushdwellers

Bushdwellers

Lawrence Williams (Artist: Bushdwellers / Founder of WOW)
The most inspiring thing for me this year was how easily all of the artists adapted to, and became part of the community. I know there was some initial questions from the artists, as to why they were here and how were they going to be received in rural Africa. On the first day we brought together the heads of the 14 villages to meet the artists, so that they could give their blessing for this years WOW to take place. One of the chiefs said it best – ‘Don’t be in two minds. You are welcome in our villages’. By the end of the project there was a real sense of community built between the artists and the villagers, with friendships created and barriers broken down so that everyone was on the same level.

pic by Rowan Pybus:

Read all about Wide Open Walls 2011 in our Rest of Africa section. The project took place earlier this month in The Gambia and featured some great artists from all around the world.

CONTINUE READING

All photos by Jonx Pillimer, except where stated.

Best Ever (UK)

TIKA (Switzerland)

Bushdwellers (The Gambia)

ROA (Belgium)

Remed (Spain)

Selah (South Africa)

Know Hope (Israel)

Freddy Sam (South Africa), pic by Sydelle Willow Smith

>> WIDE OPEN WALLS 2011 OVERVIEW

The 2nd annual Wide Open Walls project took place from 3-17 June 2011. There was an amazing artist line-up this year and it featured some of the best artists from around the world. There was also more concern with the interaction with local communities as the project is hoping to grow in this regard. South African photographers, one also being an anthropologist, accompanied the artists as they ventured through Senegal and into the heart of The Gambia. This was a heart, soul and mind-opening adventure for all that took part.

All photos by Jonx Pillemer, except where stated.

Remed

Best Ever

Freddy Sam

Know Hope

Roa

Wide Open Walls 2011 Press Release

Wide Open Walls was founded by Lawrence Williams, one of the owners of Makasutu, a conservation project home to a set of magnificent river lodges at Mandina in The Gambia, West Africa. Lawrence, a keen artist, has been working with local artists on a project called Bushdwellers for a number of years and has always wanted to expand the project into something more, something lasting that could both function as a valid art installation in itself and at the same time promote The Gambia as a tourist destination. The basic idea was to turn villages in the area (falling under the Ballabu Conservation Project) into a living art project. This year saw the first time collaboration between Wide Open Walls and Write On Africa, a South African based organisation founded by Ricky Lee Gordon (a.k.a Freddy Sam). “Write On Africa” is a community art project based in Cape Town, South Africa. Its main focus is to encourage inspiration and urban rejuvenation through special events, initiatives and art in public space to “inspire ourselves to inspire others to inspire change”.

Best Ever

ROA

TIKA

Working with the community

WOW 2011 street artists were selected not only for their suitable styles but also for their approach and attitude towards making and sharing art. The line-up included Bushdwellers (The Gambia), ROA (Belgium), Know Hope (Israel), Remed (Madrid), TIKA (Switzerland), Freddy Sam (SA), Selah (SA), and Best Ever (UK). The immediate goals of the project were to create connections between the street artists and the communities through mural painting, art workshops and extended interventions. Art supplies were provided for children of various villages, and a dilapidated classroom was refurbished by Freddy Sam and community members, creating a colourful space for children to use as a crèche and a classroom. South African photographer, Jonx Pillemer and film-maker Rowan Pybus were there to capture the two week long project, spending ample time with community members and the street artists reflecting on the interactions and friendships formed during the collaborative creative processes. The 10-minute documentary will be released online in August. Rowan will then continue to document the project year by year with the intention of releasing a full length, in depth documentary.

Research was conducted utilizing ethnographic methods compiled by anthropology student, film-maker/photographer, Sydelle Willow Smith. She conducted a variety of interviews with community members, organisers and street artists. This research will aid the preliminary stages of the next Wide Open Walls project, serving archival purposes, as well as ensuring that direct collaboration between the community and the project is ensured throughout the process. We hope this information will then inspire more like-minded projects around the world.

Know Hope

Know Hope

Selah

Best Ever

Know Hope & Bushdwellers

ROA

Long term this project also seeks to raise funds for the village through the publication of a book. We will also aim to create an exhibition/fundraiser and sell photographs of the artwork to raise funds which will be distributed through the local NGO (the Ballabu Conservation Project) that has been set up by James English of Makasutu Cultural Forest in conjunction with all 14 chiefs of Ballabu. The project also aims to sustain an ethos of responsible tourism and it has been suggested that tourists, who want to visit the murals, will have to make a donation to the trust and will be expected to immerse themselves in the villages they visit through forms of cross cultural exchange to ensure that a sense of a “drive-by human zoo” is not created.

With the input of several key members from villages we have now begun the initial stage of designing a more in-depth cultural exchange program that will include local artists and allow for a greater dialogue. We are also investigating residency opportunities to allow for artists, writers, musicians, poets and researchers to stay within the villages and contribute their time and work in the form of teaching and skill sharing, working alongside their local Gambian counterparts, ensuring that as WOW grows so does the structure that keeps it in place.

ROA

Working with the community

Freddy Sam in collaboration with Selah, Know Hope and the children of Galloya village, pic by Rowan Pybus

Remed, pic by Sydelle Willow Smith

Bushdwellers

Selah

In conclusion we are very aware of the sensitive nature of this project and how our imprint and intervention can affect the village. As one of the chiefs said, “they will come to see the art and will find our ethos and way of life and want to learn from us”. This exchange of knowledge and practice is something that WOW plans to continually engage with, learning and growing along the way. A popular saying we heard in the villages of The Gambia sums it all up quite succinctly, simply put that it is “nice to be nice.”

ROA

Connecting with the community

TIKA

Remed

Best Ever & Selah

Freddy Sam

ROA, pic by Sydelle Willow Smith

For artists travel blogs please visit http://www.wideopenwalls.co.za/ and for more information or images contact Ricky Lee Gordon (curator) directly at rickylee@writeonafrica.com

Please also visit and support the Wide Open Walls Facebook page where you will find updated news and images. The 2011 documentary film by Rowan Pybus is scheduled for online release in August.

The next date for Wide Open Walls has not been set allowing for sufficient time to rebuild a strong foundation and sustainable program together with the input of the villages.

3rd World Tavern

The grimiest graffiti blog out there…
http://www.3rdworldtavern.blogspot.com/

Fruitbats

The blog of ex-Cape Town graffiti artist, Editor, who now resides in New Zealand.
http://fruitbats.blogspot.com/

Glockstars

Official blog of the South Africa/England based crew GLOK aka GLOCKERS/GLOCKSTARS.
http://www.glockstars.blogspot.com/

Master Peace Mag

A little graffiti magazine by the MSE crew.
http://masterpeacegrafmag.tumblr.com/

Pastel Heart

The blog of Durban artist, Pastel Heart.
http://www.pastelheart.org/

Pics from JR‘s visit to Sierra Leone in February 2008.

Source:
http://www.jr-art.net/

JR’s other African ventures:

>> JR in Kenya

>> JR in Liberia

>> JR in Tunisia

Pics from JR‘s visit to Monrovia, Liberia in February 2008.

Source:
http://www.jr-art.net/

JR’s other African ventures:

>> JR in Kenya

>> JR in Tunisia

Sacha Jenkins and David Villorente aka CHINO have just launched the third installment of Piecebook - World Piecebook: Global Graffiti Drawings.

This international edition features artist from over 30 countries.
There are two South African artists featured - Dreadr and Motel7.

>> READ MORE ABOUT THE BOOK HERE

>> CHECK OUT A PREVIEW OF THE BOOK HERE

Write On Africa is currently in The Gambia for Wide Open Walls 2011. But, that isn’t the only African country in which they have created inspiration and change. A while ago they were invited to Swaziland by Pact to create a communication strategy to better communicate the work that Pact had been doing in communities.

They were in the country for a week, each day being taken to see a new Pact supported project. They ended off the week with a mural project. You can read more about the whole trip HERE.

Some pictures of the murals being painted:

Artwork by Freddy Sam and Xanele

http://www.writeonafrica.org/

Victim of Art, “the official opening exhibition and pre-party for Courage Party.
This wild event will be consisting of live graffiti by SAIKAD, with new art pieces on sale from Durban artists SPOOK, FORGIVEN and PASTEL HEART”.

Friday June 24, 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Corner Cafe, corner Brand and Cromwell Road, Glenwood.
R40 + free entrance to the Courage Party at the Willowvale Hotel.

The exhibition will run from the 18th of June 2011 and will run for 3 weeks.

>> RSVP on Facebook

Andrew Breitenberg a.k.a Selah from Cape Town “draws symbols and texts in the margins of society – be they alleys, townships or street corners – to try and make a contribution toward the dignity of the people living in those places”.

He is currently in The Gambia for Wide Open Walls 2011 but has also painted in Zimbabwe. Here are a couple of pictures of his ‘street art’ in Zimbabwe…

in Chinotimba, by Victoria Falls:

in Borrowdale, Harare:

http://www.onestreetherald.com

Drone grew up in Mitchell’s Plain in Cape Town – what he calls the “mecca of hip hop culture in South Africa”. He was always interested in sketching characters like Robotech, Mech warriors and Thunder Cats, but only started sketching letters around 1992. It wasn’t until 1996 that he painted his first tag on his way to school, using Aerolak spray paint.

Co-founder of the graffiti crew, NME, Drone mostly paints with his brother and “partner in grime”, Skiet. He has mostly painted in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

What is graffiti?
ART.

Describe your style?
Organic/Versatile/Flowing.

How do you think you have influenced the Cape Town graffiti scene?
Doing my own thing and not following what…

>> CONTINUE READING

Street art darling, Roa, is in The Gambia. He painted an awesome animal piece, one of the first pieces of Wide Open Walls 2011.

Check out this video of his recent works:

ROA - White Walls from Colin M Day on Vimeo.

Wide Open Walls 2011 is from June 3-17.

>> MORE INFO

The village children sing in front of one of the first art works of the 2011 Wide Open Walls project - ROA in The Gambia!

>> MORE INFO

Probably the most raw and revealing view of the graffiti subculture in recent years. Get psyched for this trailer…

Crack & Shine International *TRAILER* from Topsafe London on Vimeo.

http://www.crackandshine.com/

Dr Zulu

The blog of SA artist, designer and sneaker lover, Dr Zulu. He makes some pretty sweet things from Lego.
http://www.drzuluapproved.blogspot.com/

Fers

The blog of SA artist and designer, Fers.
http://fersyndicate.tumblr.com/

Gasak

The blog of Pietermaritzburg graffiti artist, Gasak.
http://gasakgraff.blogspot.com/

One Eyed King

A Cape Town based brand which creates limited edition apparel by graffiti artists, illustrators and tattoo artists. They have a pretty neat blog too.
http://www.oneeyedking.co.za/

Prison Pocket

Not really about graffiti. Just random funny pics and commentary about stuff in South Africa.
http://prisonpocket.blogspot.com/

Cook a.k.a Pixel Monster is a graffiti artist from Spain that has been living in Namibia. He spent time there in 2010 and 2011 and painted in Lüderitz among other places .

He also went to Cape Town and painted with Toe:

http://www.cook.org.es/

Tomorrow night (June 9):

>> OVERVIEW OF THE BATTLE ROUNDS

Sydney Road in Durban is a popular place for the local graffiti scene. The walls have seen a few graffiti jams over the past few months. Here are some pics from the latest jam which took place over the weekend. Writers were asked to put up another name other than their actual graffiti name.

>> VIEW THE COMPLETED PIECES HERE

And below are pics from the 100 Plus jam which took place earlier this year:
Click NEXT to cycle through the images…

Thanks to Kirsty @ Step Up for the images.

Wide Open Walls 2011 is upon us. This year the project is curated by South Africa’s Freddy Sam who runs the Write On Africa initiative.

Artist line-up:
- Roa (Belgium)
- Tika (Switzerland)
- Know Hope (Israel)
- Best Ever (UK)
- Remed (Spain)
- BushDwellers (The Gambia)
- Freddy Sam (SA)
- Selah (SA)
- Jonx (SA - Photographer)
- Rowan(SA - Video/Film)
- Sydelle (SA - Anthropologist)

Follow the project:
http://wideopenwalls.withtank.com/ and on Facebook

Read more about the 2010 project HERE.

One of SA’s best, Rasty, was in London recently. He hit up a few spots with SoloOne…

Source:

>> http://www.rasty.co.za/

>> http://www.soloone.blogspot.com/

Graffiti art in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

Recently painted graffiti pieces in Durban, South Africa:

Perm

Polizei

>> VIEW MORE DURBAN PIECES

Graffiti in Morocco

www.meikelwriter.de

The streets are alive with CoeOne‘s Street Detective in Zonnebloem, Cape Town.

The Overhead Sketch Battles came to an end last week Thursday. The final was the closest battle yet as it came down to the very last vote. Here are some pics to roundup the whole event:

Round 1

Rekzo:

AE:
(* pic below by Rasty)

Myza420:

Ben:

Mr Alpha:

Rowan Toselli:

Breeze:

Kevin Love:

Semi-finals

Rekzo vs. Ben:

Mr Alpha vs. Breeze:

3rd & 4th Place

Rekzo vs. Mr Alpha:

Final

Ben vs. Breeze:

Congratulations to Breeze who won the first Overhead Sketch Battle.

All pictures courtesy of

http://www.pndwind.blogspot.com/

(except *)

We finally received some pics from the graffiti battle which took place at last weekends My Culture Resurrection Jam…

Muro (1st Place):

Kanz (2nd Place):

What (3rd Place):

Anser:

Drake:

Fumes:

Jestr:

Kuts:

Luna:

Monk:

Mozi:

Nake:

Pork:

Tone:

Toys:

New York based graffiti artist The Amazing Ske was in Johannesburg in March 2011 for the City of Gold Urban Arts Festival, which included the Just Writing My Name graffiti jam. Part of the FX, TNB and MAD crews and known worldwide for his realistic characters and letter burners - both 3D and wildstyle. Graffiti South Africa caught up with him after his visit to find out more about the man himself and his time in Africa…

Can you please introduce yourself…

I’m The Amazing SKE - FX, TNB, MAD.

Where do you come from?

I am from a town in Puerto Rico called Carolina.

How did you get into graffiti and how long have you been doing it?

I started in 81. By that time some guy from…

>> CONTINUE READING

Check out this video on the Overhead Sketch Battles semi-final which took place at Grayscale last week:

The final takes place tonight…
- Ben vs Breeze (Final)
- Rekzo vs Mr. Alpha (3rd & 4th place play-off)

>> MORE INFO

What is Graffiti? What is Fine Art?
This is ‘Graffiti Fine Art’…

Graffiti Fine Art - Official Extended Preview from Jared Levy on Vimeo.

Trailer for an upcoming documentary film about graffiti and its place in the world of art. 65 artists from 13 countries took part in the 1st Biennial International “Graffiti Fine Art” Exhibition at the MuBE Museum in São Paulo, Brazil.
Directed by Jared Levy.

Today is Africa Day…
We thought we’d share a piece that was painted a few years ago:

Ryza

Check out our Graffiti Africa Gallery for graffiti and street art in other African countries.

Many well-known international artists have visited the continent:

>> Banksy

>> C215

>> Chas (Loveletters Crew)

>> Jace

>> JR

>> Zéh Palito

>> Zoo Project

http://www.graffitisouthafrica.com/rest-of-africa/

More train graffiti in Egypt:

Thanks to Disco Rick.

Montana Writer Team member Smash137 from Germany was in South Africa earlier this year. The internationally renowned artist was in Johannesburg for the City of Gold Urban Arts Festival.

Here are pics of what he painted during his stay:

>> OTHER INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS IN SA

Spanish art collective Boamistura have just released the trailer for their forthcoming documentary about the time they spent in Cape Town earlier this year.

Cape Town graffiti writers Epik and Raze spent their 2010 Christmas in Lesotho…

Johannesburg-based graffiti artist HacOne grew up in Soweto and has since moved to the city. He began drawing at an early age, making comics as a kid, and slowly getting into the graffiti scene. This love for the graffiti art form inspired him to take his art more seriously and he began a course in graphic design after finishing school. This was his ‘first formal creative training’…

When did you first start graffiti? What got you into it and why did you start?

I started writing around 97-98. I had been sketching before then because I had seen graffiti before in rap videos and stuff. When I got more into the hip-hop culture graffiti art became a more natural element for me.

Tell us about your name and why you chose it.

I started out writing Icon but always struggled with connecting the I and the C so I changed my name to Hack. Later, I found out that there was a Hack in Cape Town, so because I had already been using the name, I just changed it to HacOne. I liked the way the letters worked together.

You are one of the first-generation writers in Johannesburg. Give us some insight on the early graffiti scene there.

When I started out there was a few writers I used to see around…

>> CONTINUE READING

Recently painted graffiti pieces in Johannesburg, South Africa:

Tyke

Tapz

Mars

Fiya

Rekzo, Rasty, Myza

Myza

Rasty

Rekzo

Myza

Boas

Eron, Gas

Jerk

Angel

Vesa

Naid (Zebo)

Zesta

>> VIEW MORE JOZI PIECES

The first rounds of Grayscale’s Overhead Sketch Battles took place on the 5th and 12th of May 2011. Check out the pics of the artists at work:

All pics courtesy of Rasty.

The onlookers were asked to vote for a winner of each battle and the winners progressed to the next round.

The semi-finals take place this Thursday, May 19:

• Rekzo vs. Ben
• Mr. Alpha vs. Breeze

>> MORE INFO

South African artists are painting all over the world and we just love seeing what they are getting up to. Check out some of the pics in our SA Artists Abroad picture gallery.

Bryite1one - Dublin, 2011

Bryite1one - Dublin

East, Aybe - London

Aybe - London

Editor, Cast

Editor

Cast

Balrog

Balrog

Gfunk

Gfunk

>> VIEW MORE PICS

>> MORE INFO

>> MORE INFO

Brazilian artist Zéh Palito spent 6 months volunteering for an American/Danish N.G.O in the rural areas of north Zambia in 2010. He educated people about water and sanitation during the week, mainly working with the children. Then on weekends, he could show off his artistic talent.

On Saturdays, Zéh Palito and another friend from Korea, Sim, held classes where they taught the kids about geography, sport and art. They realised that there was not much entertainment for the kids besides them playing games with stones (kabulila), playing with tyres, and soccer. These new interactive classes became the Saturday Club.

On Sundays, it was Zéh Palito’s day off - painting time!

Having only come across spray paint twice in his whole 6 month trip, which was very expensive, Zéh Palito mainly used water-based paint and was lucky enough to have a friend get him a much needed red pigment and gold pigment which became the most prized possessions during his stay.

One does not get to see pictures of Zambia very often, especially street art in the rural areas. Because Zéh Palito took so many great photographs and painted some pretty cool pieces, we decided to share some more pics with you.

Below are more pictures from his trip. Be sure to check out his Flickr page for even more pictures of his first African adventure.

“Anyone can’t do everything, But everyone can do something.”

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zehpalito/

40HK

The blog of UK/SA graffiti crew, Forty Hit Kombo.
http://www.fortyhitkombo.blogspot.com/

Dead Beat

A New Zealand graffiti blog that features the SA Artists that are in NZ.
http://deadbeatmeat.blogspot.com/

Die Skurrel

A Cape Town graffiti blog.
http://www.dieskurrel.blogspot.com/

Faith47

The blog of graffiti artist Faith47
http://faith47.tumblr.com/

Maddy Fresh

The blog of Maddy Fresh
http://maddyfresh.wordpress.com/

Megatheriums

A blog about Cape Town culture that features graffiti.
http://www.megatheriums.blogspot.com/

Faith47 and DALeast were on Reunion Island in April for the Forum On Urban Culture 2011.

http://www.faith47.com/

http://www.daleast.com/

“Moniker”, a solo exhibition by Kilmany-Jo Liversage aka Orda features portraits of well-known street artists. Large, colourful, street art-inspired paintings made with traditional aerosol sprays ‘to create works that redefine identities as a mark of contemporary life’.

Venue: Worldart Gallery, 54 Church Street, Cape Town CBD
Date: 7 - 29 May 2011

>> MORE INFO

>> RSVP

Spanish graffiti artist Sex (a.k.a. El Nino) was in Joburg last week. Check out the pics of what he painted - crazy, cool stuff!

Below are new photographs of the murals in Woodstock, Cape Town. Some were painted recently for the I Art SA community mural project and some by international artists as part of the /A Word of Art residency programme.

Artists that feature are:
- Freddy Sam
- David Shillinglaw (UK)
- Boamistura (Spain)
- Andrew Breitenberg
- Faith47
- Tika (Switzerland)
- Bison
- Black Koki
- Dathini Mzayiya
- Xanele
- Fuzzy Slippers
- Indigo (Canada)
- Dal
- Rasty

All photos courtesy of Derek Smith.

CAPS & CANS, the new importer and distributor for Belton Molotow in South Africa.

Check out their website for more info:
www.capsandcans.co.za

www.molotow.com

Chas of Loveletters crew in The Netherlands has very recently painted in Kumasi, Ghana.

Source: Streetfiles.org

5 May 2011 - Overhead Sketch Battles

Artists battle it out against each other on overhead projectors. Starting this Thursday.

Venue: Grayscale Store & Gallery, Braamfontein, Johannesburg

>> MORE INFO

7 May 2011 - Hybrid Graffiti Exhibition

Artists exhibiting:
- Rasty
- Angel
- Snatch
- Jimmy More
- Irene Loureiro Gowa (Spain)

Venue: St Lorient Fashion & Art Gallery, Brooklyn, Pretoria
(Shows runs until 31 May 2011.)

>> MORE INFO

>> VIEW MORE

The annual Back To The City Festival took place a few days ago. Here are some pics of the graffiti pieces that were painted:

Hades, Jokr, Tower, What

Mak1one, El Nino aka Sex (Spain), Falko, Gogga

T-Mac, Kef1, Smak, Fumez

Kanz, Snot, Mozi

Nomad, Lunar

Pork, Nuke, Mesar

Monk, Cre8, Las1, Reap, Dyne, Anser, Syk

Toys, Beva, Tone, Bongz, Drake, Erase, Spotz

Ryza (Heal)

AOS

Psalm1

Check out the evolution of the splitpiece by Falko in Cape Town:

Source: Falko’s flickr

MORE ABOUT “SPLITPIECE”…

>> MORE INFO

Falko is back in the small town of Darling (about 75km from Cape Town) to paint more splitpieces. Having recently been there for his project “The Darling Made Me Do It” in February, he is back again for part two: “Sportscene Made Me Do It In Darling”.

With the help of fellow artists Jadas, Nardstar and Seth, the aim is to create 8 splitpieces and 27 individual murals in close proximity, thus turning this residential area into a vibrant living gallery.

The splitpiece is an original and groundbreaking development in the graffiti world. The concept of splitpiece is to take one image and divide it into 3-8 sections. Each section is painted in a different area and each of these sections stands alone as an artwork, with its own meaning, in its respective location. Once all sections are completed the photographs of the various sections are brought together to make one fully comprehensive image.

We’re looking forward to seeing the completed images. Previous splitpiece projects have been really mind blowing. Great to see stuff like this happening in our country as it gives artists a chance to share their thoughts and visions with smaller communities and it also unites people in an entirely new way.

All splitpieces are being produced for a future book and the living gallery of Akkerboom street in Darling can be marketed as a tourist attraction.

Follow the project on Facebook

Watch videos of other Falko splitpieces

TONIGHT (15 April 2011)

More info

NEXT WEEK

An exhibition of new works by /A Word Of Art artists in residence Indigo (Canada) and David Shillinglaw (UK).

More info

Photo by: Patrick Baz/AFP/Getty Images

View all the photos from Foreign Policy HERE

And read the unfortunate story of graffiti revolutionary, Kais al-Hilali, HERE

Only two weeks until Joburg’s biggest Hip Hop event - The Back To The City Freedom Day Festival. In its 5th year running the event will take place on Freedom Day (27 April 2011) and will feature over 30 MC’s, DJ’s, B-boys, Beatbox and skateboard competitions, and of course the graffiti pillars.

Taking place by Ritual Stores in Newtown (cnr. Bree and Henry Nxumalo) from 9.30am til 11pm. R60 gets you in. RSVP here.

More info:
http://www.backtothecity.co.za/
http://www.backtothecitysa.blogspot.com/

JR’s Inside Out Project recently started off in Tunisia (View pics here.) To get yourself involved in this inspiring project, check out the official website. Maybe JR will be back in South Africa - Watch the JR in Soweto video here

More about 2011 TED Prize Winner, JR, HERE

Having visited Kenya, Liberia and Sierra Leone in the past, JR is back on African soil. This time he is kicking off his Inside Out Project with Artocracy in Tunisia.

Source: Juxtapoz

More:
http://jr-art.net/
http://insideoutproject.net

Train bombing in Cairo, Egypt

Cairo part from Papas Vol. 2 video:

Huslaz whole car:

We’ve been seeing some very interesting developments in Cape Town recently. All coming from /A Word of Art.

A Word of Art is all about supporting artists and creating upliftment through art projects. Some of the projects include the Write On Africa project and Artist in Residency programme, and the more recent I Art SA community mural project.

All of these projects are doing great work for communities - creating inspiration and beautifying neighbourhoods like Woodstock - and the diverse mixture of artists and art styles is something exciting to see.

Rejuvenation Project: Percy Bartley House

Artist in Residency programme

The Artist in Residency programme has brought some wonderful international artists to the city of Cape Town. It is all about having artists and musicians from other countries, as well as other parts of South Africa, living and working in a studio at the WOA headquarters in the Woodstock Industrial Centre.

The visiting artists have each published their trip in a unique blog:

• We Are Visual (Hamburg, Germany)
  Dec 2010 to Jan 2011
  http://awoa-residency.blogspot.com/

• Tika (Switzerland/Berlin/Rio)
  Jan 2011 to March 2011
  http://awoa-residency-tika.blogspot.com/

• Peter Aerschman (Switzerland)
  Jan 2011 -March 2011
  http://awoa-residency-peter.blogspot.com/

• BoaMistura (Madrid, Spain) :
  March - April 2011
  http://awoa-residency-boamistura.blogspot.com/

Watch a video of BoaMistura in Cape Town

New Artists in Residency (April 2011):

• Indi Go (Canada)
  http://indigoestocapetown.wordpress.com/

• David Shillinglaw (UK)
  http://awoa-residency-davidshillinglaw.blogspot.com/

And South African artist Senyol is set to visit Finland.
http://awoa-residency-paulsenyol.blogspot.com/

I Art SA

I Art SA is a community mural project aimed at promoting artists and interacting with the communities of Woodstock and Soweto. An exhibition will be held after each project which will raise funds for Write On Africa to help those in need.

Read more HERE

I Art Woodstock

Artists that took part:

• 35-ten-73
• Alexia Webster & Mikey Saal
• Black Koki
• BoaMistura
• Dathini Mzanyiya
• Freddy Sam
• Fuzzy Slippers
• Jeremy Puren
• Jonx Pillemer
• Linsey Levendall of Bison
• Paul Senyol
• Rowan Pybus of Makhulu
• Tika
• Xanele

View pictures of the murals HERE and see them in real life HERE.

Write On Africa

Write On Africa are all about social change and they are helping out all over Africa.

• Write On Transkei - [Watch the video]

• Write On Swaziland

• Write On Gambia

More:

http://www.a-word-of-art.co.za/
http://www.writeonafrica.org/
http://www.i-art-sa-project.com/

Reportage on JR in Kibera, Kenya 2009 by A24media

Ductos Graff (Iker & Muro) in Dakar

Wide Open Walls, an Art Safari, is a new annual arts project that takes place in The Gambia. Seven artists took part in 2010 where they painted villages such as Kubuneh in the Makasutu Culture Forest over two weeks.

Read an interview with Eelus, one of the artists and curator of the project, HERE

>> Follow the Wide Open Walls Project here

Check out the video below:

French street artist C215 did his thing in Morocco in 2009.
View his pics from Casablanca HERE and his pics from Fes HERE.

French photographer/street artist/activist JR visited the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya as part of his 28 Millimetres project.

This work is also featured in his feature film Women Are Heroes which was released on January 12 2011.

The infamous street artist Banksy was in Africa for a short stint in 2009. The works are thought to be in Mali, though some say he might have visited Cairo.

Street artist Jace (born in France and now living on Reunion Island) went to Anakao in Madagascar in 2009. He was there for two weeks; living with the people and painting lots of fishing boats.

Tetuan Raps 2008
(AS2 SCRO SKEW REINA ANTRAS)

Graffiti in Tanger

Motor in Morocco

Ston graffiti, Morocco

Diabetes awareness with graffiti, Dakar 2009

Alessandro Cocchia (Purp) in Dakar

Graffiti in Dakar

Essen, graffiti artist - representing Umoja – Kenya

Masai Mbili and Solo7 create messages of peace in the ruins of Kibera, Kenya (March 2008)

Open Your Eyes - Brazzaville, 2007

OPEN YOUR EYES A BRAZZAVILLE
Uploaded by yzone. - Discover more animation and arts videos.

Since last week there has been quite some buzz about a McDonalds billboard in Long Street, Cape Town…

Source: Don’t Party

Grayscale presents “City of Gold” Urban Art Festival in Johannesburg. A week dedicated to celebrating graffiti at various locations around the city.

The event takes place from 7-13 March 2011 with film screenings, exhibitions, street murals and the Just Writing My Name graffiti jam.

Featuring international artists:
- Terrible T-Kid 170 (TNB crew, New York)
- Ske ( TNB, FX crews, New York)
- Lazoo (MAC crew, Paris)
- Smash137 (Montana Writer Team, Basel)
- Kine (TNB, NK crews, Bremen).

Faith47 is one of South Africa’s best graffiti artists and one of the leading female urban artists in the world. She creates powerful, thought-provoking images that reflect on social issues. Her artwork speaks to the individual as it crosses both artistic and cultural borders.

Her first book is due for release in March 2011 through From Here to Fame Publishing as part of the ON THE RUN series.

Title: FAITH 47
Series: On The Run Books
Author: From Here to Fame Publishing
Pages: 128 full color
Photographs: ca. 250 photographs & illustrations
Format: 23.5 x 16cm (9.25 x 6.3 inches)
Language: English edition
Published: 5th of March 2011
ISBN Paperback: 978-3-937946-08-5
Price Paperback: 9.95 €

Limited collector’s Edition:
ISBN Hardcover: 978-3-937946-09-2
Silver Embossed Hardcover with Jacket & Stitch Binding
Price Hardcover: 14.95 €