Recensione del libro "Paris City Graffiti".

Copertina Paris City Graffiti

Un bel libro che racconta la storia del writing a Parigi, più con le immagini che con le parole. Il libro è in francese con traduzione in inglese, ma le parti scritte non sono molte: ne troviamo una all'inizio (una breve storia del Writing-personalmente consigliamo di leggere altri libri sull'argomento, come Graffiti Kingz http://2phecrew.blogspot.it/2011/12/recensione-graffiti-kings-new-york-city.html, che sono molto più completi sotto questo punto di vista), ne troviamo ancora all'inizio di ogni capitolo e un po' sparse in mezzo alla marea di foto, attraverso le quali i writers raccontano cos'è il writing per loro o riferiscono alcuni aneddoti sulle proprie esperienze. I capitoli si dividono in 5 categorie principali: strade, treni, lungo linea, murate (Hall of Fame), old school. Con una bella grafica e tantissime foto sparse su circa 3oo pag. si ripercorre il writing parigino, il quale con personaggi come Bando e Mode2 ha influenzato largamente il movimento europeo e non solo. Particolarmente bella è la raccolta di numerosi pezzi della old school parigina, foto che di sicuro sono difficili da reperire da altre parti. Qui trovate invece il link del sito ufficiale: http://pariscitygraffiti.com/

Alcune frasi prese direttamente dal libro:

Alcune pagine tratte dal capitolo Old School.

Then the eye takes public transportation where people shove and push each pther, where no one looks at each other and where the arrival of a colored train in the subway station changes people's everyday life, in order to shake them up and make them think and react...

In the United States of America at the end of the 60's, Graffiti appeared under a new form. Names of undividuals or related to a gang, group or crew could be seen on the walls of all major cities, writtin with spray cans and fat markers. A simple signature emerged: the "tag" was born! Then, the letters got bigger with more colors and style, it was the beginning of graffiti "pieces".

1982 Paris was still under the influence of Punk-Rock, and those who had not been lucky enough to read the newspaper's article entitled " American Graffiti : art " written by Pascaline Cuvelier and published in october 1981, discovered the phenomenon notably thanks to the European tour organized by the French radio station Europe 1 : New-York City Rap. It rapresented every hip-hop art form: rap music, break dancing, and DJing with AFRIKA BAMBAATAA (founder of the ZULU NATION) and the ROCK STEADY CREW- Graffiti art was itself rapresented by a name who marked our minds and the future:it was FUTURA 2000. 1983 Back then, only thirty names imposed their colorful letters and decorations on the walls with more or less skills: SPEEDY (DEE NASTY), MASTER BOO, BLITZ, SPIRIT, ASPHALT, COOL J (JAY), SAHO (ASH2), SKKI (DOE), SCAM, PHIL1, SHAKER, KAMEL, KAYA, SCIPION,FROG, CHINO, KATHE67 (JOEY STARR), SKEY (SHEN), CASE (COLT), ACRO (SOY), JAID, SAN, SPRAY, BOBO, FRED, RISK, MEGATON... However, one name found itself on top, he war a kid from the wealthy neighborhoods of Paris who called himself BANDO.

1986 A whole year elapsed and the famous vacant lot of Stalingrad gained more importance than ever with the opening of the first hip-hop store in France and Europe:Ticaret, just a block away from it. Graffiti spread as wild fire, just like hip-hop... Paris became the second capital city of this culture, the Stalingrad stop became a place of worship, a real pilgrimage... The place gave birth to the first Block Party wich were organized by one of the pioneers of French hip-hop DJs, DJ DEE NASTY. Dancing, rapping, DJing and Graffiti artists from all around the world gathered in this extraordinary place.

1987 Queen Candy, the Zulu Nation queen of Paris, launched the first French fanzine of Hip-hop movement entitled TZL (The Zulu Letters).

When you write your name on paper you only move the hand, it is close to writing. A lil bombing needs the arm. For big fat caps tags of seven feet long, you also use your legs, it is like dancing or kickboxing: you have to calculate the distance and keep the balance for it not be noticed in your calligraphy. KOOCE

To me Graffiti is more than the writing, the vandal, the street art, contemporary art or whatever definition we try to give to dat shit. It is primarily a fucking treat!

Graffiti is like life, the more you grow the better you get... For my part, I have always painted or written for the gesture or to explore new styles, not necessarily for fame, cash or star system... I leave that to fools and bitches of all kinds. I do not know a lot of purists but the ones I have met taught me humility and above all how to know my culture better... Keep it real... BRONE

It gave me a lot of communication, knowledge, travel and a lot fun, I like adding colors to this world where everything is grey. KOMO

The one who creates the energies possesses the flow of life... In between chaos and harmony, deep in my mind between madness and genius I explore the book of letters' magic, constantly recreating endlessly. DIKSA

Altre pagine tratte direttamente dal libro.