Graffiti x Green Movement

I'm sure this is what environmental activists want... Korean designers have created a re-usable spray can, the Colour Dial Spray, which allows the tagger to load up to four colour cartridges and features two dials to control hue and brightness and allow the artist to be in full control of their oeuvre. The designers were inspired to create a green spray can after discovering that only 71% of the 180,000 tonnes of can produced every year in South Korea are recycled (which all things considered, isn't a bad recycling rate). I don't know the science behind aerosol cans or spray paint toxins but any successful attempt to offset environmental degradation has to be at least a little bit positive.

Via Hypebeast

Banksy

To start off the graffiti/street art profiles that I promised a little while ago, we have famed English stencil street artist Banksy. He has created some new "pieces" that have appeared in Regent's Canal, London, England. The works come after the recent COP15 environmental conference in Copenhagen and are a clear indication that he, along with most people it seems, is dissatisfied with the results.

The one thing you must know about him though is that you don't know him. No one does. The guy is a complete mystery; his identity is a secret. Many have investigated and guessed, but all have failed. He doesn't even have an agent; he has a "handling service" that acts as his seller for new works (those that can actually be sold and aren't on walls). The craziest part is how succesful this guy is! In June he showcased an exhibition containing over 100 pieces of art at Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery in Bristol, England and on the first weekend alone, 8,500 people came to see it. Over the 12 weeks of the exhibition, 350,000 visitors came. Not bad for a ghost.

He is one of the most influential and famous modern artists and his mysteriousness has only increased his reputation. Check out the jump for more pics.

Killa Kombo - Askew x P. Money

Two of New Zealand's finest have teamed up to create a short video that takes gives a glimpse into the process of creating graffiti murals. Askew is the graffiti artist and P. Money produced the beats for the vid. The vision that Askew has is amazing; to have a blank wall and create layers upon layers of images with spray paint is pure art.

Via Contra

Gift Guide Item #5: Graffiti World: Street Art from Five Continents

I was originally going to post this book as a gift guide item, then forgot about it, then really wanted it for myself so ya, here we are. I've been looking to buy this book for over 3 years now but have never been able to justify spending 45 hard-earned dollars on a big picture book, no matter how graffiti-obsessed I am.

But now that this is a revised edition that comes in at a whopping 392 pages, I think I might splurge and finally pick it up, especially since I can buy it for $30 online here.

As for my aforementioned graffiti obsession, I'll be posting some of my favourite artists over the next few weeks once I have a bit more time to really go through and pick out the best.