Calligraffiti

Diluted Indian ink on craft paper (91 x 67 cm).

Black permanent marker ink on polypropene film (± 90 x 50 cm).

Four pieces doen with black permanent marker ink on polypropene film (± 70 x 50 cm).

S3 close up.

These three works were in an exhibition ar Salamatina gallery. They each have another degree of simplicity/complexity. Caligraffiti is very much about the beauty of simplicity. Even the simplest things can have very complex meaning to the viewer. Shoe tries to explain:

“The work called ‘S5′ is a good example of simplicity/complexity. It is the last piece of five similar Calligraffiti works that show the letter S. In the graffiti-world it is a known fact that the S is the most difficult letter in the alphabet, but when done properly can be very strong. (I have written a small essay about the letter S in the book Post Graffiti.) For me letters have personalities. And words are a symphony of those characters. I have to match them carefully.”

“This you can see this symphony in ‘Bubble wrapped’. The B is the leader type that sends the other letters to their positions. The double b’sand p’s are a gift. The term Bubble Wrapped refers to the bubbly plastic. When you are in love it feels like you are together rolled in a big roll of bubble-wrap. The ink is less glossy than in the other pieces. I use this diluted ink sometimes because it creates nice shades of grey.”

“‘Unanonymous’ is a more abstract Calligraffiti piece. Look at it as a song. Maybe you don’t get all the lyrics, but it’s more about the rhythm and overall impression. The title is about the basic urge that a graffiti writer has; to show that he exists. He will not be anonymous like everybody else. Hence Unanonymous. The word isn’t in the dictionary but has a beautiful flow, even when broken down into Una-non-ymous. If you look closely you’ll be able to read ‘I know why the caged bird sings’. I think birds wants to be noticed and are saying ‘listen what I can do!’. Caged birds sing the blues.”