Graffiti Photographers United

Whereas most graffiti books are focused on the pure presentation of graffiti this book provides an authentic look behind the process of creation. Nine international artists show their individual perspectives with atmospheric pictures. Personal texts give great insights into this ano­nymous underground scene.

Graffiti artists from across the world have come together to contribute to a new book on the art form of spray-painting train carriages. With contributors from America, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands all taking part, the images show the creative process behind train-based graffiti. Pictures from ‘Graffiti Photographers: United’ by Paul Stenzel show balaclava-clad graffiti artists taking their spray cans to the sides of trains in Germany, while another shows an artist perched in between two train cars while carrying out some spray-painting. Further shots show a faceless artist spray-painting the side of an American subway car, with yet more images showing one man prizing open a train door from the inside, while his friend decorates the outside of the carriage. Editor Paul Stenzel focused exclusively on illegal train graffiti for this project, and says it’s the rush that comes with the art form that most excites him about it. “I’m interested only in illegal graffiti,” he writes in the book. “Everything started with painting trains, capturing the moment, the atmosphere, the vibe, the action, without even a photo of the finished piece. Later, those things were joined by the desire to take photos but with an emphasis on the finished piece and capturing the traffic in a way that would make the piece look its very best. “For me the best bit about graffiti is that moment when you run from the tunnel after painting a panel, try to find some shop to grab a beer and your camera strap still smells like that panel, when you manage to run from the metro security even if they close the only exit from the layup, when you meet new people who show you places that you couldn’t find by yourself, and that by simply painting some stupid trains you forge friendships that last for years or even longer.”

The artists which take part at the project “Graffiti Photographers United” proudly present their first picture book. With their artworks, they are illustrating their point of view on graffiti-scene. The places of origin reflect the different perspectives of each of them and contain several citys and countries. The core theme of the book are atmospherical shots and the process of trainwriting. Following that, the concept will be the joint presentation of artistical and social statements of different photographers and scene members in one artwork. For a better understanding, the photographers provide commentarial texts according to their picture series.

Artists: Phil America (USA), MJay (Holland), Peter Stelzig (GER), Kevin Schulzbus (GER), Riky Kiwy (IT), Peter White (GER), Dpplhand (GER), RDJ (Holland), Miserable Face (PL)