Newsweek Culture

Photos: Artists Around Globe Create 'Message Graffiti'

A new book explores the hidden-in-plain-sight world of message graffiti

San Francisco designers Axel Albin and Josh Kamler want you to know that someone's trying to tell you something. They say that these people are venturing into the night--often risking arrest--to display these messages in plain sight, in alleyways and on sidewalks in the urban corridors of America and beyond. Some would call them vandals; to others, they're artists. Whichever you believe, their work is now featured in a new book of 'message graffiti' from around the globe, called 'Written on the City.' A far cry from old school tagging--marking up property with a personal logo--message graffiti can be funny, beautiful, unsettling, even brilliant. Keep clicking for a sampling of our favorites.

 
 
7 Things

In this weekly series, NEWSWEEK interviews the artists, celebrities, musicians and newsmakers that fascinate us. In their own words, cultural icons get real about their art, their passions and life on the A-list. (Or B-list, as the case may be.)

Performances

Some of music's brightest stars, including Bob Mould and Elvis Costello, offer up their latest for NEWSWEEK's cameras.

NEWSWEEK On Air

Our NEWSWEEK ON AIR radio and podcast program explores top stories with newsmakers and NEWSWEEK staffers.

Download NEWSWEEK Video Podcast with iTunes
Sponsored by
 
 
 
  • Social Networks
  • Links to this article
 
  • Digg It!
  • Newsvine
  • Del.icio.us
  • Post to MySpace! MySpace
 
 

Email To A Friend

Please fill in the following information and we'll email this link.

Separate multiple addresses with commas

 

Discuss

Member Comments

  • Posted By: Banksyfan @ 09/16/2008 8:02:24 PM

    THIS IS A BANKSY!!! Can't you people tell?

  • Posted By: AKallander @ 08/15/2008 3:41:46 PM

    It is worth checking out their website (www.languageincommon.com) they have some well written and interesting downloadable eBooks available there if you scroll down a bit (I particularly like the 'How to be a better lover: the definitive sex manual for good business'). They also have a project to recycle food called Replate (www.replate.org) that is cool. Lots of good ideas: they are super smart & talented communication designers - can't wait to see what's next.

  • Posted By: Nkelly @ 08/10/2008 9:51:58 PM

    These guys run a design studio called Language in Common. Apparently, they do more than just client projects.

Reply

Report Abuse

Enter comments if any for reporting abuse

View All Comments »