Click Here To Purchase Japan Graffiti

Author: Remo Camerota

Publisher: Mark Batty Publisher

ISBN: 978-0-9790486-7-8

Graffiti - just what does this mean to you? Some say it is an act of vandalism, others claim it is a piece of urban art to be loved and most of all, appreciated. Myself I find there are two forms of graffiti - the messy sprawlly kind with rude messages and signs and the stunning, simply eye-catching graffiti that in its own right should be recognized as street art.  

Here Ramo Camerota attempts to uncover the graffiti scene in Japan that has been the home of graffiti for quite a while now since being inspired by America.

His first graffiti artist interview is with Japanese graffiti group BELX2. This is a group of women “writers” and one of only 5 women writers getting huge respect in Japan.

Their artwork (portrayed here) is very unique and totally captivating to the average passer-by. They have drawn a magnificent set piece of a colourful, lush design using a wall as their canvas.  

When you look closely at graffiti like this it is very much like a 3D illusion - there may not be hidden creatures and images to be “seen” straight away but if you train your eyes things will suddenly appear.

Japanese graffiti seems to me, a little different from, say, our Westernized kind. Their artistic flare has more Asian cartoon characters in and also dragons that play such a big part in Japanese culture.  

This book really helps to illustrate not only the artists’ beautiful work but also their feelings and beliefs as people.

Every part of their existence is brought to life by graffiti designs with a large helping of colour. When you think all it takes is a can of spray paint and imagination to draw such stunning art, I wonder why so much of it is regarded as vandalism? I can see people paying for some writers to come and “paint” their walls in the not too distant future. . or has it already been done?  

Camerota interviews many more graffiti writers within these pages who all share their ideas, thoughts and designs with us.

One graffiti artist has taken his work to the next level (or should that be platform) as he likes to unleash his spray can on trains.

He says “Japanese trains are maniac - very deep and fantastic.” 

Could it be that every writer picks their own canvass (be it a train, shopping mall or park wall) because these places harbour something special and perhaps spiritual to them?

It does seem clear to me that graffiti writing to these urban scrawlers is their main passion in life - very much like if you are a singer or an actress perhaps. It fills them with happiness and they feel at peace with themselves. 

One writer says: “I want to hold a can of spray paint in my hand until the last moments of my life.” Need these writers say more?

A well presented graffiti book with front and back folding leaflets. It helps us to understand graffiti artists more and recognize graffiti as a distinct form of art and self-assertion.

This would make the ideal present if you know someone who loves graffiti.

A stunning, amazing book offering from design and culture publisher Mark Batty.