When Arabic Graffiti by German publisher From Here To Fame was published earlier this year, I already wrote some line about the book, because it extrapolated a totally new field of graffiti reflection. With images of the energetic Arabic calligraphy in mind I was really looking forward to get my own copy…with good reason! Arabic Graffiti is not just a great collection of astonishing artworks by different artists like L’Atlas, Sun7, eL Seed and others, but also a nice reading when it comes to Arabic script and calligraphy or public art in Middle East in general. On round about 200 colored pages, the book brings together artists, graffiti writers and typographers from around the globe who merge Arabic calligraphy with the art of graffiti writing, street art and urban culture… ...

After his successful and much-noticed exhibition in Berlin, the Skalitzers Gallery crew took Roa (our hero when it comes to paint black and white animals) to their home-country, which is why he just traveled Australia during the last months, as the majority of you probably already know. Recently, Skalitzers published some nice photos of the fantastic new murals, Roa was able to paint down-under in the Cities of Perth and Fremantle! Long story made short, here are the photos… ...

Brad Downey’s work over the past decade has consistently pitted itself against the sanctioned and the predictable, that’s the first sentence in Brad Downey’s Spontaneous Sculptures book and in my eyes this describes the presented series of urban interventions, transformations and occupation the best way. With this second part of my Urban Art Books & Mags Special I’d like to introduce his latest book to you… Downey was born 1980 into a military family, studied film in Brooklyn and painting in London and lives right now in Berlin. He’s well-known around the globe for his I would say back-to-the-roots artistic works in public space, which are often almost criminal and confusing (like the burning CCTV cameras) but always simply great and inspiring. For that reason, the Spontaneous Sculptures book, with its 160 colored pages, is a great reading for urban intervention enthusiasts. ...

Remember that fantastic mural by Spanish-born twins How & Nosm in Los Angeles from last month? Recently the Vandalog crew discovered some more flipping How & Nosm walls in New York Cities South Bronx! Another great thing about one of those dope murals is that it’s probably a collaboration with Aryz, who in my eyes is one of the most famous European urban artists at the moment… My advice: Take a look and simply be impressed! ...

Supported by Obey, Russian graffiti crew CHO is going to publish their first film! Entitle Комендантский Час (what simply means curfew), the video report includes great bombing, painting, pasting and running action mainly filmed during their trips to and in Spain, France and Russia… Watching the trailer with its nice footage whetted my appetite, for what reason I’m waiting eagerly for the release on December 1st. I’m pretty sure it’s getting huge, but as long as you’re waiting together with me, you should probably check out some other great graffiti action videos, like the 1UP subway graffiti action or the Copenhagen Trains documentary. ...

When I first wrote some lines about the Swiss artist driven Amateur Magazine a year ago I was keen about the high content and print quality of the around 100 pages magazine. Since then I’m well supplied with their issues and became a fan of their nice stories, great interviews and topical diversity. And that’s the reason for me to introduce the latest issue of this print publication to you as the first part of the announced Urban Art Books & Mags Special. ...

It’s the last day in this year’s October and although it’s still sunny (at least in Berlin) the dark and cold season is coming closer and closer. For that reason I’d like to give you the chance to grab some good reading before you’re getting bored while staying inside all day long by recommending you the latest urban art books and magazines I got so far… To do that in a somehow structured way, I collected a stack of urban art related publications by different publishers which I’ll introduce to you one after another during the first half of November. And to extend this Urban Art Books & Mags Special and to bring joy to some of you I will also give away some of the presented printed works. So make sure to check out the upcoming book and magazine reviews! ...

As I mentioned in the latest Urban Art Link-Tips, famous writer Smash 137 opened - after that really nice Berlin show in 2009 - a new exhibition entitled Grow up! last Saturday in Paris… Grow up! That is the phrase Smash137 heard so often from the mouths of his parents, from the girls he loved, and from some of his friends when he was going out to paint, his backpack bursting with spray paint. Today, things have changed a bit… (Galerie Celal) ...

It’s not as great as Dave the Chimp’s skateboard painting device or DTagno’s train graffiti installation tool, but this lovely constructed water calligraphy device by Canadian artist Nicholas Hanna is probably the most effective, inexpensive and eco friendly way for street propaganda I’ve seen so far! The modified tricycle mimics the Chinese custom of writing temporary messages on the road with water. With a computer installed on the handlebars, the water calligraphy device allows the rider to type Chinese characters, which will be transmitted electronically to a set of valves, which release water droplets in programmed patterns… ...

In September 2011, Soon Gallery brought German graffiti and street artist Hendrik ECB Beikirch to London to paint one of his well-known greyscale faces. A few days ago, video documentarist Stefan Pohl (who also did that nice Birth of a Spray-Can video) published the corresponding documentary! When I watched ECB painting at the IBUg 2011 urban art festival, I was highly impressed by his extensive use of water during painting (you can see that also in the video) and his big talent to diversify tones of grey and to compose them in a perfectionist way… ...