Smash 137: Exploring the World of Urban Art

Smash 137 is one of the most prolific graffiti artists in Europe and although some say, he is slightly exaggerating his (I would call it) abstract letter-layer-style, he still is one of my personal heroes when it comes to taking graffiti into galleries! For his upcoming show Beautiful Struggle at Speerstra Gallery in Switzerland, a short Who is Smash 137? video preview was published, presenting not just first views on the new Smash 137 canvas series, but showing also the master himself in action… ...

Amateur Magazine - Smash137 After number 6 and 7 as well as 8 and 9, recently the 10th issue of Switzerland-born Amateur Magazine was published and surprised me again… To publish the first double-digit issue is a good reason to party for every mag, especially when it’s released just twice a year. Nevertheless, it seems that in the case of Amateur, the team didn’t party before the release but tried to produce the best issue ever - and in my eyes, this totally worked out! ...

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) ...

Let the links speak - it’s time for a next round urban art link-tips! Better late than never: Sam3 murals in the beautiful city of Porto… Brad Downey was here: Publisher Onestar Press recently published a new Brad Downey book entitled The Vanity Project. It’s about pseudonyms and being incognito… Berlin-based creative collective Peachbeach painted a huge canvas for the Dudes Factory at the Stroke Artfair… Form Gallery in Perth, Australia just opened its doors for a new Roa show entitled Paradox! ...

Splatter Graffiti | Spray-painting without caps is a nice way to create unique backgrounds and fillings and to create in that way a unique, rough piece! Also the famous two graffiti artists Smash137 and Risk used this technique when caught up the other day to paint a wall near Miami Beach. Both destroyed the covers of their cans by the help of some knifes to paint in a more or less uncontrolled way. Although I really love that rough and unconventional style I never tried it myself because it’s a bit waste, but I have to say it looks like a lot of fun and for sure it is an alternative way of spray-painting! ...

Customized Skateboards | Last weekend, the Berlin Art Projects Gallery opened its doors for the skateboard art show “The Helping Hounds Of Hell”, which presented a huge count of different skateboard decks, customized by about 40 artists from all over the globe! The Helping Hounds Of Hell is a charitable art project launched by the Berlin based design studio Groupe Dejour to benefit the Fair Play foundation. The hand painted, one of a kind boards will be sold at two exhibitions in Berlin and Hamburg. International artists, street artists and graphic designers will create unique boards for the show including Boris Hoppek, Jim Avignon, Jon Burgerman and Casey McKee. (houndsofhell.de) ...

One of Switzerland’s most famous graffiti artists Smash 137 and Spanish street artist and writer Aryz did a great collaboration session in an abandoned factory in Barcelona. Also one of the top urban art documentarists, Ruedi One, was there! One the one side Smash 137. He has a worldwide reputation as being an innovator. His advanced conceptual take on letter styles and modes of application are infamous around the globe. One the other side Aryz. He combines dreamy and sometimes crazy characters with an incomparable comic style. ...

At the beginning of the year, I wrote an article about the creative celebration of Mini’s 50th birthday. The car-manufacturer invited ten well-known artists, including urban artists like Seak One, Tika and Smash137 to repaint some of their cars. Some days ago, I received a package from BMW Switzerland (the owner of Mini) with some of the corresponding “Wash Me” books in it! For that reason, I will give away three of these books to you today! All you have to do is to twitter a link to this article up to and including January 22nd, 8pm. Please, don’t forget to mention me (@berlinpiraten), otherwise I’m not able to find out who participates and who not… Tomorrow evening I will randomly decide three of you who will get the books for free. ...

Last year, the car-manufacturer Mini celebrated its 50th birthday with a great art event. In addition to the controversial discussed, but inspiring KRink vs. Mini action, ten other well-known artists, including urban artists like Seak One, Tika and Smash137, created their custom-styled Minis. Ten very different car-styles were created by the very different artist, whose single similarity was, that they never painted a car before. For that reason, they used a lot of different techniques to customize their Minis: cleaning, sluicing, omitting, spraying, scratching and painting were only a few. ...

Some weeks ago, I wrote about the upcoming Smash 137 graffiti exhibition. Yesterday it was time - Exactly 7pm, the Common Ground Gallery opened its doors. “Contemporary European artist Smash 137 has a worldwide reputation as being an innovator. His impact on the international writer’s scene is significant and widespread. He is what you might call a writer’s writer, with an advanced conceptual take on letter styles and modes of application. Equally at home in the street and in the gallery his work takes the art of writing to the next level.” (press release) ...