Untitled – Street Art in the Counter Culture

Untitled – Street Art in the Counter Culture

By Arden de Raaij

Not too long ago, the good people from Untitled street art gave us the heads up about working on a new book: Untitled II, the beautiful renaissance. Seeing we didn’t knew the first book yet, these kind people send us a complimentary copy of Untitled I – Street art in the counter culture. This week it finally came in, and we were more than surprised about the amazing quality of this book. Only fair if we give you lot a small taste.

'Untitled - Street art in the counter culture'
‘Untitled – Street art in the counter culture’
'Untitled - Street art in the counter culture'
‘Untitled – Street art in the counter culture’

It’s funny how things go. A year ago we started crackforyoureyes all for the love of street art, displaying our own pictures in an online gallery. Now, I’m standing here as happy as a small kid with a new present, which is also clearly a product coming from love of. It’s a proper present, this book. It’s an impressive hardcover book counting 192 full color pages filled with street art and some interesting words by the makers. Next to that it also contains an exclusive soundtrack CD “here lie dragons”

'Untitled - Street art in the counter culture'
‘Untitled – Street art in the counter culture’
'Untitled - Street art in the counter culture'
‘Untitled – Street art in the counter culture’

The book features work by Os Gemeos, Blu, Banksy, Blek le Rat, The London Police, Snub23, Orticandnoodles, Jef Aerosol, Invader, Miss Van, Vhils, C215, Buffmonster, Dface and loads of more artists. Not every page features text, and the credits for all pictures and works can be found in the back of the book. This gives the book a very clean overall look. The choice of lay-out and typography makes it all very easy to look at, and very easy to dwell away in. Even though the book touches different subjects, it flows like one big chapter.

'Untitled - Street art in the counter culture'
‘Untitled – Street art in the counter culture’

The disclaimer sais these words don’t have any relevance to any of the photographs, but it adds a whole lot to the book. Some lines are absolutely hilarious (intended or not) and made me laugh out loud. Headings like “If I shit on a plate is that art?” make sure to keep you reading. Some stuff is actually pretty inspiring and good brain food. Subjects varying from the future of street art to the how and why.

One brilliant piece is about turning ourselves inside out. Honestly, I’m not intelligent enough to summarize it, and I won’t quote it either because you just need to go out and get a copy. Okay one little quote:

“..so the house is the body, and the body is the house. And the city is the body too. The roads and train tracks are its arteries. The institutions are it organs. And the world is its nervous system. The world we built is the body inside out. So when we paint a wall we paint ourselves, both our skin and our insides too..”

And that’s just the thing: Besides having a good feel to it, being a high quality hardcover and containing shiny full color pages in a great layout this book also distinguishes itself from the competition by the accompanying text. It gives the book an extra dimension

'Untitled - Street art in the counter culture'
‘Untitled – Street art in the counter culture’

So if you ask us if this book is worth buying, you’ll get a definite yes. Besides the fact that it’s a beautiful hardcover with shiny full color pages, Untitled knows to seperate itself from other quality street art books with clever and funny text in an unique writing style. Obviously, we’re also very much looking forward to Untitled II – the beautiful renaissance.

Untitled – Street Art in the Counter Culture
Hardback
ISBN 978-0-9559121-0-8

Untitled II – The Beautiful Renaissance
Hardback
ISBN 0955912113

'Untitled - Street art in the counter culture'
‘Untitled – Street art in the counter culture’