Kings Way
The Beginnings of Australian Graffiti - Melbourne 1983-1993
Published on 1. July 2010
Book
Paperback/Softback
978-0-522-85751-1 (ISBN)
Description
A quarter of a century ago, the New York City hip-hop phenomenon left its mark on Australian walls-a graffiti-writing culture was born. In a barrage of blinding colour, cryptic words and bombed out train carriages, Kings Way tells the story of Melbourne's emerging underground writing scene and the youth whose sole purpose was to get up. Using the city's walls and trains as their ephemeral canvas, these writers pioneered the elaborate spray-paint artworks that continue to dominate Melbourne's cityscape. With more than 1200 full colour images, this volume captures the rapid changes in styles in these early years, as Melbourne's graffiti evolved from basic tags through to explosive full colour masterpieces. Part visual encyclopaedia, part social history, Kings Way chronicles the events, spaces, materials and folklore that made up the lives of Melbourne's early writers. Compiled by active participants in the subculture across this period, it pays tribute to the individuals and crews who laid the foundation for Melbourne's reputation as a graffiti style capital.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Carlton
Australia
Publishing group
Melbourne University Press
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 279 mm
Width: 226 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
1700 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-522-85751-1 (9780522857511)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Duro Cubrilo - Duro Cubrilo is the Editor, Author and Creative Director of Kings Way. He is a Melbourne-based art director/designer with over fourteen years experience across brand development and advertising, servicing a range of corporate to youth-related clientele. Duro is also a veteran of the Melbourne graffiti subculture, building his reputation since the late 1980s as one of the country's finest. His continual involvement in the scene has lead to gallery exhibitions and feature articles in numerous publications, both locally and abroad. Martin Harvey - Martin Harvey is an Author, Advisor and Research Consultant on Kings Way. He has documented the culture and has a formidable understanding of the art form. His personal contribution through years of painting and involvement, since the 1980s, also led to obsessive travelling throughout the transit system to document the art form and movement. Karl Stamer - Karl Stamer is an Author, Research Consultant and Image Reproduction Consultant on Kings Way. His interest in graffiti began in 1984 in Melbourne's southern bayside suburb of Middle Park. His early subcultural achievements, knowledge of the inner-city scene and extended network of contacts make him a valuable source of information for this project.