'Getting Through Walls showcases some of Blek's most prominent and ignored works alike in a beautiful — and affordable! — tome'
– Anthem
Street artist Blek le Rat is revered and acknowledged by the international graffiti community, and his work has influenced CD design, advertising and graphics, as well as the work of many urban artists around the world.
From small, simple stencils to complex multimedia events, Blek’s distinctive art is showcased here for the first time, demonstrating the development of his technique and creativity over two decades. Whether it’s his unique images of Lady Diana and kidnapped French journalist Florence Aubenas or his iconic silhouette of a rat, we see why ‘The Genius of Blek’ is hailed in King Adz’s film about this elusive, deeply creative figure.
The book features photographs of hundreds of Blek’s works and an in-depth exploration of the method and meaning behind his stencils, as well as a look at the evolution of urban art from New York, Paris, Barcelona and Buenos Aires to London, Taipei, Naples and Berlin. It will inspire anyone interested in design or contemporary urban culture.
Sybille Prou studied art and literary history in Cologne and is the author (with Bernhard van Treeck) of Pochoir and Graffiti in Paris. She is married to Blek le Rat and has photographed his work for many years. King Adz is a filmmaker and Creative Director of 100proofTRUTH, a PDF magazine that celebrates and promotes urban creativity. He produced and directed Original Stencil Pioneer, a film about the life and work of Blek le Rat in 2006.
