Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Review: Graffiti Paris by Fabienne Grévy

Graffiti Paris by Fabienne Grévy
Reviewed by Maggie: May 2, 2012
Published June 1, 2008 by Abrams
Goodreads • Buy at AmazonBook Depository


"Look around and take notice of the traces left by street artists on the city's walls and pavement. Rethink the city, rediscover its surfaces, and map out walks that may lead you to new graphic horizons. Find something in the least imaginable places, choose what to look at — beauty is where you discover it —and interpret the artistic messages that are being communicated to you. This is an adventure that takes place in the street."

This is how Fabienne Grévy begins her fantastic book. Graffiti Paris is a book of street art photographs taken by Grévy and her father over 15 years. Together, they wandered around Paris as they looked for pieces to curate their "imaginary museum." The result is a diverse collection of street art ideas, techniques, styles, and artists. Grévy includes pieces by famous artists and anonymous ones, works with messages and works without. Each piece is numbered, and details, such as name, location, and translation, are indexed in the back of the book. The most familiar artist, at least to Americans, is probably Shepard Fairey (#53). Another notable artist is Blek le Rat (#127), the man who inspired Banksy. My favorite artist, Fafi (#49), is also included.

I absolutely loved this book. It felt like I was walking around Paris with the coolest guide, the one who always finds the hole-in-the-wall restaurants that serve the best food. I love to travel, and when I do, I like to wander off the beaten path. The next time I'm in Paris, this book will be my guide. (Hopefully, I'll have a Shadow as well.) I know a lot of pieces have already been painted over, but what better way to explore than looking for random street art? I love how Grévy describes graffiti art: an "artistic break-in that has yet to find a name in the books of art history." Parfait.

Rating: 5/5 stars.

I went through my pictures from France and found two that I wanted to share:
I lived in France for nearly a year and there were roughly 3,682 strikes.
This picture was taken at the Louvre during one strike.
I loved that even the strike posters had an artistic bent.
Translation: My guardians are angry. Give them what they are owed.

This next picture was taken in the town of Angoulême.
Angoulême is home to the International Comics Festival
and there is comic-inspired graffiti art painted throughout the city.
This was one of my favorite towns in France.
I loved exploring the city while going on a street art hunt.
You can get a map of the different locations from the Hôtel de Ville.


Note: If you're interested, this gorgeous hardcover is on sale for less than $7 on Amazon.

18 comments:

  1. I'm totally buying this Maggie! It looks amazing. --N

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    1. Noelle! Get the "Like New" version shipped through Amazon for $2. I got that and it's perfect. The seller has more copies too.

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  2. Such beautiful pictures today. You are so lucky to have spent A YEAR in Paris!! And I can't believe this is so cheap. Yet another contender for the "what shall I do with my birthday gift-card" list! Decisions, decisions.

    :)

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    1. That was definitely one of the best years of my life. Catie, I bought the "Like New" version from seller "Top2BottomDeals" for $2 and it's perfect. I just saw that he/she has another copy listed.

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  3. Oh my goodness, I WANT THIS BADLY! Partially because I am a cover-lover and that cover is beautiful. But also? I just love Paris and art and YA and omg, I can't even go on with how great you make this one sound. Off to Amazon I go!

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    1. April, Good Books and Good Wine should definitely go to Paris! If you haven't gotten the book already, the $2 edition being sold through the Marketplace is in perfect condition.

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  4. Maggggiiiiiie *whinges*... stop reading books I want to read!

    I absolutely love graffiti. My sister went through a phase of buying my books about graffiti for my birthday a few years ago so I have a collection (one really great one about women graffiti artists across the world. Absolutely stunning!).

    This is going to get added, PRONTO.

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    1. Ooh! I've been looking for the Fafi book that was only published in France and Japan -- but is apparently in English? Which books do you have??

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  5. This book sounds gorgeous. And amazing. I must have it. And I love your photos Maggie, I can just imagine the adventures you went on in France x

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    1. Shirley, I know you're not big on travel, but you MUST go to Paris! :)

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  6. I can't believe I haven't been to Paris yet. I'm planning a long trip after I finally finish school for all eternity and I'll definitely include France! I''ve been to Nice, Monte Carlo and Cannes and that's it.

    I'll go see how much it is on The Book Depository. I never order on Amazon, the shipping costs are too big for me.
    Thanks, Maggie!

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    1. I just checked - so unfair! It's €10 on The Book Depository, and that's 40% off.

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    2. Paris, Maja, Paris!! When do you finish school? I love how you went to all the fancypants places though. Diva. ;)

      And €10! Sheesh. Let me check shipping costs from the US.

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  7. Maggie - why have I never been to Paris and it is only a train ride away? WHY????? This book looks stunning. The perfect gift for my graffiti loving Francophile of a husband. I say perfect gift, because I will have direct access to it, of course xx

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    1. To quote Bridget's gay best friend as he's waiting to whisk her away on a Parisian mini-break, "Come the fuck on, Bridget!" Eurostar!!

      Wait, your hubby is an Australian Francophile???? That's so cool! You guys definitely need to go!

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  8. Maggie, I love that you lived in Paris, you must be fluent in French, oui? Even though my dad is French, I'm still not fluent, boooo.

    Anyway, this sounds like a great book and I appreciated the Graffiti Moon reference because it's the first thing I thought of when I read the title of this book!

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    1. Hee, I wasn't even fluent when I lived there! :) I only took 2 semesters of French before I went and then everyone in Paris kept trying to speak English to me. I was like, What happened to this notorious Parisian rudeness, huh?! I'm trying to keep up what little I've retained with movies though. *Le sigh*

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  9. Oh it was the same for me in France and Germany! I spoke English because they all wanted to practice with me and they all spoke fluently, ag!

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