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Graffiti Woman celebrates the rise of the female graffiti and street artist, showcasing over 125 women from around the globe. Written by Nicolas Ganz, who is a graffiti artist himself, this book is a record and critique of graffiti as a form of artistic expression. To create the book Ganz obtained his research from existing writings, websites and, most importantly the, experiences of the, artists.

Graffiti Woman is richly illustrated with artworks by the likes of Swoon, Kat and Miss Van who are all British artists. Also featured is world-renowned French artist Fafi, who belongs to a group of graffiti artists who use a brush to paint figures on walls, a style that emerged from Toulouse. Fafi’s work concentrates on female figures that she has created called Fafinettes. They have strong colours and strike sexy poses. Fafi paints these ladies to beautify the often - dirty streets she uses as her canvas.

Graffiti is an area in the arts where one’s gender can be disguised because the work is anonymous. But when one’s work starts being noticed and one’s identity revealed, things really start getting tough. In an interview in the book, Lady Pink states that “male artists make art-pieces to prove that they are men, whilst women have to make graffiti that proves that they aren’t women.” Women have been part of this subculture from when it began, but only now does graffiti seem to be embracing their feminine touch with the assistance of books like these.

South Africa also has a female presence in the graffiti world, though small. There is Cape Town based - Lady Bugs crew made up of Supa, Swiss and a few others. Then there is the acclaimed Faith 47. She chooses surfaces that conceptually link with her writings. A powerful message addressing povertyand painted onto a shack in the Cape gives an idea of the kind of work Faith 47 does.

“Ganz’s explosive, yet captivating, history of graffiti tours the walls of the world to highlight the cultural and social impact of this much-maligned social delinquent of art. Love it or hate it, graffiti is here to stay – and Graffiti Woman is your introduction and guide to this maverick, clandestine and underground art form.” (Excerpt from:www.encounters.co.za/films-international.html#2)

Other graffiti publications at DK are:
Mascots and Mags
Spraycan Art
Street World

Graffitti Woman
Nicholas Ganz

Thames and Hudson

Hardcover

Colour illustrations

223 pages

24×23cm

Price:R400

Keywords: Design, Graffiti, Graffiti-Woman, street, Thames and Hudson