The Other Great Wall of China

The hand of Niels Shoe Meulman of Calligraffiti has left his "ununcompromising" China ink mark on a brick wall in Beijing, China recently. The repeat pattern of the four calligraphic strokes of the "un" letterforms create a visual texture that is undeniably striking. Shoe states that these thick brush strokes symbolize the power of reversal and they draw attention to themselves equally as much as the space between the strokes. The ink is to the absence of the ink just as a positive is to a negative, black is to white, or yin to yang in this case. Shoe is every much a believer in these dualities as he is in the beauty of the letterforms themselves.
      We live in a world of opposites and Shoe admits, "we can't truly be comfortable unless we were uncomfortable before. To be alive is only to be undead." Furthering this notion, he adds, "when science proudly presents its universal laws, some of us know that they are ununiversal. If you don't understand this, ununderstand."
      Say what you like (or unlike), but I think his work is unbeatable.
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Post postscript: It just dawned on me, today is 11.11.11 and this work of Shoe's with all of the vertical calligraphic strokes is the perfect calligraphic metaphor for this date. It's a great day for wearing stripes!

Calligraffiti Deck Chairs

I didn't realize there was such a strong parallel between letters and deck chairs, but this makes the 2nd time in a week I've posted on this duo—this one involves lettering performance art at the Unruly Gallery by Dutch artist Niels "Shoe" Meulman. In a moving performance, Shoe designs the covers of ten deck chairs to benefit Pluk de Nacht, the 2011 Open Air Film Festival in Amsterdam which continues daily until August 13th. Watching this short of Shoe's work is the next best thing to actually being at the film festival.

Snow Graffiti

The beautiful warm weather at Mt. Rainier this past weekend brought out tourists from all corners who couldn't resist snow grafitti on the melting dirty snowfields near the parking lot. Our massive snowfall this year has eclipsed the splendid display of colorful wildflowers which normally meet the glaciers. The mountain is now flush with international tourists, dressed more aptly for the beach than for snowplay. Even Dick Cheney was sighted leaving his mark in the park on a snowbank. Fortunately, I missed him. Just the thought of Dick in a speedo is cause enough to melt the glaciers.