07/16/08
Text: Nik Mercer
On September 30, Thames & Hudson will release Blek le Rat: Getting Through Walls. But wait—who is this Mr. le Rat?
Before the ubiquitous street artist, Banksy, there was Blek le Rat, a notorious stenciler who tagged homes, rundown walls, tourist hot-spots, and governmental buildings alike from the early-1980s onward. The fifty-something Parisian, legally known as Xavier Prou, was inspired by the graffiti of New York City's 1970s underground. After honing his skills for many years, Blek finally onslaughted the world with his spray paint creations, and it's never been the same since. Getting Through Walls showcases some of Blek's most prominent and ignored works alike in a beautiful—and affordable!—tome. The subversive, oft politically-driven artist was obviously the predecessor to cult heartthrobs like Banksy, making this new Thames & Hudson volume all the more intriguing. While the 126-page softbound book may lack a confident voice when it comes to explaining Blek's greatness, it stimulates visually, and that's all that graffiti artists strive for, right?
So: next time you spot a Banksy spray on a wall, remember that Blek was here! Everything's a sequel.
Buy Blek le Rat: Getting Through Walls here (official Thames & Hudson website) or here (Amazon.com page).
