Kladmuur - Early days of wall writing
Commission ยท 2021
In the 1980s, Groningen was home to a vibrant graffiti scene influenced by punk and hip-hop subcultures. To commemorate this era, we undertook a commissioned project to create "Kladmuur," a hand-bound book made from 20,000 sheets of paper and printed in four colors using our Riso printer. The aim was to produce a unique, analog artifact that captures the essence of this ephemeral art form, which often faces challenges from rival artists and cleaning services that quickly erase new graffiti.
INFO
- Softcover book, hand-bound
- 176 x 240 mm, 184 pages
- Riso printed inner pages on 90 grams EOS 2.0 paper & 120 grams Colorplan "Factory Yellow" paper
- Digital printed fold-out poster on 90 grams Paperwise paper
- Riso printed cover on 200 grams Favini Crush "Citrus" paper
- Cahier stitch binding
- Edition of 500
PUBLISHER
Kladmuur
CONCEPT
Hugo Engwerda & Timo Meester
DESIGN
Timo Meester & Roald de Jong
PRINTING & BINDING
Chemistry Printshop
The project began with a curiosity about the origins of Groningen's graffiti scene, seeking to uncover the roots, the first writers, and their motivations. Kladmuur's search led through forgotten archives and revealed the legacy of early graffiti pioneers. The result is an incomplete yet vivid portrayal of the past, paying tribute to many notorious but now-lost writers. The book preserves the fading remnants of their work and offers insight into their contributions.
We are honored that "Kladmuur" has been recognized (2021) by The Best Dutch Book Designs, an annual celebration of the top products in Dutch graphic design. This award highlights books distinguished by exceptional design, high-quality lithography, printing, and binding.