Crack & Shine International went beyond what a book in the graffiti writing context can look like. Different than spotlighting trains, tags or street pieces in this 2011 classic the persons behind the works have much more been in focus. Back then graffiti books with a different approach then just printing the final results of the action have been rare. Photographer Will Robson-Scott and editor Freddie Forsyth did put together a brilliant selection of relevant writers from the respective time for the 288-paged hardcover.
Six of the seven chapters are dedicated to the cities New York, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, London and Los Angeles. Each of these main parts is separated into small writer portraits which are often accompanied by personal texts from them. The photographer joined the writers on day and night actions and was able to catch the most intense moments. With more than ten years in between Crack & Shine can easily still be called one of the best books on graffiti from this era.
Besides the great content the big format book is a lovely executed print highlight with features like a black linen cover or a silver book block. If the international volume is not already part of your collection yet, we recommend to get it before the last available copies are gone.
