Concrete Playground

Niels Shoe Meulman describes his art as “traditional handwriting with a metropolitan attitude”. Fusing the art of beautiful writing with the art of getting his (pseudo) name up in an urban environment, Meulman’s unique brand of art makes graffiti more accessible and calligraphy far more cool.

Meulman’s career began in Amsterdam in 1979, far before tagged laneways were listed in Lonely Planet as tourist attractions. After spending a few years tagging all over Amsterdam, ruling supreme as a Crime Time King and meeting New York artists like Dondi, Rammellzee, Haze, Quik and Keith Harring, he developed his technique working in graphic design before being partner in an advertising agency-turned-brand for silk scarves. At age 40 he had the artistic version of a mid-life crisis, ditching the corporate world to return to drawing stuff on walls.

Meulman’s unique mash-up of inspirations and experience results in artwork that hits you in the face before making you appreciate its traditional beauty. Who said you can’t indulge your inner typography nerd and design a range of luxury silk scarves while retaining a rebellious street edge?

Calligraffiti will be touring as follows:

Wednesday, 25 January – Monday, 30 January at Kind of Gallery

Wednesday, 25 January – Tuesday, 7 February at Kinokuniya Bookstore

Live calligraffiti show on Friday, 27 January at May’s Lane Street Art Project