SELFIES – Peter Michalski

Since the early 1970s the one man wholecar is the most commonly executed work with the highest regard and to this day it’s an impressive way to attract the attention of other writers. But what happens, if somebody uses this well established format and even spray paint to produce works far away from usual graffiti on the surface of train wagons? And not just once, but in a series of almost 40 cars?

For SELFIES we teamed up with legendary Peter Michalski, an expert for uncommissioned public works on walls and trains since the mid 80s, and furthermore passionate lover of the Abstract Expressionists. For the analysis of this extraordinary series he solely used the clear and straight photographs of the unsigned wholecars. They perfectly allow to focus on the works themselves without any disruptive elements. Most of the wagons have obviously been painted in thick layers of white or black before a complex arrangement of fine multicolored lines were added on top. On first sight the cars remind of the conceptual trains featured in the Art Inconsequence movie and book from 2007.

Michalski’s analysis is separated into chapters like The Artist, The Work, The Audience or The Sublime. In these sections he tries to find out about the artist’s possible intentions, influences and references as well as the impact these giant artworks have on the people who are confronted with them in traffic. Each of them is at least as big as 12m x 3,5m!

Just like an exhibition catalogue the 64-paged book combines the unique series of works with an in-depth investigation by art historian Peter Michalski in German and English. We are especially proud to share this treasure with you in an hardcover which is limited to only 1000 copies.

64 pages, 29,5 x 22 cm, hardcover, black embossed cover
Author: Peter Michalski
Language: German & English
Release date: August 2022
ISBN: 978-3-9820295-1-1
Publisher: Hitzerot