DER BUFF BIN ICH

Subversive Transformation: Die Ästhetik der anonymen Übermalung im öffentlichen Raum in Stuttgart-West

The so called ‘buff’, the removal of graffiti, is a phenomenon as old as graffiti itself. Whenever the traces of buffing covers the graffiti but additionally creates a pattern often entertaining compositions of colour and form appear in our cities. Graffiti writers and interested viewers started to document these works some years ago and one stumbles across them more and more often in recent times.

But unlike the common documentation of graffiti removal in the brand new DER BUFF BIN ICH book the publishers did put one specific location and possibly one buffer in focus. In the western part of Stuttgart, the south German metropolis, seemingly one anonymous person took the buff in her/his own hands. Since 2022 she/he paints over and cleans graffiti on public and private property without permission. In most cases the buff is executed so semi-professional, that an own style can found and the works have been recognized by the book’s editors.

From December 2024 to January 2025 they did document hundreds of buff attempts and chose a selection to create this lovely produced publication. The photographic documentation ranges from cityscape views to close-up shots of spray can, paint brush and chemical removal traces. The synergy of this person’s strong drive to constantly buff graffiti and its often poor results makes a great entertaining book which also includes an analysis from art historian Miriam Zwackelmann, a glossary and an index with information on the size and the used material for overpainted graffiti. The softcover publication comes with an open spine binding to enjoy the photographs in the best way possible. Each of the 100 numbered copies has individual buff traces on the book’s outside.

172 pages, 15 x 21,5 cm, softcover, open spine binding, 100 numbered copies, individual buff traces on each book
Language: German
Release date: March 2025
Publisher: Studio Vierkant Press