Pre-order: FIRESTARTER – SHARK 1985–2025

Pre-order now and get an exclusive signed copy. Only while the pre-order is open. Orders including other products will be shipped as one parcel after the book’s estimated release in January 2027.

SHARK is the archetype of an European graffiti writer. He belongs to the earliest generation of hip hop activists in Germany and started writing in 1985 after the first breakdance wave hit. In the 80s he left his marks in Amsterdam, Paris, New York, London, Berlin, Munich and Hamburg. Together with CHINTZ, ZODIAK and MASON he not only became king of his home town Dortmund, but also developed a distinctive style that should influence a whole generation of upcoming writers in Germany and abroad.

FIRESTARTER tells the intense story of the pioneer’s four decades spanning career in which he did it all: several visits to the 80s Amsterdam, meeting LEE, SENTO, KAMI, POEM and Henry Chalfant in New York, hundreds of panels under various names in the 90s completely bombed system of Dortmund with RIO, VOLA, NUG, AMAN and ATOME, travels to Brazil, France, Belgium, Austria or the former Yugoslavia together with KASINO and DMOTE.

But unlike the common first generation writer SHARK did not quit and praises the good old days. In the 2010s the itch came back and he made an outstanding comeback on trains! To this day, although he is in his mid 50s, countless panels and wholecars with old friends and new partners appear in the Ruhr area and throughout Germany like in Berlin or Hamburg.

In more than 500 photos and several insightful texts he shares selected memories and stories from his 40-year life as a passionate graffiti writer. FIRESTARTER is way more than a chronological sequence of pieces – in over 30 chapters SHARK manages to keep the reader entertained throughout the 508-paged high quality hardcover. Besides additional shots by Hubert Moormann, Edward Nightingale and Alonso Alcade Peter Michalski, OS GEMEOS and Jason Woodward contributed texts.

Featuring CHINTZ, ZODIAK, RIO, LOOMIT, Don M. Zaza, VOLA /SHORE, MASON, KASINO, DMOTE, ATOME, NUG, KAMI, AMAN, RACHE, OS GEMEOS, KAOS, JEZUS, SENTO, LEE Quinones, WANE, ZEBSTER, ROY, POEM, Alonso Alcade, EMON, BLACK, NEON, OTIS, VINO, KEATS, and others.

Don’t miss this must-have book! For true fans we recommend the limited Special Edition. It contains a signed linen FIRESTARTER version, the iconic namebelt shot as hand numbered and signed fine art print and on top THE OUTTAKES: A standalone publication filled with rarities and many never before published photographs. That book is exclusively available as part of the Special Edition.

Note: The images shown are mock-ups. The final book might look slightly different.

508 pages, 24,5 x 30,5 cm, hardcover with debossed details
Language: German/English
Authors: SHARK, Peter Michalski, OS GEMEOS, Jason Woodward
Release date: January 2027
ISBN: 978-3-911776-58-5
Publisher: Hitzerot