From the Platform: Subway Graffiti, 1983-1989

Paul Cavalieri (CAVS) started writing graffiti in 1983. Besides getting up on the New York subways he and his brother KEY also became trainspotters, checking the train schedules and hunting down high quality productions from other writers. In From the Platform they share highlights from their archive until 1989 when the MTA managed to put only clean trains in traffic.

“I was spending most of my time either writing on trains or loitering on subway platforms to take pictures. Back then East Tremont Ave on the 2 and 5 line was a big spot for writers to “bench” […]. I spent countless hours and filled many rolls of film on that station alone.”

The 176-paged hardcover consists of more than 325 photos from the city’s peak of elaborate pieces on subway trains. Since both photographers have also been writers the book also features action shots, posse photos and documentation of fully bombed insides from this era. Besides mostly never before published photographs the book is filled with quotes from CAVS, BLADE, GHOST, BLIST, IZ THE WIZ, COPE2, T-KID, VEN, KEY, QUIK, ZEPHYR, REAS, ZIM, WANE, SIEN5, KET, SAR, ALE, and others.

“This book is not about myself, but a glimpse of what I saw in those years. Even though I was part of this movement, I was also a fan. […] it’s something that I want to share with the world. Where the book Subway Art leaves off, From The Platform begins.”

CAVS’ compilation features SEEN, POVE, PANIC, DIME, SADE, BIO, DUNE, BG183, KEN, MACK, DUSTER, SHAME125, DEZ, DONDI, BRIM, CAP, WEST, LADY PINK, TEKAY, SAK, POEM, CEM, JON ONE, RAC7, NICER, DERO, MUCH, SERVE, WEB, TRACY168, DAMP, MITCH77, BREEZE, SENTO, KNOW, COMET, KYLE, OMNI, JASE, VULCAN, ZOOM, PHASE2, SANE, SMITH, MAGOO, WOLF, CASE2, NEON, SACH, HAZE, REVOLT, and many more.

176 pages, 28,6 x 22,3 cm, hardcover
Language: English
Release date: 2011
ISBN: 978-0764337239
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing