Painted Graves I – Olivier Scuro

Olivier Scuro a.k.a. OPAK is a notorious French trainwriter who made a name for himself throughout Europe starting in the early 90s. In the legendary Dirty Handz movies he, his crew mates from the SDK and WUFC and befriended writers manifested their outstanding panels and wholecars into the European history of graffiti. In 2001 he was forced to stop painting trains in France due to massive and effective police investigations against him and his friends.

“It was no surprise. I knew the rules. From day one of the indictment, I chose abstinence, no more Made in France. And more than ten years later, with the reign of heavy metal coming to an end, my heart aches a bit.”

For his first book Painted Graves I he came back to French steel to revisit several discarded train models from his glory days that have been taken out of traffic, mostly the Northern Paris ‘petits gris’ (little grey ones). The book is like a chronologically photo and text travel log featuring photos from better times in which the trains did still run and his recent visits to trash yard across the country to say farewell and paint them a very last time.

“In a trash-train yard, there’s nothing left to prove. It’s the hidden bonus level that won’t add to the score. But I rediscover forgotten sensations and savor a present moment scented with the fragrance of the past. Nostalgia in all its glory – and misery.”

Starting in 2013 he went on a five year journey accompanied by companions ACID79, CHILL, CURE, FANCIE, GOAT, HONET, IDEAL, INXS, MAIN, MANK, MILK, NOIS, OAME, PEPSI, POES, PONE, PUM, RIOT, SEYAR, SHEIK, SIME, UTA, VANIA, and even the New York legend SKEME. The high quality 300-paged linen hardcover contains unseen 90s classics as well as 2010s high quality panels and full colour wholecars in almost 200 photos.

We also recommend the 2nd Painted Graves volume and for collectors we even did get our hands on the signed limited edition box set exclusively including an addtional booklet.

302 pages, 22 x 27,7 cm, embossed linen hardcover
Language: French/English
Editor: Olivier Scuro a.k.a. OPAK
ISBN: 979-10-979463-0-2
Release date: December 2025
Publisher: SABOTAGE Editions