Urban artist Falko One brings life and color to the streets of South African towns. After thirty-two years as a graffiti artist, Falko has played a significant role in the development of South Africa’s graffiti scene by leaving his marks on lonely walls. The artist’s awe-inspiring murals often resemble local wildlife which also cleverly interacts with various elements of the buildings, such as windows, pipes, or air conditioners.
In 2010, Falko started a project called “Once Upon A Town,” where he painted his way across South Africa, turning poor neighborhoods into open-air galleries that attract tourists. Vivid elephants in all shapes and forms are his most common and recognizable artworks. Scroll down to check his most incredible spray-painted creations!
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Falko One's career goes way back, he explained his background. “I started doing graffiti art in 1988 through my involvement with hip hop (very, very early days in our development) here in Cape Town, South Africa. It’s all I do to this day. The elephants in particular I started doing in 2014. I was in Dakar, Senegal when I did the first one."
The artist explained the motivation of the elephants and why he started drawing them. "In short, the people of the village weren’t happy with me painting chickens (‘cause that’s what I painted for a while before). The chickens caused quite a few problems. In that moment, and not wanting to waste the trip, I took a risk and painted what I thought would be ‘neutral’… And hence the seed was planted. Now my work has evolved into using air cons, windows, and trees… Basically, I’m trying to incorporate my works into society non‐intrusively,” the artist told Bored Panda.
Falko makes a beautiful case for non-intrusive methods of painting so that graffiti doesn't clash with the environment, or with the locals, for that matter. Sometimes the graffiti may look great by itself, but it isn't responsive to the environment. Falko's work shifts this notion and coexists with the background. What are your thoughts, pandas? If you like the artist's work, you know what to do—show support and follow him on his social media links above.
South African Jazz & Afro-Pop Collection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRWWcIL6rDg
BEST EVER IDK HIS IS THE REAL ART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What an amazing imagination, to be able to look at both the structure and landscape and envision a work of art.
With the same spectacular energy in the lines as you find in cave paintings!
Don't you say that trash bag will stay there forever for the sake of the graffiti
i showed this one to my brother (who's favorite animal just happens to be sharks) he approves! said that is was amazing uwu
Ndebele Woman. Proud, vibrant, and their painted houses are equally as stunning. Google Ndebele Houses and art. Then we South Africans will invite you to visit in 2021. :-)
Is the boy painted on a sheet of plastic in front of the bench? There is a light reflection of the bench on it.
Don't let the airplane confuse you. Comair fly under British Airways colours in South Africa. South Africa is not the only country that has weird planes. I mean, there a Norwegian Air Argentina.
lOVE the artwork and a very powerful shot........... I wish it was not like this........... trash and garbage with the children.......... they deserve better ............
at the beginning, he explained why he painted elephants & not chickens.
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Awesome Arts. Some of the Works with Elephants are sad but also wonderful painted.
This is an artist with a lot of humour and love in him. My personal favourite is the mural of the zebra-striped mother and baby elephants. I like that he does not only paint in the rich areas of town. South Africa is dealing with a lot of societal problems, thanks to a large part to the awful aprtheid racist regimes of the past and anything that can bring hope (and tourists) to rundown areas is good.
It has been 28 years since apartheid fell. Corruption in government is the enemy not the past. You from the outside right? I can tell.
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at the beginning, he explained why he painted elephants & not chickens.
Load More Replies... Awesome Arts. Some of the Works with Elephants are sad but also wonderful painted.
This is an artist with a lot of humour and love in him. My personal favourite is the mural of the zebra-striped mother and baby elephants. I like that he does not only paint in the rich areas of town. South Africa is dealing with a lot of societal problems, thanks to a large part to the awful aprtheid racist regimes of the past and anything that can bring hope (and tourists) to rundown areas is good.
It has been 28 years since apartheid fell. Corruption in government is the enemy not the past. You from the outside right? I can tell.
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