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‘Falko One’ From South Africa Makes Non-Intrusive Graffiti That Interacts With Its Surroundings (40 Pics)
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!
More info: Instagram | twitter.com | Facebook | falkostarr.wixsite.com
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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."
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beja flor 5 years ago
Stunning art!! This face impression and the hair, so cool. Is that a portrait of somebody specific?
Jennifer Hargett 5 years ago
"I pity the fool who don't know I'm a cultural icon!" (It's Mr. T, a niche icon from 1980's American TV)
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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.
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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.
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Stannous Flouride 5 years ago
Voila! ---->https://www.pictosee.com/p/2293492955812808059 Screen-Sho...aa-png.jpg 
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b l a n c 5 years ago
i don't think it's a house, i think it's just a building
Load More Replies... cassiushumanmother 5 years ago
My favorite animal! Hyenas are wonderfully clever with very well structured societies, they amazes me. Social support, healthcare facilities for elderly and disabled, nurseries..., a lot of human societies didn't manage it as well as spotted hyenas. (it's probably lycaons/african wild dog in this piece but i had to tell my love for hyenas, they are so misundertood)
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Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
South African Jazz & Afro-Pop Collection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRWWcIL6rDg
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RitaGG 5 years ago
Could be. Quick, you go ask and we'll wait here for you. ;-)
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ⱤØ₵₵Øˡᵒᵛᵉ ʸᵒᵘ 5 years ago
BEST EVER IDK HIS IS THE REAL ART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Valentina Vitale 5 years ago
I thought for a minute you meant the eyebrows
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Denise Knight 5 years ago
Wow, somebody would drive into the back of my car as I stamped onto the brakes, my head whipping around to get a better look at this. I think it's Cape Town, somewhere.
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Phunny Philosopher 5 years ago
Will someone post a picture of one of these without paint? I don't know what it is.
NamiKoa 5 years ago
I'm not sure, but the shape and size remind me of the glass recycling bins in Europe (and probably elsewhere).
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Sarah Levine 5 years ago
My guess it's that it all white or grey underneath, and he painted it to look transparent.
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Demongrrrrl 5 years ago
What an amazing imagination, to be able to look at both the structure and landscape and envision a work of art.
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Fieke Engelen 5 years ago
I've come back for a second look. I can't believe that nobody else mentioned all the very sad faces.. This one will haunt me.
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Mary Rose Kent 5 years ago
I like that dude joined the photo by pretending to feed the giraffe
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Demongrrrrl 5 years ago
I find this one heartbreaking. The monkey holding the weeping elephant.
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Janet L Burnett 5 years ago
Seriously powerful ... until I saw the toothbrush. Is that Aquafresh paste?
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Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
With the same spectacular energy in the lines as you find in cave paintings!
Up All Night 5 years ago
Yep, wild type cattle has the same silhouette as their ancestors and it fascinates us from the first encounter, I believe.
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Up All Night 5 years ago
Don't you say that trash bag will stay there forever for the sake of the graffiti
Janet L Burnett 5 years ago
It must stay there. What would be the point of the swan's neck without the trash bag?
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Flower Boy 5 years ago
i showed this one to my brother (who's favorite animal just happens to be sharks) he approves! said that is was amazing uwu
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Up All Night 5 years ago
He has cleverly used the rubble, look at the bricks that's been painted on two sides.
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Denise Knight 5 years ago
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. :-)
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Janet L Burnett 5 years ago
Is the boy painted on a sheet of plastic in front of the bench? There is a light reflection of the bench on it.
Sly Cooper 5 years ago
It is paint on a glass sheet - on instagram, you can see a little video when it rains on it. Very nice work
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Denise Knight 5 years ago
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.
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Zanjero Johnson 5 years ago
lOVE the artwork and a very powerful shot........... I wish it was not like this........... trash and garbage with the children.......... they deserve better ............
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What do you think ?
Bianca Küper 5 years ago
Awesome Arts. Some of the Works with Elephants are sad but also wonderful painted.
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
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.
Marie Scheepers Germeshuizen 5 years ago
So gifted and making his art available to everyone to brighten up anyone's day.
Chris DiFonso 5 years ago
I love how he incorporates existing items and structures in his artwork.
Bianca Küper 5 years ago
Awesome Arts. Some of the Works with Elephants are sad but also wonderful painted.
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
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.
Marie Scheepers Germeshuizen 5 years ago
So gifted and making his art available to everyone to brighten up anyone's day.
Chris DiFonso 5 years ago
I love how he incorporates existing items and structures in his artwork.
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