Review: Nigel Rees Graffiti Books

Graffiti - vol1-4 nigel rees

In the late seventies graffiti was mostly abuse, political, crazy rants, a few names and if you were lucky some humour. Nigel Rees has edited numerous wordy books on phzazes, proverbs, witty and other werd nerd references. Catalogues of graffiti wit have been made since hurlo-Thrumbo 1731 who catalogued toilet graffiti or Tour of Dr Syntax in search of the pittoresque1812. Alter egos were usesd because lots of this graffiti had political content. I dare say some lost roman writer did the same - certainly some classical writers mention this kind of graffiti.

Anyway this compilation reminds me of when witt not art counted on the streets and vandalism was probably mostly bad not beautiful. without any content insider signs or skill. Adelaide seemed to be getting very little of this work while melbourne and sydney crawl with it still in many suburbs.

These books are pretty funny and have nice political bite. Some are presented with original hand writing. there are a smatering of cartoons about graffiti to that reveal attitudes of the day and how some things have not changed. The books were a huge international successand had many imitators - including an australian rip off series which stole much of its content from the rees series. Available still online and in country holiday town second hand shops.

I dare say as a 70s toilet wall scribbler these books were an influence.