CALLIGRAFFITI - The Graphic Art of Niels SHOE Meulman

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KING CALLIGRAPHER A story is told of

envoy to the calligrapher was curtly dis-

of jars, picks up a brush and, within two

a king who summoned the nation’s best

missed with the same information; that

minutes, has executed the most wonder-

living calligrapher and demanded of him

the drawing was not yet complete. After

fully sinuous design to represent the

to make a drawing to symbolize the king-

years had passed, the king could no long-

kingdom.

dom. The calligrapher reassured his lord

er contain his impatience and stormed

of his loyalty and left to undertake his task.

off to the calligrapher’s studio himself…

The king can scarcely control his rage, ‘If it is so easy, why have I had to wait this

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Days passed; then weeks. The king sent a

The king bursts in and sees the calligra-

long?’ Still maintaining his silence, the

messenger to the calligrapher’s remotely

pher sitting there quietly, and evidently

calligrapher goes to the back of his studio

located studio to find out what was hap-

quite at ease. He is furious, ‘Where is

to a large alcove with doors reaching from

pening. The messenger returned with the

my drawing?’ he shouts. At this the cal-

the floor to the ceiling. He opens the

report that the drawing was not ready.

ligrapher bows silently, pulls a large sheet

doors and out pour thousands of study

Months arrived and departed. Every

of paper towards him, sets out a variety

drawings.

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SOBER INTOXICATED CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER! CRIED ALICE

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MALE FEMALE WE ARE ALL LIVING PROOF THAT 1+1=3 46

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MIND MATTER THE MIND DOESN’T MATTER BECAUSE THE MATTER DOESN’T MIND 76

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RURAL URBAN THE LOWEST AND VILEST ALLEYS IN LONDON DO NOT PRESENT A MORE DREADFUL RECORD OF SIN THAN DOES THE SMILING AND BEAUTIFUL COUNTRYSIDE 114

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PAGE 110 You make us proud, 2008

PAGE 112 Strike a Poser, 2009

PAGE 114 Not on a road, 2009

PAGE 116 Clock, 2009

PAGE 118 I know Frank Gehry, 2009

PAGE 120 The End, 2007

Digital vector art for brand manifest and

Digital vector art for Unruly scarves.

White permanent marker ink on glass,

Digital vector art for a watch company.

Digital vector art for a T-shirt print. The

Pen on paper, 30 x 20 cm. Shown in

campaign for MTV Networks Benelux.

Limited edition, printed on pure silk.

50 x 70 cm. From the exhibition Le Miroir

PAGE 117 nielsshoemeulman amsterdam, 2009

idea for this T-shirt came about when

the exhibition Calligraffiti, Amsterdam,

PAGE 111 Everybody else is wrong, 2008

The original piece was done with brush

Vivant, Amsterdam, May 2009. This title

Digital vector art. Original piece with

designer Rebeca Méndez was invited

September 2007.

Black permanent marker ink on poly-

and black permanent marker ink on

was taken from a crappy GPS device.

brush and India ink on paper, 20 x 20 cm.

to meet starchitect Frank Gehry on his

PAGE 121 knockknock, 2009

propene film, 50 x 70 cm. Shown in the

polypropene film, 60 x 60 cm.

Grand-touring on the Autobahn, it would

STRICT LOOSE There are two kinds of people.

private jet. After an interesting exchange

Digital vector art, silkscreened on grey

exhibition Different Strokes, Amsterdam,

PAGE 113 Crest, 2008

keep on displaying ‘Not on a road’. It is

Those who wear a watch and those who

of ideas he conclusively said to her: ‘You

cardboard packaging for a promotional

December 2008. The title is taken from a

Digital vector art, proposal for a clothing

an adequate description for people with-

don’t. Usually, the ones who don’t have a

know me now, use that.’ Because she is

CD by music production company Mu-

track by Hudson Mohawke.

brand. Art direction by Cathal McKee.

out purpose.

watch, are the ones who have time.

not the type to randomly throw such

sicmusic.

SOCIAL SOLITARY When you want to be alone

OFFENSE DEFENSE Victory can be achieved in

PAGE 115 Shopping List, 2009

facts into a conversation, Shoe designed

END BEGINNING To realize that every end-

when you are with company, you prob-

many ways but if you haven’t got it, you’ll

Digital vector art for Heineken campaign.

this T-shirt for her. Now she can show

ing is immediately the beginning of

ably want company when you are alone.

never get it.

The original piece was done with a parallel

off her membership to this dubious elite

something else is to conclude that these

pen and India ink on paper, 20 x 20 cm.

circle without bragging about it.

two commonly used ideas do not exist.

One of eight designs for a streetwear

PAGE 119 Chico, 2009

Whenever you hear someone say ‘the

range aptly titled Shoe for Heineken.

Digital vector art for a tattoo. The origi-

beginning of time’, stop listening because

RURAL URBAN ‘The lowest and vilest alleys

nal piece was done with brush and India

they are full of shit.

in London do not present a more dread-

ink on paper, 20 x 20 cm.

ful record of sin than does the smiling

MAN BOY ‘PSK, we’re makin that green.

and beautiful countryside.’ Quote from

People always say, What the hell does

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir

that mean? P for the people who can’t

Arthur Conan Doyle.

understand. How one homeboy became

Day and night are in constant battle. Twice a year it’s a tie.

Brand bible for MTV Networks. Graphic design by Ward Graumans.

Logo for Musicmusic, 2007.

a man.’ From the song PSK, What Does it

Angle shot of Home Entertainment, a track by Carl Graig.

Unruly scarf design with all four Chic Shock designs, 2009.

Not on a road, on a wall.

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Some have time on their side, others have Beesmunt on their tits.

Mean? by Schooly D.

Accessories: a silver necklace handcrafted by Annemee Struyk.

A farewell to blank arms. Tattoo by Tycho Veldhoen.

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Silkscreened, signed and sealed CD packaging for Musicmusic.