ARABIC GRAFFITI

23. – 28. May 2011

Featuring original works by el Seed, Zepha, Blouzaat, l’Atlas, Monsieur Cana, and Hassan Massoudy

After the great success of the book "Arabic Graffiti", the Common Ground Gallery in Berlin showed a fine selcetion of international artists featured in this publication.

“Arabic Graffiti” curated and authored by Lebanese typographer Pascal Zoghbi and German graffiti writer and publisher Stone aka Don Karl, is an extensive and valuable reference on contemporary graffiti, urban calligraphy and type design in the realm of Arabic letters.

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20 Years Anniversary MOAS Crew

06. May 2011

Some parties are legend, even before they are over. MOAS, this is 20 years of colorful havoc on trains. The most hardcore and consequent specimen around!! All this coupled with Scandinavian drinking and fighting rites. Those guys really deserved to be celebrated! And that's what we did! We had a great party and survived with only some minor damages and no one got hurt. All along the Monsters of Art also came up with a great show case of their skills on train models, On The Run Train Banners and canvases. If you missed it, feel bad!

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SABE & SENTO - Style trio inferno tour

29. October 2010

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MURALISMO MORTE

01. October 2010

We would like to thank everyone who came to the Muralismo Morte book release party at the Common Ground Gallery. Alongside photographs from inside the book, author Jens Besser presented Muralismo Morte, a long running project that explores new urban muralism and has since developed into the book. He gave us an overview of new muralism and elaborated on his personal experiences as a muralist and art activist. The presentation was accompanied by a live video performance with digital projections from the BerlinBeamBoys and DJ Dejoe took care of the musical entertainment and party vibe.

For a more detailed look into this exciting movement, be sure to check out the book. It includes a collection of essays, texts and photographs from some of the leading artists in this culture.

click to enlarge the pictures / pictures © by Nils Krüger

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THE EXCHANGE

10. April – 23. April 2010

Acclaimed graffiti collective The Exchange present their dynamic style dialogue with a group exhibition at the Common Ground Gallery to mark the release of OTR book #8, The Exchange. The book like the exhibition is jam-packed with expert style antics as members trade sketches and rock diverse styles outside of their usual comfort zones. Don’t miss the chance to see this visual style assault up close and personal. The exhibition runs Monday to Saturday until April 23rd.

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CALLIGRAFFITI

13. March – 26. March 2010

CALLIGRAFFITI – The Graphic Art of Niels “Shoe” Meulman

Niels Meulman the contemporary Dutch calligrapher, typographer and designer who gained initial recognition as graffiti artist “SHOE” of the legendary Crime Time Kings presents Calligraffiti at the Common Ground Gallery in Berlin. Street-edge meets high-end design as Meulman explores the contours of words as images in "Calligraffiti" - his hybrid art form which blends calligraphy and graffiti. He presents for our viewing pleasure a wonderful interplay of contrasts, such as ‘black-white’ or ‘rise-fall’, with a series of fast phrases and upbeat witticisms in the form of captivating typographic masterpieces. His Berlin exhibition marks the release of Calligraffiti – The Graphic Art of Niels “SHOE” Meulman and he will be showing a collection of artwork from the book alongside new pieces.

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SMASH 137

14. – 27. November 2009

We had the honour to host the ‘SMASH 137 – smash proof’ exhibition & book release at Common Ground Gallery. World renowned contemporary writer and artist SMASH 137 presented an exhibition of his artwork coinciding with the release of his book ‘SMASH 137 – smash proof’. He has built a reputation as being a writer’s writer, with an advanced conceptual take on letter styles and modes of application. Equally at home in the street and in the gallery his work takes the art of writing to the next level.

Interview with SMASH 137 @ MTV Urban Fat Cap - click here!

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thanks to BANG BANG BERLIN!
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PART ONE – the death squad

26. September – 9. October 2009 / Special Guest DJ Marc Hype

To coincide with the book release of PART ONE – The Death Squad. From Here To Fame and friends present an exhibition and European book signing tour with the New York subway graffiti legend PART ONE. In 1971 Part One began to write graffiti in Spanish Harlem. By 1974 he was one of the most influential style writers of New York. His innovative letter styles and color concepts helped to shape the development of graffiti as we know it and even today you can see his influence in the pieces of young graffiti artists worldwide. Part One is also famous for his intricate drawings and illustrations. Today, Part remains active and continues to burn worldwide with exhibitions and projects among other things in New York, Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Stockholm. The European tour kicks off with an exhibition opening | book release party in Common Ground Gallery Berlin on Friday the 25th of September.

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GEEZER GRAFF GALA (GGG)

14. February – 21. February 2009
OPENING SPEZIAL Light-Writing / VJ-Projektion von TOFA auf die Außenwand der Gallerie

Mit der GEEZER GRAFF GALA (GGG) definieren vier Altmeister der Urban Art Szene den neuen Standard der Straße. Der Ausbruch aus den traditionellen Formen des Graffiti macht die Kunst im öffentlichen Raum mit neuen Arbeitstechniken und anspruchsvollen Inhalten wieder zu einem Kommunikationsmedium.

Mit reflektierten, ironisch gebrochenen Arbeiten repräsentieren EVOL (CTink), PISA 73 (CTink), ELIOT (BK / AFM), BASE 23 (D|CIDE) und TOFA (Tresor) die neue Generation von Urban Art Künstlern, die sich vom grafisch-illustrativen Ansatz und dem Lokal- Patriotismus der früheren Graffiti-Kultur gelöst hat, um mit ihren Arbeiten im öffentlichen Raum und im Galerien- und Eventkontext kritische Denkanstöße und lebensnahe Kommentare zu geben.

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SUBWAY ART & URBAN COOK BOOK

28. February 2009

Am 28.02.2009 veranstalteten wir zur anstehenden Veröffentlichung des Buch-Blockbusters "SUBWAY ART – 25 Jahre Jubiläumsedition" eine Launch Party zum "vorglühen". Neben der "SUBWAY ART" Ausstellung mit Photographien von Martha Cooper und Henry Chalfant konntet ihr den fantastischen überformatigen Bildband, zwei Wochen vor der offiziellen Veröffentlichung, schon exklusiv in Augenschein nehmen.

Da SUBWAY ART das Leben aller Graffiti- und Hip Hop Interessierten in den 80er und 90er Jahren extrem geprägt hat, wollen wir die alten Zeiten feiern. Also kramt eure alten Writer Jackets raus, schnappt euch die Doo Rags und Kangols und vergesst euer Blackbook nicht!

Neben einem Begrüßungsdrink gab es ein besonderes Schmankerl für Euch: King Adz aus London bereitete ein paar Köstlichkeiten aus seinem URBAN COOK BOOK. Dieses Buch erschien zeitgleich zur „SUBWAY ART – Jubiläumsedition“ auf Deutsch und konnte bei uns natürlich auch schon mal von euch durchstöbert werden.

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STREET PLAY – Photographs by MArtha Cooper

07. – 08. June 2007

The official opening of the Hip Hop Stützpunkt was marked by the release of Martha Cooper’s stunning documentation "Street Play", a captivating collection of heartwarming photographs of children at play in the harsh urban wasteland of NYC’s Lower Eastside in the 70s. It shows the creative and indomitable spirit of these children as they turn their inhospitable environment into an adventure playground.

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