Running the new ground “Nowadays, you don’t surprise anyone with standard and classic graffiti”. Whether or not this statement is accurate could very much dependent on who is saying it and where they are. For the Ukrainian graffiti artist RUBAE of the LEGZ crew, it more or less sums up his current approach to his prolific graffiti practice on the Ukrainian“Kovalska” freight train wagons
The phenomenon had grown so fast that the clean wagons of 2017 were full by 2020. Forcing artists to go higher to the “second floor”
As well as innovative graffiti styles, he focuses on a clever choice of reinvented iconic brand logos with his brand of technically apt graffiti style writing. With an exceptional choice of Montana BLACK can colors, his work formula is clear, readable, and accessible so that any member of the public can read and identify with it as well as maintaining a dialogue with his fellow initiated graffiti writers who come from all over to leave their mark on the Kovalska trains.
The phenomenon had grown so fast that the clean wagons of 2017 were full by 2020. Forcing artists to go higher to the “second floor” above the existing works, or to improve the quality of their works to earn the right to go over lesser, unfinished, or damaged pieces. From Autumn 2018 until winter 2022, RUBAE had been patiently carving his way through what was first to be a project that would be completed by the release of a publication recording 100 painted Kovalska wagons. However, with the upgrading of the fleet to 480wagons and 5 locomotives, this number soon became a starting point bringing the quantity and the quality of the works to an even higher level. Here is a snapshot of just some of the previously unpublished artworks that will also feature in the 2022 release of the RUBAE book.
Since 2002, RUBAE has been an active graffiti writer developing a well established name for himself in his home city Kyiv and beyond.
All images be ty artist RUBAE
This article was also published on the MontanaCans LOOKBOOK #07
