” Ratdraaierszz backcover ” 1982: “His Royal Higness” Prince Bernhard….a questionable youth, dedicated hunter and a total lack of integrity ” #artivism avant le lettre
Punk rock gave birth to an art movement that was little appreciated at the time but soon became influential around the globe. The Art of Punk movement revolutionized design in ways whose influence is still felt today, and reflected the consciousness of a counterculture with a clarity seldom seen since. (Wayback in 1980 I cut and pasted the first pages of Ratdraaierszzz a Dutch punkzine which I made with my friend and illustrator Harmen. Ratdraaierszzz was a completely independent D.I.Y. black and white xerox zine distributed in all the independent Bookshops in The Netherlands.(1980-1983)
” Ratdraaierszzz pt …? frontcover ” 1982
“Banzai here’s ZMIV beware! ” e.p (1982)
The Art of Punk communicates the explosive energy and “messthetic” rawness of punk graphics with persuasive power. This was an art of expediency, making use of collage, cartoon drawings, hand-lettering, rub-down lettering, ransom-note lettering, stencils rubber-stamping and black and white Xerox copying, as well as silkscreen and offset litho. These ideas were directly taken from who might be the under-recognized predecessors to punk, the Dadaists, who — much like the punks — valued scissors and glue over paint and brushes.
The evolution from the early eighties untill now : anger is an energy. Still provoking. With the rise of right wing populism, climate change denial, and growing polarizing of modern day society, the need for artivism seems bigger than ever before. All hope and biggest support to the new generation of Greta Lundberg, #XR rebellion, #wirsindmehr #meatthevictims Respect – I will pass the torch to you.
