The odd couple and their innovative graffiti

Graffiti began as an urban art. The word graffiti comes from Latin; and the Romans used it to describe any type of inscription on the wall. In the 7º’s, the term began to refer to an artistic expression related to hip hop. Young people in New York and other American capitals began to decorate trains and streets without asking permission. With time, urban art have arrived, or according to others, the age of post graffiti: technically the field grew, and opened up to the inclusion of brush painting, stencils, and digital designs to adorn the city.

Olivia and Dr Case, two not quite as young as they once were designers and artists, form an odd couple with their artistic alter egos Olivia and Mr. Lost. They devote themselves to peppering the city in every corner of the city, on walls they have permission to paint and sometimes walls they don’t have permission to paint. Life as an urban artist is hard: they know that their art is ephemeral and could be erased in any moment.

Olivia and Dr Case are new school graffiti artists, and use brushes, stencils, pens and stickers as well as spray. They are always thinking up new ways to leave their art on any surface they can, the more difficult it is to remove the better.

Women are not as common in the world of graffiti, so it is interesting to find a case where the feminine half of a graffiti collaboration is the dominant half. The Olivias always represent the secure, stable part of the relationship, whereas Mr. Lost moulds himself to Olivia’s innovative flights. While Olivia comes from formal arts backgrounds, Dr Case was schooled on the street, and his artistic origin goes back to the old school street graffiti. This combination of anti-hero and femininity, of old school and innovation, together with the art of creating compositions and characters based on real life events lends a special originality and style to their work.

On the streets of Barcelona, look out for an Olivia Dominatrix in one corner, Lolivia Flores in the gallery, and even brilliant artist Frilivia Kahlo, followed close behind by her faithful companion Mr Lost, alter ego of Dr Case. There work has broken the barrier between street and high art, and occasionally can be found in galleries and private houses. If you would like to see the work of these two “semi-reformed” vandals along with that of many other urban artists visit Barcelona Street Art or rent apartments in Barcelona to take a spin around the Condal City, it´s certain you’ll find some Olivia in a dark and sordid corner, or perhaps on a bright and noisy street…

Tags: graffiti king, graffiti making, graffiti people, graffiti web, online graffiti