MONTANA CANS LOOKBOOK #9 2024

With each stroke,

With each stroke, SMASH137 reminds the viewer of the essence of his styles – the simplicity of the raw line and the beauty of minimalism. SMASH137, born as Adrian Falkner, is a Swiss graffiti writer who has truly reinvented the landscape of graffiti. Originating from Basel, Falkner‘s journey from abstracting letters on walls to the development of a unique style, has made him a prominent figure in the international graffiti scene. During the release of the 25th Artist Edition, we unveiled some of SMASH137's current work in a very limited print run, showcasing a selection of his recent pencil sketches on paper. Although these sketches resonate with the spirit of an earlier project, "Smash Trash," they highlight the progression in his style and technique. An excerpt of it is shared here. His pursuit for perfectly adapting graffiti expressions to the unique form of a spray can is also evident, as seen in his recent pieces from Napoli, Italy, resulting in the creation of the 25th Montana BLACK Artist Edition by SMASH137. Looking back, the „Smash Trash“ project beautifully illustrated SMASH137‘s transformative journey. In it, he engaged in the practice of daily sketching for years, each black and white piece a testament to his skillful blend of raw graffiti energy with timeless aesthetics. His oneline style – an uninterrupted, free-flowing stroke – compels attention and interaction. These lines create a paradoxical blend of wild rhythm and harmony, encapsulating the captivating essence of graffiti. The power of his work lies in its simplicity: clean outlines standing in stark contrast to raw surfaces, delivering a potent message about the beauty of reduction. Drawing parallels with Zen principles, SMASH137‘s work amplifies the strength found in simplicity, inviting viewers to appreciate the purity of form and the understated elegance of his style. 16 Artist Edition SMASH137

Artist Edition Smash137 17