Xavier Prou aka. Blek Le Rat is known as the originator of  modern stencil graffiti art. The French artist began spraying the image of rats on walls back in 1981. The rat is “the only free animal in the city.” It’s impact on its environment is great as rats “spread the plague everywhere, just like street art.”

Blek Le Rat‘s stencils distill the essence of the human struggle into poetically concise images. Blek shows clarity in his work, he makes every stylized mark count, yielding art that is at once personal and universal, economical in gesture, and bountiful in statement.
—Shepard Fairey

Blek believes that graffiti and urban art are the most important artistic movement of all time. “Nowadays, there is not one city in the world that does not have graffiti on its walls. In the past, we’ve never seen a movement with so many people involved. Not even in pop-art, which already carries an important role [in the art world.] Art should be preserved for future generations, and galleries have a responsibility regarding urban art,” because this movement is part of History.

(Translated  from French Article: here)

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