35 years WOW

An art project, initiated as a celebration of the graffiti crew WOW’s 35th anniversary in 2025, took an unexpected turn during its creation, one that words can hardly describe. With this story we try to give context to the project, centered around an event that is difficult to put into words. Why? Because that’s how Michel would have wanted it— as a tribute, and also to give friends, admirers, and art lovers the chance to obtain a beautiful homage.

May 2025
Shave, Rhone, and Dutch Graffiti Library connect and reflect on 35 years of WOW. A milestone that cannot simply pass unnoticed. With the start of his exhibition at House of Hiphop Utrecht, Rhone got a taste for exhibiting and is down to take it a step further. Shave proposes that both make 35 silkscreen prints, size 50×70, using a sketch from Shave and a sketch from Rhone, both from 1989. These sketches would then be placed on customized backgrounds jointly created by Shave and Rhone. Unique, no two sets the same, made with spray can and marker. A look back to the past, but above all, a confirmation of 35 years of togetherness, brotherhood and love for graffiti.

“Sketches are selected and we’re ready to start,” Shave reports to us on a beautiful spring evening in mid-May. Rhone and Shave work together on the backgrounds, passing them back and forth, preparing them for the next step. On Friday afternoon, some last details are reviewed and added to the backgrounds, as printing is scheduled within the next two weeks. What no one could ever have imagined suddenly becomes shocking reality. On Sunday, May 25, 2025, Rhone passes away.

Tribute
After May 25, fiction becomes reality. A period of mourning begins, but also of sharing beautiful stories and good memories of Rhone. The graffiti community shows its best side — unity and strength are shared.

The silkscreens
Until the end of June, the prepared backgrounds and frames with the sketches remain untouched, until Shave decides: “I’ll finish them, this is what Michel wanted, so we’ll do it.” We release them through Dutch Graffiti Library— that was the plan, and it remains the plan. With literal blood, sweat, and tears, Shave completes the works. Dutch Graffiti Library assembles the sets and makes it possible for everyone to obtain one. The price is fair but fitting. After deducting costs, proceeds go to Shave as recognition of 35 years of WOW