Painted Graves Vol.1

Olivier Scuro, aka OPAK, is a famous French graffiti artist who has made a name for himself throughout Europe since the early 1990s. In the legendary Dirty Handz films, he, his SDK and WUFC comrades, and fellow graffiti artists left their mark on European graffiti history with their extraordinary panels and whole cars. In 2001, he was forced to stop painting trains in France due to the massive and effective police investigations against him and his friends.

"It was no surprise. I knew the rules. From the first day of my indictment, I chose abstinence, no more Made in France. And more than ten years later, with the end of heavy metal's reign, my heart aches a little."

For his first book, Painted Graves I, he returned to France to revisit several discarded train models from its glory days that have been retired from circulation, primarily the "petits gris" (little greys) from north of Paris. The book is like a chronological travelogue, with photos and texts depicting the happiest times when the trains were still in operation and his recent visits to scrapyards across the country to bid them farewell and paint them one last time.

"In a junkyard of trains, there's nothing left to prove. It's the hidden bonus level that doesn't add any points to your score. But I rediscover forgotten sensations and savor a present moment scented with the fragrance of the past. Nostalgia in all its splendor and misery."

Starting in 2013, OPAK embarked on a five-year journey accompanied by comrades ACID79, CHILL, CURE, FANCIE, GOAT, HONET, IDEAL, INXS, MAIN, MANK, MILK, NOIS, OAME, PEPSI, POES, PONE, PUM, RIOT, SEYAR, SHEIK, SIME, UTA, VANIA and even New York legend SKEME.

300 pages contains previously unpublished classics from the 1990s, as well as high-quality panels from the early 2000s and entire train cars in full color in nearly 200 photos.

We also recommend the second volume of Painted Graves and, for collectors, the limited edition signed box set which includes an exclusive additional booklet.

• Author: Olivier Scuro alias OPAK
• Publisher: SABOTAGE Editions
• Format: 22 x 27.7 cm
• 302 pages
• Embossed linen hard cover
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English / French
• Publication: 2025