Graffiti has been part of the Polish urban landscape since the 1990s, and one of the writers who has shaped that story is SLASH from Poznań. He began painting in 1997, but his first encounter with graffiti came a few years earlier, during a trip to Berlin. Coming from post-communist Poland, the colors and energy of Berlin’s walls felt like a different world. “It was something incredibly fresh and impressive compared to the reality back home. It made me want to do it too,” he recalls. That spark set him on a path that has kept him painting ever since.
For SLASH, the foundation of graffiti has always been the letters. Over the years, he has consistently refined his lettering style, experimenting with new shapes and color schemes while staying rooted in the essence of writing. “When I paint, I try to explore new shapes and color schemes, but I focus primarily on the letters, because for me they are the essence of graffiti.”
Beyond style and technique, graffiti has become a personal outlet for SLASH — a way to process, escape, and recharge. “Graffiti is a form of escape and therapy for me, and of course, great fun that keeps me from getting old.” From Berlin walls in the early 90s to the streets of Poznań today, SLASH continues to keep the spirit of graffiti alive through his dedication to letters, color, and the pure joy of painting.
All images by graffiti artist SLASH