The Book of Style, 2015
Tones  

Painting : aerosol paint, acrylic · 150 x 240 x 3.5 cm 59.1 x 94.5 x 1.4 inch · Ready to hang

€9,858 9 858 €

One of the last works available by this artist

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Shipped from: Switzerland

Delivery to: France , € 285

Estimated delivery: Two to three weeks

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Verified Reviews : 9.6/10
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About the artwork

Type

Painting : Unique artwork

Condition

Artwork sold in perfect condition, not framed, ready to hang

Authenticity

Sold with certificate of Authenticity from the gallery

Invoice from the gallery

Signature

Hand-signed by artist

Technique & Support

Dimensions ( cminch )

150 x 240 x 3.5 cm 59.1 x 94.5 x 1.4 inch Height x Width x Depth

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Art gallery

Professional art gallery • Switzerland

Credentials

Vetted seller since 2020

Discount

This seller offers discount when you purchase multiple artworks.

Description

Unique piece
Intention note — The Book of Style
"The Book of Style" — the "book of style" — treats a book as a central theme, that of style, and suggests that TONES is the holder of it… in other words, TONES knows how to have style and flow in his works because he holds the secret. With TONES, style is inseparable from the narrative: each piece is a story, each character a point of view. This canvas presents the quirky and humorous universe of TONES through his very "street" characters, always immersed in the world of Graffiti or Hip-Hop.
The prominent, cool colors of the characters harmonize with the warm colors of the urban background. TONES almost always represents elements of the native context of Graffiti: here, the New York elevated subway is visible in the upper left, and the smoke it emits creates a blood-red background to contrast with the characters. The reference is direct, culturally precise: the New York subway, the original ground of Graffiti, enters the collector's lounge.
The character as signature: narration and style
The character in Graffiti — the "character" — has a long history: it appeared from the early years of the movement in New York in the 1970s, often to accompany the writer's name, to give him an additional presence, a visual identity beyond the letter. With TONES, the character is not an ornament: it is a narrative voice, an alter ego, sometimes a witness to the scene depicted.
This fusion between letter and character — between style and illustration — is the trademark of TONES. It allows him to address simultaneously the connoisseurs of Graffiti (who will read the quality of the lettering) and a wider audience (who will linger on the characters and their story). This is one of the reasons why his work has found an echo both in festivals and in collaborations with major brands.
In Graffiti, style is inseparable from the narrative: each piece is a story, each character a point of view.
The New York subway as mythological horizon
The presence of the New York elevated subway in "The Book of Style" is not trivial. The New York subway is the founding place of Graffiti: it is there, in the 1970s and 1980s, that the first writers transformed the cars into mobile galleries, traversing the city from end to end and making their art visible to all New Yorkers. It is this story that TONES summons here — not as nostalgia, but as a living memory of a movement of which he is one of the heirs.
Formal analysis
The composition of "The Book of Style" is organized into two superimposed registers: an urban background (the subway, the smoke, the warm colors) and a foreground of characters with cool and prominent colors. This thermal contrast — warm/cool — creates immediate and legible depth. The characters stand out from the background with a sharpness that testifies to the technical mastery of an artist who knows how to use the aerosol can like a painter uses a brush.
The 240 × 150 cm format is generous enough for the characters to have their own life in the space, without being overwhelmed by the dimensions of the canvas. "The Book of Style" works as well in large exhibition format as in a domestic interior: it is the mark of TONES' works — they belong to all spaces because they first belong to the street.
Certificate of authenticity issued by the gallery
Work tagged (signature) on the front of the canvas, in the work.
The Book of Style is presented by OUTSIDE ART

Street art

Colors

Graffiti

Illustration

Sky blue

Green

Tones, The Book of Style

Tones

Switzerland

Presentation

Tones had a very strong taste for drawing from childhood. Initially attracted rather by the graphic illustrative style largely inspired by comics, he did not discover graffiti and the aesthetics of letters until the early 2000s, following a decisive meeting with graffiti artist Rey. He therefore became involved in this new form of expression, directly inspired by the traditional New York style, and gradually asserted himself as a writer (graffiti artist). 


Funky letter technician and disciple of "Style", his specificity is to make his letters dance through complex connections, while respecting the codes of the New York school. Another peculiarity of his work is to decorate his lettering with illustrative elements by subtly mixing realism and graphic style. This fine combination is an invitation to enter a universe sometimes offbeat, but colorful.
His influences come mainly from members of his crew - the EDK - as well as New York graffiti legends such as Skeme, West, Doze and many others. 


His style has evolved over time and according to meetings with certain representatives of the community during several trips abroad and various participations in graffiti festivals: first in Europe, in Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, Belgrade, Cadiz, Grenada - then in North America - New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Seattle - and finally in Asia - Delhi, Mumbai, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Macao among other cities. His approach to graffiti leads him to express himself mainly in the street, thus remaining faithful to the underground spirit of this art form. However, he has had the opportunity to participate in several gallery exhibitions in recent years.

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