Graffiti artist Zevs is considered one of the pioneers of street art in France, with his pieces appearing around Paris since the early 1990s. Like any street artist worth their salt, he's also been consistently pissing people off since then.
From early bombing of billboard models right between the eyes, and artful cutting up of advertisements, Zevs' shenanigans were widely praised. but also raised huge national debates in government and on TV about the difference between street art and vandalism (imagine a French Kochie shaking his jowls and telling the Parisian youth that they mustn't vandalise.)
One of his most controversial acts was cutting the 'Lavazza' girl out of her billboard in Berlin, and then leaving a note that said 'VISUAL KIDNAPPING – PAY NOW!' His logic was that, just like billboards 'kidnap' the attention of the public, he would do the same thing to the brand. And demand €500 thousand for its return.
In the 2000s, Zevs has been liquidating logos, painting them slowly dripping down like they're disintegrating. Although he's gotten a lot of heat back home, his work is actually exhibited from Hong Kong to Denmark. The lesson here? When someone tells you not to do something, maybe you should anyway.
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