The stunning work of German artist Klaus Dauven is often described as ‘reverse graffiti’. Rather than creating artwork by applying layers of spray paint to the urban environment, his work is about subtracting the dirt and grime from public areas to reveal beautiful imagery. The artist views himself as a draughtsman, regardless of the scale he is working on. In 2007 he was given the opportunity to work on his biggest canvas to date (over 3,000 square metres), the Oleftalsperre Dam in Germany (pictured above). The cleaning of the moss and dirt with a high pressure water hose revealed beautiful animal silhouettes and wildlife to complement the natural environment.
Horang-ee (Tiger) in Chungju, Korea
Matsudagawa Dam, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan 2008
Work in progress – Fisch-Reich in Sachsen, Germany
Fisch-Reich in Sachsen, Germany
Images via Klaus Dauven
