Icepick

Considering that the island nation of Iceland is home to just over a quarter of a million people, its street art scene is astoundingly roubust, varied and inventive. Multi-talented author Thordis Claessen spent several years documenting the scene photographically and then designed and illustrated this brilliant book about the art, music and politics of the capital Reykjavik and its surrounding environs. The street art featured in Icepick covers a wide range of themes and subject matter from traditional Icelandic icons to sheep, Vikings, fantastic gothic creations dreamt up during long Icelandic nights and colorful graffiti pieces that evoke the New York street art scene. The methods and processes behind this playful artwork are equally varied, and include traditional aerosol paint, wheat paste, stickers, grease pencils, paintbrushes, markers and chalk. That such a rich and colorful street art presence exists in such a small nation, one can't help but think that a large proportion of the population must be involved.