For over thirty years Niels Shoe Meulman has plied his craft across the world – traversing design, calligraphy, graffiti and painting. Yet for all the places visited and travelled to, it is only now that Shoe is making his way down under – and it has the look of one epically cool tour. He’ll be hitting up four different cities and several galleries whilst he’s here, RTIST Gallery in Melbourne, Kind Of Gallery in Sydney, Wedge Gallery in Kinokuniya (Auckland) and Dominic Khoos 28th Février Singapore. As a special added extra, there will also be a screening of the Dutch graffiti movie, Kroonjuwelen, at Melbournes Rooftop Cinema during their visit.

We recently had the chance to chat to Shoe himself for an upcoming  interview, so we’ll let the media release do the talking on this one – if you’re unfamiliar with Shoe’s work, read on as to why these are a handful of shows that you don’t want to miss!!

“Niels Shoe Meulman (NSM) is a Dutch artist, born, raised and based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. As Shoe, NSM earned his stripes in the global graffiti scene in the 80’s through his pioneering style, adding a distinct European approach to the discipline. In the 90’s NSM trained with Dutch graphic design guru Anthon Beeke, ran the award-winning design studio Caulfield & Tensing, worked as an art director for the BBDO Group and as creative director for MTV Europe. In 2007 NSM made the decision to focus on his art again. Publisher FHTF, Berlin, published Calligraffiti, the Graphic Art of Niels Shoe Meulman, which presents his own unique style of writing that combines masterful calligraphy skills with the speed and attitude of graffiti. Ever since, NSM has been travelling to spread the magic of his Calligraffiti around the globe. His recent painting style can be described as Abstract Expressionism with a Calligraphic origin.

The Calligraffiti Upside Down Tour includes exhibitions, book signings, live mural painting and lectures in Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland and Singapore. Rather than ship artwork from abroad, NSM will make site-specific art in each city. At all exhibitions and other events, the artist will be available for interviews, and on hand to sign his book Calligraffiti with personalised dedications.

The Upside Down Tour kicks off in Sydney, where Likeminded Studio is hosting an exhibition from 25th to 30th January at the artist run Kind Of Gallery on Oxford Street. In addition, the legendary Kinokuniya Bookstore will host an exhibition in their Wedge Gallery from 25 January until February 7, 2012. Sydney will see some live calligraffiti going up in the May’s Lane Street Art Project on 27 January.

Second on the list is street-art haven Melbourne. Fresh and fast upcoming RTIST Gallery is hosting an exhibition of NSM at their space 29 St Edmonds Rd in Prahran. And NSM will work together with local creative crew Dangerfork to make exclusive prints for this tour.

The Calligraffiti Upside Down Tour is happy to present at the Rooftop Cinema in Melbourne the first ever screening in this part of the world of the Dutch documentary Kroonjuwelen (Crown Jewels), about the history of graffiti in Amsterdam, from the punk days in the 70’s and 80’s to the roaring train bombing times of the 90’s.

Next stop is Auckland, New Zealand. Saatchi & Saatchi presents from 9 February to 1 March an exhibition in their brand new gallery in Parnell. And on 8 February AUT Art & Design School and Design Institute New Zealand (DINZ) host a presentation by NSM.

Last but not least is Singapore. We will have an exhibition at Dominic Khoo’s 28th Février, which will open on 16 February. This will make a magnificent grand finale. We are working with local studio Doodle Room. Inspired by traditional work of Asian calligraphers with brushes and water in the street, NSM will work his magic in the Singapore streets before he returns to Amsterdam.”

It’s a huge tour, and it covers a lot of ground – so if you’re in any of the cities he’ll be visiting, make sure you head down to check it all out – it’s sure to be amazing.

Who: Niels Shoe Meulman
What: Calligraffiti Upside Down Tour

Sydney

Kind Of Gallery, 72 Oxford St, Darlinghurst, NSW
Show opens Wednesday, January 25th from 6pm til 9pm
Also there will be live calligraffiti at Mays Lane Project space on January 27th from 12pm.

Melbourne

RTIST Gallery, 29 St Edmonds Road, Prahran
Show opens Thursday 2nd February from 7pm til 9pm and runs until 12th February

Auckland

Wedge Gallery, Kinokuniya Bookstore
Show opens 9th February 6pm til 9pm and runs until 1st of March

Singapore

Dominic Khoo’s 28th Février, 5 Jalan Kilang, Singapore
Show opens 17th February from 6pm til 9pm

Check out the Calligraffiti and Unruly websites, as well as all of the links above, for more information.