Are you ready for this? One of the worlds most renowned graffiti crews, DMV, will be heading down our way – next week in fact. If you’re lucky enough to be in Melbourne, you’ll be able to catch what is going to be one fucking amazing show at Prahrans RTIST Gallery.

“February 2012: France is crippled by arctic weather conditions and paralysed by the presidential elections delirium. Leaving Toulouse, Lyon and Paris, the prolific French graffiti crew Da Mental Vaporz (DMV) decide to conquer the oceans for sunny horizons down under. Aboard “Le Venin”, the DMV sailors consisting of Bom.k, Blo, Brusk, Dran, Gris1, ISO, Jaw, Kan, and Sowat are heading to Melbourne, Australia.

Gathering their unique and distinctive style, the DMV crew form a gigantic nonapus, a nine-tentacles creature gifted with incredible energy, mastering many techniques with military precision. Monumental murals breathe through an explosion of colours, combining letters, throw-ups, calligraffiti or half-tone graffiti. Figurative paintings display a touch of dark humour while erotic characters transport the viewer to another dreamlike scenery. The DMV show will present a new body of works from all members, showcasing both collective paintings as well as individual works on paper and canvas.”

“The French graffiti crew Da Mental Vaporz was created in 1999 by Bom.k and Iso within the Paris suburbs. Soon joined by Kan, they stood out by making huge murals in sordid lands within the southern suburbs, showcasing different subjects from traditional graffiti (previously confined to either block letters or cartoon characters and bubbles). Thus, their artworks can span over tens of meters high and wide, depicting monstrous characters, madness and the imminent end of times. In the 2000s, Jaw from South of France joined the collective with his crazy contorted characters and lettering. Gris1 came to strengthen the crew with his expertise of old school graffiti codes and madness vectors. Brusk from Lyon, vandal master with “3D honour” followed shortly and brought Dran’s touch of cynicism and childlike characters to the collective. Eventually in 2008 Sowat successfully managed to join the crew with his flops and calligraffiti and discreetly integrate Blo with his dislocated dolls to darken the whole scenery.

Da Mental Vaporz surprises by its creativity and combination of styles. Internationally known for its large scale spectacular murals, the DMV successfully manages to maintain the unity of the group while strengthening each individuality. Regular feature of magazines, festivals, and exhibitions across Europe, Latin America, New York, Moscow or Hong-Kong, the Da Mental Vaporz crew members are both known collectively and individually. In 2010 Dran was invited by elusive artist Banksy for two simultaneous solos shows at POW in London, “Marks & Stencils” and “I have Chalks”.”

These guys are seriously some of the best artists working on the streets in the world, and you’d be absolutely crazy not to get down to RTIST to check it out.

Who: Da Mental Vapours – Bom.k, Blo, Brusk, Dran, Gris1, ISO, Jaw, Kan, and Sowat
What: La Venin Exhibition
Where: RTIST Gallery, 29 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC
When: Thursday 16th February from 8pm

Check out the RTIST Gallery website as well as the Facebook event page and the DMV website for more info on this mad show.