WHITEBOOK 01 – IT'S A CIRCLE by Mark Grokenberger

New York City is the birthplace of graffiti—and especially of train writing. Since the mid-1980s, writers from all over the world have been making pilgrimages to this mecca, and many of them have attempted to paint the legendary subway—just as their role models have done since the 1970s. The first volume of the WHITEBOOK series IT'S A CIRCLE documents several trips to the Big Apple by German writer and photographer Mark Grokenberger between 2019 and 2024.
"Mark Grokenberger's original intention was simply to explore New York City, following in the footsteps of graffiti legends like LEE, DONDI, and SEEN. He wanted to experience the olfactory atmosphere of the venerable tunnels, create a piece in places where numerous milestones were created—and capture a touch of the old New York, which has largely disappeared today."
— René Kästner

The 224-page hardcover volume chronologically tells the story of writer friends who initially just want to check off the subway for a moment – ​​only to discover that the city has much more to offer for ambitious train writers. With each trip to NYC, their adventures become more professional – ultimately leading to well-thought-out end-to-ends, colorful wholecars, and even entire wholetrains. Their experiences are divided into six chapters and are accompanied by reflective texts and stories about selected adventures.

"It's more craftsmanship than graffiti art, but that's exactly what we wanted to be our trademark. Megalomaniac kids from Europe reaching for the stars in the USA. Simple, but true. [...] Painting so many large pieces was never our plan—rather, it's the result of a growing affection for the city and its subway system."
IT'S A CIRCLE is a five-year journey with impressive photographs—not only of tunnel action, yards, in traffic, and from a drone, but also of authentic New York in atmospheric street and subway photographs. Participating artists include SEKO, BQEM, YUSUF, TUKI, IRAK, EYSIR, ORG, IOC, MOPS, and many more.

"But sometimes things demand to be seen. Sometimes I have to go out and share. This is one of those moments. These are the memories, snippets, and stories of some of my best adventures – shared with incredible friends."
The first volume in the WHITEBOOK series opens with a foreword by series founder René Kästner. It is available as a signed limited edition of 250 copies, including two prints and a postcard, and as a regular edition consisting of the book alone.

ISBN: 978-3-9825457-2-1
20 x 30 cm, Hardcover, 224 pages
Paper: Book cover 135 g/m² wood-free white matt coated art print