Spain’s third largest city, Valencia, is known for its breathtaking architecture, vibrant nightlife, and rich history. But a new book by Valencia native, Luz A. Martin, highlights an aspect of this city not normally lauded in travel books and often ignored by tourists and locals alike. The hefty 150-page work is chock full of beautiful, clear photographs, and dual-language narrative detailing something truly unique – the street art of Valencia.Textura: Valencia Street Art ($34.95, Mark Batty Publishing) gives readers a sense of the thriving guerilla art scene in this great Spanish city. Pages are filled with large, full-color photographs of unique art, colorful graffiti, and strange figures. The author takes things a step further by providing the reader with information about the artists via fascinating Q&As. The narrative helps the reader better understand and appreciate an art form that is often criminalized.
The photographs of Luz A. Martin have been published in the New York Times, Time Out London, the Herald Tribune, and more. Look for showcases of Martin’s photographs as well as exhibits about the street artists in 2010. www.markbattypublisher.com
-Nikki Dowling
