121/183 By DELTA

121/183 – 761 Photos of Red-Brown Steel Freight Wagons with Paintings

Between the early 2010s and 2023, pioneering European graffiti artist DELTA created more than 760 paintings on DB Falns 121 and 183 steel freight wagons. Using mainly white paint and black spray paint, he transformed these everyday coal wagons into a remarkable series of minimalist artworks.

This book documents the complete series through 761 frontal photographs, presenting each wagon like an exhibition catalog without distracting backgrounds. Rather than following a chronological order, the images are arranged into conceptual groups, revealing the evolution of DELTA's ideas and visual language.

Short texts by the artist provide insight into his working process, techniques, locations, and thoughts on repetition, impermanence, and creating unique compositions. Additional chapters feature close-up details, weathered wagons showing the natural aging of the works, and an analytical afterword by François Chastanet.

Beautifully produced, 121/183 is the first publication dedicated entirely to photographs of DELTA's graffiti works and offers a comprehensive record of one of the most ambitious freight train painting projects ever created.

Details

• 761 photographs
• 256 pages
• 23 × 30 cm
• Printed on two different paper stocks
• Softcover with poster dust jacket
• Language: English
• Released: May 2024