Frequently Asked Questions
What is the “Dans et sur les murs” project?
It is a street art event in Saint-Germain-en-Laye for which Alex Kanos created the 2023 poster and urban panels.
What was the main visual inspiration?
The design is based on a photograph by Fabe Collage showing a woman holding a smoke flare.
What was added besides the poster?
A series of graphic panels displayed in the city using photographs from Fabe Collage and Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
What is the concept behind the project?
The project extends graphic design into public space, transforming communication into urban visual installation.
Who organized the event?
The event was organized by Saint-Germain-en-Laye City Hall.
“Dans et sur les murs” Graphic Poster for Street Art event in Saint-Germain-en-Laye
In 2023, I had the honor to work again for Saint-Germain-en-Laye Cityhall as i did in 2018, creating the new graphic poster for their street art event. This time, I decided to use a powerful photograph by Fabe Collage featuring a woman holding a smoke flare. The image highlights urgency of rebellion, echoing the spirit of urban art movements.
Alongside the poster design, I also created a series of panels using more of Fabe Collage‘s photographs and also photograph’s found from the city of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. These panels were displayed in the urban space, extending the visual identity of the event and integrating it into the urban landscape.
This project is rooted in the intersection between graphic design, photography and urban intervention. The objective was not only to create a promotional poster, but also to extend the visual identity of the event into the public space itself. The design becomes a bridge between communication and urban experience.
The choice of the photograph by Fabe Collage is central to the visual impact of the project. The image of a woman holding a smoke flare introduces a strong emotional and symbolic dimension. It evokes urgency, resistance and collective energy, elements often associated with street art culture and urban expression.
Rather than using a purely illustrative approach, the design is built from documentary and photographic material. This decision reinforces the connection between reality and artistic interpretation. The visual language is grounded in real urban scenes and real individuals, which strengthens the authenticity of the message.
The “Dans et sur les murs” event in Saint-Germain-en-Laye provided a context where graphic design could interact directly with urban space. The project extended beyond the poster itself, incorporating additional panels displayed in the city. These panels used a combination of photographs from Fabe Collage and archival images sourced from Saint-Germain-en-Laye, creating a layered visual narrative.
This expansion into public space transforms the design into an environmental installation. Instead of being confined to a single surface, the artwork becomes part of the city’s visual ecosystem. It interacts with architecture, circulation and everyday urban life.
The integration of multiple photographic sources creates a dialogue between different perspectives of the city. On one hand, there is the artistic vision of Fabe Collage, focused on expressive human presence. On the other, there are documentary images of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, which anchor the project in its geographical reality.
This combination reinforces the idea that urban space is not static but constantly evolving. Street art and graphic design contribute to this evolution by introducing temporary visual interventions that reshape perception of familiar environments.
The project also reflects a broader interest in how visual identity can be extended beyond traditional formats. A poster is usually a fixed communication tool, but in this case, it becomes the starting point for a larger system of visual expression distributed across public space.
Through this approach, the boundary between design and installation becomes blurred. The viewer is not only exposed to a message but also immersed in a coherent visual environment that extends throughout the city.
Ultimately, this project for Saint-Germain-en-Laye demonstrates how graphic design can operate at the intersection of communication, photography and urban art. It shows how a visual identity can be expanded into space and time, creating a dynamic relationship between artwork, audience and environment.