Cool Hunting

The Book of Tags, a 256-page hardcover book on the subject. Its pages further explore the debate as the authors note that tagging is "a phenomenon which stands on the thin border between art and vandalism." What started out in the '70s as a way for young people to mark their territory on NYC subway cars has burgeoned into a worldwide art movement. An anthology collecting the works of 300 graffiti artists from 20 countries, this book explores this urban artform through five thoughtful essays written by designers, calligraphers, architects and artists from Switzerland to San Francisco. Aside from photographs from around the world, Tags also features full-page examples of different tags with an explanation of the evolving calligraphic styles used. With its mesh of design and content, the Book of Tags straddles the line between serious art book and absorbing coffeetable piece.