Graffiti writer 10Foot assembles Banksy, Kneecap and more for radical Big Issue takeover

The 10Foot tag is a familiar one to anybody who glances around their city, plastered on walls, bridges, and buildings at improbable heights. Many wonder: Who could do a thing like this? This week, the prolific graffiti writer completes the first ever complete takeover of Big Issue magazine, giving an insight into his mind and bringing friends Banksy, Kneecap and Alan Moore along for the ride.

In the one-of-a-kind magazine, on sale from Big Issue vendors from 17 March, Banksy conducts an unprecedented interview with “Britain’s most infamous street vandal” TOX. 

DJ Próvai, of Bafta-winning Belfast rappers Kneecap, writes a one-off poem to mark the magazine going on sale on St Patrick’s Day, and graphic novel legend Alan Moore reveals where he learned his craft. We even let 10Foot change the magazine’s font.

“I can’t believe it. A mainstream magazine has let me turn an entire issue into an anarchist zine,” said 10Foot.

“Expect the proper famous, the street famous, people who mind their own, prison educators, community radio stations, organic gardeners, artists and NO CORPORATE PAID ADVERTS. I’ve given all the space to people who do great work and don’t get recognised.

“London is not dead however hard the system tries to strangle it. I hope the vendors come up hard from this.”

There are no paid adverts in the special edition. Instead, 10Foot donated artwork to cover the advertising budget and littered the pages with ads for subversive t-shirts, Caribbean takeaways and a workers’ cooperative growing vegetables.

Writer Jonathan Meades has also penned a short story for the magazine. Other contributors include the musician and composer Mica Levi, who recently sold out the Barbican centre, and war reporter and Popular Front founder Jake Hanrahan.

Museum of Homelessness founder Jess Turtle tells a tale of resistance, organic farmer Laura Mythen explains how to change the farming industry, and architect Ella Adu shares a recipe for oxtail made with dread and tenderness.

This complete takeover of the Big Issue launches alongside what has been described as  “the most authentic exhibition of London graffiti culture ever held in the capital”: 10Foot, Tox, Fume – ‘LONG DARK TUNNEL’. It will open in an undisclosed central London location in the coming weeks.

Featuring TOX, 10Foot and Fume DDS, it will span three distinct generations of London tagging, told by three of its most prolific practitioners.

“It’s so far from a bunch of pictures in a white room, it’s emotional and messy and is the culmination of decades and decades of underground artwork,” said 10Foot.

The exhibition’s opening night will feature an exclusive 10Foot limited edition print on sale with all proceeds coming to the Big Issue. Details will be revealed on 21 March.

Paul McNamee, UK editor of the Big Issue, said: “This is a landmark edition of Big Issue. Never before have we had all pages given over to one guest editor – all editorial and all advertising. But 10Foot is a unique individual. It says much for his thinking and approach that he can bring in Banksy – one of the most famous names in the planet – and give him the same billing as a local London Indian restaurant. 

“Working on this with 10Foot, helping him realise his vision, hearing from his peers and those he admires, seeing his ongoing quest to genuinely challenge received notions of how things should be, has been a remarkable process. Big Issue has never looked like this or read like this before. I hope everybody enjoys it. 

“Buy it from your local vendor – or if you can’t reach a vendor, buy it online through the Big Issue Shop and you’ll be supporting the work Big Issue does every day across Britain.”

The 10Foot Big Issue special goes on sale Monday 17 March across the UK. It can be bought from street vendors or online through the Big Issue Shop by visiting bigissueshop.com.

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