Design of the week – The art of street ads

Driving along Ontdekkers Road into the Joburg CBD, photographer Jessica Hunkin documents the hand painted shop signage that forms a special kind of urban art gallery while attracting customers

Street art has finally reached a place where it is considered to be more art than vandalism. South Africa’s leading street artists, like Faith47, are showing in galleries around the world.

A growing army of graffiti artists are tagging up blocks and our muralists are creating beautiful walls that people pay to see on tours of street art, which have taken off this year.

Photographer Jessica Hunkin documents street-art adverts that are painted on the walls of businesses: spaza shops, street barbers, butchers, mechanics, chicken joints, internet cafés and restaurants. Functional art at its best, it’s informative, affordable signage and a delight to look at.

African art is traditionally useful and displayed on the street, not confined to an elite gallery. So we’re celebrating Hunkin’s project by showing you some of her finest finds. 

. These photos were first published by Between 10and5 (10and5.com), ‘a curated online showcase of the best that the SA creative industry has to offer’