Talk:John Kiss (artist)

AfD premature closing
I am wondering why the closer (non-admin) of this AfD did not relist it for another week instead of closing it as keep? Several volunteer editors expressed that it will take a while to go through all of the excessive refbombing of the article to determine if he is notable. Netherzone (talk) 18:03, 1 March 2024 (UTC)
 * Reopened and relisted for determining the sources added. The Herald (Benison) (talk) 02:56, 2 March 2024 (UTC)

Unsourced content or original research

 * Soon after beginning to use images rather than texts in his graffiti works, a silhouette-drawn character began to emerge in his work, one that Kiss began repeating and re-drawing often. The character, a mixture between a young child and a mythic elf, was to become identified with him, similar to a "graffiti tag." The elf character was often depicted flying, running, or jumping, always carrying a spray can, brushes and pens in his hand.


 * In his twenties, Kiss began creating non-commissioned graffiti works in Tel Aviv, Israel. Inspired by graffiti artist Banksy, Kiss began using stencils. In a homage to Banksy's "Flying Balloon Girl", Kiss' new mural spanned 7 by 9 meters (22 by 29 feet) and displayed his iconic elf holding brushes and a spray can, flying upwards with heart-shaped balloons, while also including a part of the original Banksy imagery.


 * While living in Jerusalem, Kiss sprayed in multiple locations the catchphrase "Jews and Arabs Refuse to Be Enemies", a common slogan within pro-peace circles which also rymes in Hebrew. With the goal of reminding passers-by to behave peacefully rather than to be led by their fear and prejudice, the graffiti aimed to show that art can break down prejudice.


 * (Unsourced quote): In Jerusalem he portrayed "the silhouettes of Ein Kerem, the familiar outlines of the Hurva synagogue, the Montefiore Windmill and other notable buildings."


 * In 2019 he participated at the Art in Dark Places project led by Iris Elhanani. In 2020 he participated in the Peace envelopes exhibition in multiple cities in Israel. In 2021 he showed a solo retrospective exhibition at the Yevniel Gallery in Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv.


 * Upon completing his studies in Canada, Kiss returned to Israel to serve in the Israeli Defense Forces. He was stationed at the headquarters of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, where he was in charge of coordinating the delivery of medicine to the Gaza Strip.

Netherzone (talk) 21:00, 2 March 2024 (UTC)