It’s about found art, feverish curiosity, and relentless dedication.
Welcome to an epic Rumpus moment: Nikko is our first chapbook, and the first time an author has debuted his work online at the Rumpus, and then self-published! Delfin Vigil’s incredible true story includes gorgeous illustrations by our own Paul Madonna, and was designed by Andrew Nimmo, the drummer in Vigil’s band Amores Vigilantes (see below). To enjoy it best, you’ll want to read it in fullscreen mode, using the “zoom in” button.
Nikko is our longest post yet, but one that’s entirely worth the distance. It’s about found art, feverish curiosity, and relentless dedication. And it speaks to the profound chemistry between readers and writers, the humanity behind street art and graffiti, and the power of the written word, wherever it may be found.
And if you want more Nikko, come to Monday’s Monthly Rumpus event! Delfin Vigil and his band Amores Vigilantes will play a set including the song “Five Blocks with Ferlinghetti” based on a chapter from Nikko: Concrete Commando. We’ll have copies of the book for sale that night. It can also be purchased online at MagCloud.
It’s art like this that makes me so proud of the Rumpus. I hope you enjoy it, too.
6 responses
As a longtime resident of Russian Hill and North Beach I am more than familiar with the NIKKO carvings. I have often pointed out a NIKKO on the sidewalk and asked friends I’m with if they had noticed the writings all over the city too. I’ve always been surprised and disappointed to find that not very many people seem to notice them like I do. It was a pleasure to find out A) I’m not the only one who saw NIKKO everywhere, and B) that you solved this great mystery. Nice work, Del.
Bought it.
I was thrilled to hear about this. I’ve lived near the intersection of Macondray Lane and Union Street since 1983 and have often wondered about NIKKO. I’m very excited that someone followed through on this search and I absolutely love the artwork!
Great detective work and beautiful story telling!
We lived on Union St from 84-89. We would see the Nikko concrete etchings on a regular basis in the blocks near Union & Polk. I recall one in particular that proclaimed “Nikko, Concrete King!” That always impressed me. We once happened upon a wet square of cement in the neighborhood and wrote “Karla (my wife’s name) Concrete Queen” in it and felt quite clever. The next day I happened by this square and discovered that my wife’s name and designation had been scratched out, and replaced by “Nikko! Nikko! Nikko!” I realized then and there that Nikko could never be beat. Thanks for telling his tale. I look forward to reading it.
I certainly enjoyed this segment as I’m always fascinated by the obscure signs and tracks a few of us choose to leave behind us. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if some of Nikko’s graffiti outlives all of us. In my neighborhood of L.A. I can point to of several examples of wet-concrete sidewalk graffiti from 55, 60, and even 70 years back. A few of miles away near my old high school I once saw “Lorraine 1937” but I haven’t been able to find it since. It may have been paved over since.
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