From 1996 to 2016, Tavar Zawacki created artwork under the name 'ABOVE.' Around 2007, while still using this pseudonym, Tavar began transitioning into text-based paintings, building on his early graffiti work with letters. Speaking four different languages, wordplay and puns became a natural extension of his personality. These Word Play works, painted around the world, often carried site-specific, social, and political messages that reflected their surroundings. This body of work blends ABOVE’s street-art style with clever humor, wordplay, sharp social and political commentary, and contemporary statements.

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Miami, Florida, U.S.A. 2011

Occupy Wall Street (OWS) was a left-wing populist movement opposing economic inequality, corporate greed, big finance, and the influence of money in politics. Tavar aimed to make a bold statement highlighting this pervasive inequality.

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Johannesburg, South Africa. 2012

Africa has faced a devastating history of blood diamond conflicts. A "blood diamond" refers to a diamond mined in war zones and sold to finance war efforts, particularly in Africa, where over two-thirds of the world’s diamonds are extracted.

This site-specific social and political wordplay was painted on the exterior wall of Jewel City in Johannesburg, the largest diamond trading hub in the southern hemisphere. Jewel City spans six blocks, housing around 300 diamond traders, South Africa’s Diamond Board, and the State Traders Association. It exports diamonds worth over R7 billion annually.

Tavar managed this "diamond wall heist" by telling the owners he would paint “Diamonds are a woman’s best friend” in large letters on their building’s exterior. They loved the idea and quickly agreed. But once he started, they realized he'd misled them. He was using their wall to make a bold statement about the diamond trade and its role in fueling bloodshed.

Blood diamonds, in truth, have become one of humanity’s worst enemies.

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Copenhagen, Denmark 2012

Tavar was initially resistant and quite ‘late’ in creating any social media profiles. When he painted this piece in 2012, he had no social media presence himself. This ironic timelapse painting reflects his observations of how addictive and consuming social media had already become for everyone around him, where, in this case, the message was the medium.

WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A 2017

What’s unique about this piece is that it’s become a popular proposal spot for people ready to pop the question to their loved ones. Tavar has received lost track of the emails I’ve received from couples sharing photos and their stories of saying “yes” in front of the mural.

I had no idea it would become an inspiration for people to propose here. Love is wild, isn’t it?

Stellenbosch, South Africa. 2012

The idea for this wordplay was inspired from the surreal image of that plane crashing into the roof—a strange, unique scene. Tavar wanted to capture that energy and create a statement that amplified the uniqueness of the moment.

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SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN 2013

Tavar grew up with “hippie” parents who encouraged him to dive deep into his imagination from an early age. Growing up, he was always playing with ideas, and these letters he painted were no exception. This freedom let him explore each letter’s form, constructing and deconstructing them in unexpected ways. His hope was for the viewer to tap into their own imagination to piece the letters together.

In October 2007, Tavar embarked on my “South Central Tour,” aiming to paint his way through South and Central America. He began in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and wrapped up seven months later in Mexico City. Despite intense challenges—this tour remains unforgettable for him. Here are few of his favorite Word Play paintings from those travels.

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'By The Time You Read This I'll Already Be Gone' (Guatemala City)

'Left Handers Are Never Right, Yeah Rite' (Santiago, Chile) *Hands from 'RIPO'

'Know Your Blows, Blow Your Nose' (Lima, Peru)

'One Man's Junk Is Another Mans Treasure' (Panama city)

'Trying 2 Put 2, and 2, 2Gether' (San Jose, Costa Rica)

'Fall Down' (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

'This Is The Beginning Of The End' (Mexico City, Mexico)