Awake: The Story Behind the Artwork
Photography by Franklin McKay — mural by @soortattoo (Suren Davtyon), Graffiti Alley, Toronto. I love photography. Wandering Toronto with a camera is one of my favourite ways to disappear for a few hours — and Graffiti Alley never disappoints. One day the wall gave me this: a giant, hyper-realistic eye staring straight through the brick, painted by @soortattoo (Suren Davtyon). It stopped me cold. An eye that watches — it felt like the entire idea of 'Awake' captured in a single image. I tracked down the artist and asked for his blessing to use my photograph of his work as the artwork. He said yes — and I'm grateful, because this cover wouldn't exist without him. Credit for documenting the wall goes to the 'as I walk Toronto' street-photography blog (mcfcrandall.blog) — you can see the eye and its neighbours here: The alley keeps changing, but that eye is still watching. — Franklin franklinmckay.com