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URBAN DEVELOPMENT EPISODE 2
This is the the second part in our series of features about the Urban Development Outdoor Gallery Project in Auckland, New Zealand.

In this episode Berst One conducts a thorough interview with me about the motives and technique behind my current approach to painting. We speak in depth about what it is for a Graffiti Writer to embrace being an artist, the influence and thinking behind our current aesthetic and shed some light on some local graffiti history and how that has impacted the piecing style of today. SITE: ASKEW ONE

Interviu cu Rime din Msk la MTV Urban Far Cap. (I love Graffiti).
Mici detalii despre rime:

Born and raised in New York City, he began his graffiti career as a sixth grader in 1991. With the name “Rime” he started off doing tags and throw-ups (the raw basics of graffiti making). Rime eventually found more room for creativity through piecing. In 1996 he moved to New Jersey and partnered up with Nace (r.i.p) and began pursuing more advanced forms of wildstyle lettering.

From 1996 to today Rime has traveled to and painted in over 17 major U.S. cities, 6 European countries, Japan and Taiwan. In 2005 he founded The Exchange, an elite group of graffiti stylists from North America and Europe. Now based in Los Angeles Rime works closely with The Seventh Letter Crew on art based murals and gallery shows. Rime’s mission is to solidify the idea that graffiti is a viable and innovative art form. With the hint of pop culture’s welcoming back of graffiti art, Rime realizes it is up to the artists that are actually out there putting in work to be responsible for the way the art form pans out in history.

Rime Interview x MTV Urban Germany from I Love Graffiti on Vimeo.

Interviu cu cel mai desavarsit artist (dupa parerea mea), as incepe sa il descriu dar nu are rost, e perfect ca si artist, stil, imaginatie si si si… Sub filmulet am adaugat si o mica biografie a domnului POSE.

NAME: Pose.  – CREW: MSK. D30. – STARTED GRAFFITI: 1992. – LOCATION: Chicago.

WEBSITE: wearesupervision.blogspot.com

HEROES: James Brown and whoever invented the Chicago style hotdog.

IRONLAK COLOUR: Guacamole.

WHY IS IRONLAK YOUR WEAPON OF CHOICE?

It’s crazy vibrant, has ridiculous control, and the coverage is unbeatable, point blank. Honestly just slap a pink dot on that bad boy and it’s game over. The paint is too much fun.

HISTORY:

Probably fairly similar to most people’s. I was attracted at a very young age while riding the trains, and I just got hooked. It consumed me and completely took over my life. I have been writing graff for more than half the time I’ve been on this earth, and even with all the ups and downs, I still cant shake it. I love all forms and aspects of it. Minus the politics/talking. Besides that… know your history, put in your work and most importantly be original.

Bombing Science: First of all what’s good? And what do you write, what crews do you rep and how many years have you been in the game?

Vents: Life is good. I write Vent/Vents, RTR crew, I painted my first piece in 1996

BS: How did you get down with RTR Crew?

Vents: It’s always just been a small team of good mates. Ikon, Shake and I were the original members and since then we’ve only added 3 more. We’ve never been concerned with being the biggest or the best. We just enjoy hanging out, sharing ideas, partying and painting together.

BS: What part of the world are you from?

Vents: Auckland, New Zealand.

BS: How do you contribute to put New Zealand on the map?

Vents: New Zealand’s got a good little scene going so foreign countries have already taken notice. It’s a long way from the rest of the world but still a popular travel destination. For me it’s just doing graffiti, putting photos on my flickr account and responding to the occasional photo request from international magazines.

BS: I noticed among your pictures that the trains you paint are really different from the ones we see up in America. What models are they, where do they go?

Vents: I guess you’re referring to the freights? The most commonly painted ones are called “Space Runners”. I believe they are manufactured locally and are unique to New Zealand. They carry freight all over the country. They’re often put on a Ferry that goes across the Cook Strait between the North and South Islands. I’m from Auckland in the North Island but things done up here often end up being photographed down in the South Island, and likewise a lot of the stuff that gets painted in the South Island travels back up North.

As for passenger trains they are old cars from Australia and Britain, shipped over then refurbished and repainted in local regional corporate colors.

BS: Any funny yard stories to share?

Vents: Mostly its the usual things like lying in bushes, getting chased and evading capture. The last time I was painting with a freight car with Stray we were about 5 minutes from finishing our E2E when a security car came speeding through the gate right onto the tracks directly at us. We ran around the other side of the car and then legged it down the tracks for about 100m until we found some bushes to hide in. At this stage Stray announced that he lost his car keys during the dash. After waiting about half an hour we decided to go back and finish the pieces, then look for the keys.

After finishing and about 10 minutes searching in the dark we were just about to give up when I found them. The pieces were cool, we didn’t have to walk home and we got good flicks the next morning so everything turned out OK!

BS: Tell us about the police in New Zealand, is graffiti well tolerated or is it still an underground phenomenon?

Vents: I wouldn’t say graffiti is well tolerated by any stretch of the imagination, the city councils spend a lot of taxpayer money to clean up graffiti fast, but there are always areas that mange to elude the buff. Sometime the buffers let some pieces slide because they actually like the pieces. I’ve been pretty lucky not to be caught for over 10 years. In most cases it’s just a case of getting arrested, going to court and paying your fines.

However they are starting to get tougher these days, I’ve heard about a few house raids going down, and police trying to build cases against guys that have been doing excessive damage. I’ve managed to talk my way out of many situations over the years where a landlord has not been on site to contradict my story. To be honest my biggest problem with police has come about from minor driving offenses, not graffiti.

BS: What are you thoughts on the amount of graffiti on the internet? How do you feel about graffiti being more commercial?

Vents: It’s only natural for graffiti to end up on the internet just like the news, shopping, porn and everything else people are into. I’m not really into buying graffiti magazines so it gives me something to pass the time at work. Even if you try to keep your photos to off the net there’s always going to be someone else putting a shitty flick of your piece out there. At least by showing your own photos you can have more control over the quality of the image and release it before anyone else does. I like how graffiti on the net is so up to the minute. You can check in on Monday and see what everyone did on the weekend. With magazines and books most of the pieces are already at least 3 months old. I tend to avoid online forums – too many toys and big egos trash talking behind fake user names, it’s depressing to be read opinions of 16 year old internet gangsters that spend too much time in front of a computer, I’d rather not think that I’m somehow involved in that scene.

Regarding the commercial side of graffiti – Personally I’m not interested in expanding the boundaries of graffiti beyond painting in the public environment. I’m not interested in collectible graffiti merchandise, brand identity or graffiti fashion. Even when good writers work with good brands the end result usually tends to be pretty contrived. I don’t have an issue with writers who choose to pursue a career from graffiti or making some cash on the side, but personally that’s not for me.

BS: What are your sources of inspiration, how do you stay motivated to spend so much time out painting?

Vents: It’s always been mostly about fun and adventure. I guess over time the ambition to progress stylistically becomes more of a driving force. I think seeing a lot of highly polished and technique driven graffiti inspired me to explore the limits of my own artistic and technical capabilities for a time.

Nowadays I’m less concerned with competing to be the best and doing the most. I think you have to sacrifice a lot to reach that point and you have to ask yourself what the real benefits and rewards are. I’m thinking a lot more about the enjoyment I get during the process of painting in a restricted time frame. Also maintaining a balance between graffiti and other aspects of life like friends, family and relaxation. So I think for 2010 I’m going to take a back to basics approach to graffiti, take it a little less seriously and just try to have a lot of fun with it. So far so good!

BS: What are your other interests aside from graffiti?

Vents: I love to travel and graffiti has been one of the best ways to do it. But when I get away I like to have a holiday too, take in the sites, culture, food and nightlife. I’m focused on sport, health and fitness a lot more these days. We are lucky in New Zealand to have access to a lot of outdoor pursuits like beaches, fishing and nature. Other than that I just like hanging with friends, enjoying good food and life in general.

BS: Any advice for the kids who are just starting out?

Vents: Learn as much about the history of graffiti and your local history as you can. If you only get one book make it Subway Art or Kings of Graffiti, they will be a constant source of reference, knowledge and inspiration. Don’t tag on pieces, or backgrounds for a cheap shot at fame, nobody reads that shit. If you’re going to go tagging, walk down the main street or bus route, not the tracks. Look for new spots instead of going to the places with the most graffiti.

BS: Last words, shout outs?

Vents: Thanks for the interview.

Interviu cu Dep, un artist extrem de talentat din Sudul Londrei, care este specializat pe caractere si ale caror lucrari este intotdeauna o placere sa le vezi! Dep conduce si o afacere numita “Paintshop Studio” cu care a lucrat pentru firme precut Nike, Adidas, MTV si Playstation.

Graffiti piece by Dep

Graffiti piece by Dep

Graffiti piece by Dep

Mutate Britain

by Dep

Exista vreun punct din cariera ta care l-ai clasa fiind “pauza ta mare”?

Nu chiar pauza  “mare” dar cu siguranta un punct de cotitură pentru mine a fost atunci când am avut  aproximativ  17 ani şi Son of Noise,   un grup de hip-hop din Regatul Unit, mi-au cerut sa fac designul unui logo, pentru o noua casa de discuri “‘Little Rascal”. Aceasta a fost prima data cand cu adevarat am facut un design si cu toate ca eram blocat pentru a raspunde cand m-au intrebat, am realizat ca puteam traii din abilitatiile mele de artist in graffitti.

Mutate Britain

Pentru mai multe informatii despre Dep :

Dep Profile

Dep Blog

Dep Flickr Photostream

Interviu conceput de Canned-Goods.com

In aceasta saptamana avem un interviu cu Sker2 , un tanar modest, ambitios si talentat in dale graffurilor.  Puteti sa ii admirati galeria pe FOTOLOG, DEVIANTART etc.

Kredy – Prin ce locuri iti putem admira lucrarile?

Sker2 – Salut in primu rand…pai in ce priveste graffiti in mare parte prin oras,  iar mai nou si pe trenuri..dak esti destul de interesat si atent le poti observa..

Kredy – Cand si cum ai inceput sa desenezi?

Sker2 – Desenez de mic…m-am nascut cu asta…de graffiti am aflat cand eram prin clasa a 5-a. Am vazut pe internet cateva desene si mi-au placut mult, la inceput le copiam pe foaie..dupa care mi-am gasit un nume si am inceput sa-mi fac propriile schite si treptat cu cativa colegi am inceput sa ne “punem” ideile pe perete..

Kredy – Ai vreun grup (crew) cu care iti pierzi timpul?

Sker2 – Pana de curand nu aveam..acum sunt in jck crew.

.

Kredy – Daca ai picta viata ta in 2 culori, care ar fi acelea?

Sker2 – in verde si albastru

Kredy – Ce sprayuri/materiale folosesti  in desene?

Sker2 - Cam orice…parerea mea e ca firma si calitatea vopselei conteaza mai putin… decat artistu in sine..daca esti bun desenezi si cu ceva mai prost..

Kredy – Ai vreun artist preferat in momentul acesta?

Sker2 - Imi place Cope 2 in materie de “vandalism” si nash din love letters in ce priveste partea artistica a graffitiului

Kredy – Ai fost prins vreodata de organele legii?

Sker2 – Da cand eram mai mic..de paza unei ambasade, dar am scapat doar cu un avertisment..de atunci nu am mai fost prins..

Kredy – Ce stil folosesti de obicei in graffuri?

Sker2 – Throw-up si piese…vreau sa incerc si wildstyle in viitoru apropiat..

Kredy – Ce sfaturi le dai incepatorilor si fanilor tai?

Sker2 - Exersati, exersati si iar exersati..asta-i cheia…

WG – You done any painting on the streets or do you mostly do the canvas stuff?

ASIE.ONE – I’m doing graffiti on the streets but not much for now as I prepare for upcoming exhibitions at the moment. The reason why I use oil for now is the problem with buying high quality cans here. They got a local brand but believe me..better use the brush

I try to figure out how to import cans from other countries around Asia and then I will hit the streets again like it should be. 2010 should be rocking and for exhibitions I’m good with using oil as I can paint 3D letterings in smaller sizes easy.

Huge thanks to Ollie, you can check out his blog and his art is available to buy there, Aerosouldzines.

Check out some digital 3D graffiti art by Brad Schwede.

Source: Senseslost.com - Original Post

Rarely do North American audiences get the opportunity to see modern art, -mainly graffiti- from Africa. Recently I was granted the opportunity to interview Faith47, who is one of the emerging artists coming out of South Africa. Her work, found in galleries as well as townships -where even the most rugged North American artists (male and female) would dare not enter- takes the viewer beyond the South Africa we see on TV and into a land where despite much hardship a resilient people thrive.

In this interview, we get discuss such topics as South Africa’s graffiti scene to musical influences to her love of language; as well as street art versus the canvas and even the notion of optimism. A bit deeper than the typical Q & A, “eh”?? Well, she’s deeper than your typical graffiti writer.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is Faith47.
(interview by Matthew J)

What’s up, Faith? I want to start off with a seldom asked question: What is your personal mission statement in regards to life as well as graffiti? What does Faith47 represent to the World??

Faith47: I make it up as I go… there is no ultimate truth… I change my mind all the time… I get upset by mobs of people chasing refugees out 6 story windows.. and I get inspired by going into the mountains and remembering that we are part of nature… in between these things are thousands of questions… many answers… more questions…. life and death…. I am humbled by to the destructive and creative nature in us all… this is what keeps me painting…

What is the origin of Faith47? How did you get into graffiti? How did you get started? What initially attracted you to the genre?

Faith47: Well I was introduced to graffiti by wealz130 of the YMB crew. He was a very influential young pioneer in the scene and has guided me all the way. I love art. I hate art. I love people. I hate society. I was into punk and skating and all forms of good rebellious music… so graffiti was for me a match made in heaven… it’s grown me up a lot and humbled me too and made me let go a lot…. I love the way that the work you do is so temporary…. nothing lasts forever… the wind and sun gets it or the buff… it’s a flicker that someone might see and then it’s gone . and did anyone see it. and do you care. and you give it away. move forward and stay in the moment.

How does your family feel about your graffiti? Are they supportive?

Faith47: My son paints with me….

How deep is South Africa’s graffiti scene? Who are the pioneers? As far as style, creativity, and expression go, what does South Africa offer graffiti that differentiates it from other countries?

Faith47: The South African scene… oh man… it’s deep… and raw.. and mean yet humble… the bombers in our scene get my utmost respect… guys like toe007,tapz, naid, dek3, kers, enos, brush, disk, cros and others.. they really get into the most hardcore spots and there are so many dangerous elements on the streets… but I find they don’t have ‘the whole world revolves around me’ attitude that you find in so many places… when you are bombing in south african streets you are never the most hardest m***fkr on the streets so there is a certain chaotic and aggressive humbleness to it… old school writers like mak1one, falko and gogga have done lots for the scene… pioneers like reyn22 and wealz130 whose style still burns…. the creative genius of rasty, hak1one and conform. crews like QK,RL,FUK,FSU,WK?,MSE have done massive amounts of work in a country where access to paint and magazines have until recently been a mission to get and money is always a thing…. it’s very unexposed and its great that way…

Who are your heroes? Both growing and currently?

Faith47: My mum. My friends. My son. Wealz130. Patti Smith. The Zapatistas. Naomi Klein. Noam Chomsky. Brendra Fassie. Steve Biko.

You named your son as one of your heroes in life. How was his birth changed your approach to the art form? Are you more focused on putting out certain messages?

Faith47: Having a child is very grounding and as I’m not a very grounded person this been pretty challenging for me. I don’t know how things would be without him, I don’t think I would have worked as hard as I have done. I mean I had him at 18 so I never really had the time to take it easy -or study… but it made me more focused and I had to grow up fast, but then at the same time I think I’m also going to stat young as we’re growing up together now .. and I’d like him to put what he loves first … get into this talents and passions and live them fully… this is key … so this motivates me to do the same.

As far as musical influences go you have a very eclectic list [Modest Mouse to Immortal technique and the Misfits]. Which groups do you credit as having the biggest influences as far as art and life are concerned?

Faith47: Hmmmm … in order of appearance … beastie boys, dead kennedys ,new model army, sonic youth, sisters of mercy, bauhaus, patti smith, mazzy star, sage francis, aesop rock, immortal technique, the knife,le tigre,coco rosie,gogol bordello, munley and the lee lewis harlots but there are many many many

I like the way you write. I especially liked the words you wrote for the “Restless Debt Of Third World Beauty” exhibit: “both the female and the third world have been oppressed and raped. Despite this they are powerfully resilient and form the backbone of strength in society their voices silenced in the media with its strong western male gaze.” That is truly poetic. Have you considered taking up poetry as another way to express your views on life?

Faith47: I like words a lot.. language needs to be destroyed and rebuilt… so that we own it… It’s just communication … like letter style….how do we get our thoughts and feelings from here to there… ? words are very limiting… I think we’ll explode without music and art and muddling words up here and there….

I know you believe in guardian angels, so what can you tell me about “demonwardarkloveangels“? What does that series of work represent?

Faith47: The disappointment and sadness of the angel who witnessed the fall of humanity as her own self. Her fabric is human and out of heart comes the decisions that humanity makes. The greed and destruction. She loves hard. So it hurts a lot.

If you weren’t involved with graffiti, what do you think you’d be doing?

Faith47: This is not possible

Many writers paint for the sake of notoriety and fame. Somebody with your talent could easily get fame by painting in posh galleries, yet you actually go into townships and paint murals. What inspired you to go in the townships? I’m sure few artists (male and female) would even consider that an option. Why do you do it?

Faith47: to explore my own city.
to avoid the inner city buff.
for fame and notoriety.
to get up in different areas.
to inspire some graffiti to start coming out of those areas.
to get photos that can travel over the seas and make people see reality in a different context.
I paint in all areas. this is graffiti. we take the streets…. either high traffic areas or areas that we specifically like because of the texture. or the wall. or the environment. we love the photo. the photo immortalises the moment which is gone immediately. I paint galleries too. and boring walls in suburbia. and main roads and freeways sometimes. and sometimes I sit at home and don’t feel like painting at all. everything has its place and time. It just depends on the day in question.

You paint on canvas as well. Compared to traditional street art what kind of advantages and disadvantages do you find when working on canvas?

Faith47: working on the streets is way more experiential. its a whole process from finding new spots to actually painting… I mean its much harder to get your ideas and style together and be focused when you have all the outside elements.. cars rushing by… people walking past or talking to you. getting mugged. gangsters telling you stories… kids wanting cans… having beers with your mates… or rushing to get done… 30 degree heat… howling wind… freezing cold…. those things all add to the wall … there is a whole story behind each photo…. people don’t understand that…..

on the flip side a canvas is like a personal thing… your thoughts.. your music.. you can block the world out and lock yourself up… it’s more of a meditation… the one is like breathing in… the other like breathing out…

15 years ago, the Apartheid government fell, Nelson Mandela was freed after 27 years imprisonment, and was later elected the first Black President in South Africa’s History. Despite these huge historic changes many of the racial, economic, political, health (via AIDS/HIV), and gender-based divisions are still in effect. At times things look grim, yet you haven’t given up on the possibility of change. How do you maintain that sense of optimism? How do you keep your Faith (no pun)?

Faith47: Optimism… I don’t think I’m particularly optimistic…. well I do believe in the plight of the innocent and misled…. … I think the government is up to shit.. the xenophobia situation makes me sick… the corporations and banks are bleeding the population dry… sexism and rape and violence are rife….cape town city is a city that cares more about its tourists then its own people… the neo liberal policies of south africa are very destructive to the man on the street… and the man on the street is so concerned with the everyday hustle that he fails to research who is to blame for what’s going down..

but I fucking love this place… people are strong and they look you in the eye… I don’t know what the future holds.. I’m not really optimistic after reading “the shock doctrine” by Naomi Klein my whole world fell apart… I go day by day by day by day…

Last year, South Africa and the World, lost legendary activist and singer Miriam Makeba aka “Mama Africa”. She created art which fought against the Apartheid government and the horrible conditions within your country. In fact, she was banned from her own homeland due to her music. Being a South African artist who happens to be female, do you feel a duty to carry on in the tradition of “Mama Africa” ?

Faith47: Much respect to her yeah I think its beautiful to see any artist dedicate everything to what they believe. In south africa we have a history of people going in to exile and dying for their beliefs… it’s very important to have these role models….

How was it that you were able to keep participating in culture which has stereotypically been seen as a “guy’s only” art? What kept you so determined?

Faith47: My bleeding heart

Any advice for females trying to get into graffiti?

Faith47:You teach people how to treat you… be self contained… carry mace…

Despite the struggles fought and ones to be endured, there is obviously great hope and belief in the future. What sort of positive things do you see in South Africa’s future?

Faith47: There is some super interesting music and artists coming out of south africa… a real creative energy that carries with it the flavor of the streets.. mixed up cultures and influences…. young people who are tough as nails…. politically aware…. fashion that you can’t fake…. things like that…

What is something about South Africa that makes you proud to call yourself a citizen?

Faith47: The actual landscape… the earth.. the plants and the color of the soil and the way the sky carries on forever… the beaches and forests and animals and the feeling you get when your driving for hours on a dirt road like your floating in some space between earth and dreaming….

What is something good about South Africa which foreigners don’t know , but you feel they should [know]?

Faith47: I don’t agree with borders. they are man made, done with a pencil, on a map. The earth is round. Passports are fictitious. We are all from the same place.

We should look at other countries as if they are our own… we all belong everywhere and no where at the same time…….

American revolutionary Sekou Odinga is credited for saying, “If you are a poet make revolutionary poetry. If you are an artist, create revolutionary art.” The very essence of your graffiti is a form of revolutionary art – proper propaganda, if you will. The way you use images, words, environments, and themes to shake the status quo challenges people to question the world around them. Do you consider yourself a revolutionary?

Faith47: A revolution often leads to the next movement or leader being corrupt… so I think the only revolutionary process that can work with this in mind is the revolution of the self. like you. your own person. what you think and what you know and what you do. then we all effect each other and maybe somewhere this creates change on a larger scale. but the initial and most essential idea is about your own self . somehow… this makes sense.. to me… at this moment… I might change my mind though… but revolution is good … power needs to change hands… the profits from a countries recourses need to go to the people. government and corporations should not be so inter connected…. simple things like that… it’s upsetting… we feel so small and ridiculously ineffective in the whole scheme of things as individuals… yet we are not. and we are…. everything is a contradiction…

Mainstream society tends to vilify graffiti culture as something which represents the social degeneration of people. Ironically enough, graffiti has become an actual bridge linking people who normally may not have had a reason to interact with one another. What would you say is the most significant way(s) graffiti has united people in your country?

Faith47: Well we have a lot of people who are against graffiti and street art… in Cape Town the council is making it very difficult for us by introducing anti nuisance by laws and cleaning as much as they can… So there is not a great appreciation for it which is a pity as I think it can really add to the fabric of a city and it’s culture…when you paint on the streets you are investing into your community … I mean there are a lot of morals and norms in society that I find pretty mixed up … back to front…and the way people view things are based on what they are told by the media etc. etc so they don’t often take the time to really look at something from a different perspective … and so it is with the work on the streets … getting demonized … one need to just open their minds to the facts that the space is public … that we are humans with creative energies … and that it’s form or communication .. art … letters … colors .. lines. Why should we restrict ourselves to the white walled galleries where there are cities with aching grey walls … cities need a human touch … not adverts and billboards … we as people need to see what other people are thinking and feeling … not what the advertisers would like us to be thinking and feeling …

Unification? Well I guess the writers become like the family overt time .. You grow up together … you judge others work on the skill and style not on someone’s culture, religion, or race. When we travel we see how much of a network the graffiti culture is … anywhere in the world someone will have your back and give you a couch to sleep on … now in this day and age where else are you going to find that ???

5.10.15. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?

Faith47: I’m just figuring out this moment … and sometimes tomorrow. I want to be with my son and with my art and hopefully more skilled and patient and clever.

Article taken from World-graffiti.com - Original post

VERDE – Sao Paulo Brazil Graffiti Urban Art

I’m always going on about graffiti and street art in Brazil (Brasil), VERDE is painting out of Sao Paulo and his art is pretty varied and interesting. I love the abstract circles he does, mixed in with classic graff style. He kindly answered a few questions for WG… Always with the questions…

VERDE – When I was a child my father taught me to draw, that’s why I love art. As I grew up I learned to skate, listen to hardcore music, and sort of live the underground life where graffiti was very popular; Then in 2006 I started to work and paint on the walls and streets.

VERDE – I’m pretty sure my art is a mixture of many things, making my own style.

WG - What are your favourite sneakers?

VERDE – I believe that the graffiti is kind of an expression of the art, and art is defined as the expression of human creative skill and imagination.

For me its clear as the arrangement of social class and the place that you are with other elements.
Particularly I prefer the WildStyle, working with the letters, but the fat bubble lettering is really nice to paint when you wanna show up a rebel atittude.

WG - How long does it take you to do a large VERDE piece?

VERDE – Working with the bomb style It took me around five minutes, but it was something with 2 meters.

WG - If you could only paint with 2 colours for the rest of your life, what colours would you choose?

VERDE – I really like the color Green (translating to portuguese is gonna be my name.. VERDE), and Black.

Have a look at VERDE’s Flickr, it’s sick, and here is a video of VERDE painting, great vid!

GUI Talks to WG about Graffiti and Painting in Brazil

Street art and graffiti in Brazil is as vibrant as ever, I first saw GUI’s graffiti art on Twitter (@XGUIX) after he put up a some photos of him painting in a toilet in Brazil (the shots are included, really awesome…).

I love the variety in his art styles, that still keeps the interlocking themes. I’m a big fan of bold colours and solid black lines too, and GUI’s got them, and then some!

WG – What artists out there inspire you, what artists do you like at the moment?

GUI – Some artists that I always have admired are “Os Gemeos”, “Vitché”, “Onesto”, and others. Nowadays I appreciate “Titi Freak”, “Mr. Zero”, “Highraff”, “Flip”, “Finok” “Aryz” from Spain… there are a lot of people doing a good work, but I can’t remember all of them right now.

WG – what music you listening to?

GUI – I listen to almost all kind of rock, since classics to the newest crazy bands and music. I listen to rap and electronic music too. Actually it depends on my mood and what my ears need in the moment.

WG -What materials do you use to paint? So do you have a favourite type of paint or cap?

GUI – I use látex with some pigment to do the foundation, and spray Montana.

I like to use fat cap to do some bombs on the streets and to fill some draws… and pro skinny cap to do the trace (lines) and outlines of my personage and etc.

GUI & CRIS & NALDO & ESCADAO – Brazil Sao Paulo (Cambuci) graffiti art

WG – Is graffiti popular in Brazil or do government councils and locals try and stop it? I’m interested in what normal people in Brazil think of graffiti and street art. In the UK/USA some are more relaxed about it than others…

GUI - Graffiti here in Brazil became popular with the ascension of some guys that do graffiti to the artistic world (cause mostly of people used to see graffiti as something bad, and now some of them can see it as art). But in my city, São Paulo, there’s a law called “cidade limpa” (cleaned city), and when the government think that in some place shouldn’t have a graffiti, they erase the draws painting the wall with gray ink, but it just makes us to want to go back there and do other graffiti, making it to be a persistence and resistance “fight”.

Some people relate graffiti to something dirty, they don’t understand the street art, so sometimes we have to listen some people complaining. But in the other hand, when I’m doing some painting, a lot of people pass and compliment… so, sometimes I can’t imagine the reaction of people.

Brazilian urban art always excites the crap out of me so it’s great to show some more… We’ve featured GUI and VERDE before, they’ve done some new stuff and it’s looking sick.

There is a new GUI and VERDE graffiti video too, see them paint it up in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Check out the GUI interview and the VERDE interview with World Graffiti and see loads more pics of their art too.

Interview with Ser, a London based graffiti writer who began painting his name in 1983. Over the years Ser has been counted among and involved with most of London and the South East of Englands major players and he now runs the commercially successful Graffiti Kings Crew.

Graffiti piece by Ser

How old are you?

35 baby (no homo)

Where are you based?

London… you know: fish, chips, cup ‘o tea, bad food, worst weather, Mary fucking Poppins… LONDON.

When did you begin painting graffiti?

I started in 1983.

How did you get into graffiti and what made you start painting?

There were two brothers in my junior school who were always up to date on new things and were always good at it before anyone else… bmx’ing, skateboarding, yo-fecking-yos, you name it. They both starting calling themselves by their new nicknames, “Turbo” and “Rocket“, we would always see their names written on the park slide and roundabout and within weeks most of us at school had nicknames and were hitting up the manor. My new ‘names’ were Flash, Hassle, Blast, Zap and Sketch… all within 1 month! LOL! I settled with RAC about 2 years later which was the start of bus bombing for us, we would jump on buses with every chance we had bumping into many other writers who had ten times as much better style than us and they were the ones that really got us into wanting to be better… hopefully better than them.

‘Married couple freights’ painted by Ser

Do you have any tales you could share with us about your early days as a graffiti writer?

Oh, these could fill a million page hardback or a 5 movie deal, hmmmm! There’s a few that really stand and here’s one of them…

My Saturday started out as every other Saturday, we would all meet up at the Care For Croydon wall and hang around for a hour or 2 meeting other writers, then go racking, do some bus bombing while on our way to Morden Tube Station jumping on and off the 157 bus at every other stop then jump on the tube doing insides and meeting more writers. By the middle of the day there could be up to 15 or 20 of us hitting up everything in sight while on our way to Labroke Grove to see all the new pieces in The Pit and under The Westway to empty our cameras. When the cameras was empty of robbed by foam (another story) we would repeat this whole process again on our way home, but this Saturday was different, one that I’ll never forget and sounds like a cartoon.

We all met up at the Care For Croydon wall and off to do some racking we went, we went to the model shop as usual and racked 100’s of Humbrol mini sprays and many Edding 850’s, then we went off to the art shop for our Buntlack fix. We walked into the shop only to find that the rack of bunt has been moved to behind the counter… fuck, fuck! Then out of the blue I hear Fin asked to see a Colbalt blue, the shop assistant then gave Fin the tin and walked to the back of the shop, confused?!? She’s gone out of sight and she’s left us unattended?!? Within seconds Fin put the blue tin down his coat… “What you doing Fin? She’s gonna know it’s gone you doughnut” then out of nowhere, this is where it’s all a blur, someone jumps over the counter and we all follow, we start shoving the bunt down our jackets, paint is falling on the floor and the other customers are shouting! The store woman comes running out from the back and goes into PMT meltdown, we all run for the door but couldn’t open it… it was like the scene from “Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels”… the bookies scene LOL! Anyway the door finally opens and we are legging it down Croydon High Street towards our local hall of fame and we make it to the wall when someone shouts “The bull (police) are coming”, now what happens next still to this day makes me shake my head!

We had been to this hall of fame everyday for about a year and know the area like the back of our hands, so when someone shouted “POLICE” we all dump our Bunt and jump over the wall into the spray paint factory, yeah believe it’s a paint factory (another story) and we never did find out what paint it was as the paint we got from its skip never had labels!?! Oh yeah, so over the wall we go and run across the paint factory car park to jump over another wall, just like garden jumping, over the 3rd wall we come across another car park with a warehouse that says ‘Art & Graphics Supply’, “Hmmm… what’s this?” we think. By this time most of us have gone in different directions and there’s only me and a few others left, we go into this warehouse and it’s full of arty stuff! We were like “OH SHIT!”, this place was massive and there was no one about! We see one person at a desk over the other side of the warehouse and then spot another little room which was filled, I mean FILLED with Bunt… shelf, after shelf, after shelf… colours we have never even seen before! Well guess what? We then start to fill our jackets to the brim and walk out without even being looked at! We stash the paint and go back for more and more, yet still no one has seen us?!? Seriously, we have 100’s of tins and call it a day. For months we empty the place to nothing and yet they still refilled the shelves until one day we walk in the room and it was filled with other shit. The next few months we were painting everyday with 100% Bunt!

Graffiti piece by Ser on British Rail cold steel

Graffiti piece by Ser on British Rail cold steel

You see, I’m not a graffiti artist with mad skills, I’m a writer that can paint good due to the amount of years I’ve been using a spray can.

Ser

How would you describe your style?

It all started with “Subway Art“, the pages with the simple MOM pieces and Dondi, etc… all the pieces that was right away readable and so I guess my style is based around being quick and bold as I’m used to being on the edge and being in places where I shouldn’t be so time is off the essence!

When it comes to chilling out with the boys on a Sunday when we meet up to paint a wall I don’t have a style really as I’m always inspired by someone elses style and like to try something like theirs. You see, I’m not a graffiti artist with mad skills, I’m a writer that can paint good due to the amount of years I’ve been using a spray can.

How did you choose the name Ser?

I never… I think it was either Wish, Rip, Fin or Get that came up with it. Back in the day it was all about having a tag that was short so you could tag it quick!

You are part of a crew called “Graffiti Kings” who undertake various forms of commercial work, how did the crew come to be and who are the other members?

I started “Graffiti Kings” around 11 years ago but not as a writing cru, it’s just for a commercial purpose. “Graffiti Kings” is mainly me, Jaz and Benjammin but when a job needs more peeps we call in the big guns!

Do you write with any other crews and if so which ones?

Over the years I’ve painted with near enough all the best writers in the UK, so as not to miss out any I shall not say any names, but it’s near everyone based in London and the South of England.

Graffiti piece by Ser & Aroe

Trackside graffiti piece by Ser & Rough

As part of “Graffiti Kings” you must have done many commercial pieces, what would you say was the most well known project you have worked on?

Well at the moment our client list is getting bigger and better. Years ago I would of said Mr Patel from the local corner shop but over the last six months it’s been:

• Diesel
• Microsoft
• Reebok
• Ed Hardy
• Gatecrasher
• X-Factor
• Paramount Studios
• Ministry Of sound

We have also been involved in many new TV shows being aired this new year but we are signed to secrecy, LOL!

Turns out my paintings inspired many new writers in Portugal and they have left my pieces up out of respect, if you can find any graff photos from Lisbon, Portugal from 1992 to a few years later, many of them are based on the styles of the London writers pieces I’d done…

Ser

Have you done many collaborations with artists overseas or travelled abroad for your art and if so then where is the most exciting or interesting place you have painted?

Hmmmm, I’ve painted in many countries but one that stands out was when I was commissioned by Pepsi Cola to go to Portugal and pimp out this 50,000 sq ft warehouse for a new years eve company rave to welcome in 2002. I was in Portugal for 1 month and I’m painting everyday but by week two my brain is dead with ideas of what to paint so I start doing pieces of all my mates names and in their style and by time I’d finished you would think the whole of London was out there! Years go by and I bump in to Remi (Rough) and he says “Thanks for putting me up”, what Remi? What you talking about? Remi said “I’ve just got back from Portugal and I saw you put me up”… WOW… this is many years later and it’s still there! Turns out my paintings inspired many new writers in Portugal and they have left my pieces up out of respect, if you can find any graff photos from Lisbon, Portugal from 1992 to a few years later, many of them are based on the styles of the London writers pieces I’d done… happy days!

What are you feelings on the graffiti and street art scenes in UK at present and the changes you must have seen since you began painting?

AHHHHH here we go, politics and keep me out of it, I love both.

Graffiti and street art, hmmm, two totally different things. In a nut shell I like all types of art and I don’t give a toss what artists call it! It’s all art… END OF! Doing a tag is art… nuff said. I own many a weird print or painting from the likes of:

• Don
• Goldie
• Sweet Toof
• Grotesk
• Pure Evil
• Eine
• Banksy
• D*face
• Petro
• Shepard Fairey
• Mistershrew

…and many more in my collection.

Graffiti piece by Ser

Ok, I never wanted to go down this commercial route but it fell on my lap like a brick and if it wasn’t for what happened to my bro then today I could of been in prison or dead as my younger life was all go, go, go…

Ser

Is there any one point in your career you would class as ‘your big break’?

Yep… when my younger brother JAE got arrested for doing jump downs!! Yeah really! Ok, I never wanted to go down this commercial route but it fell on my lap like a brick and if it wasn’t for what happened to my bro then today I could of been in prison or dead as my younger life was all go, go, go… and not for some good boi, ya get me?

Ok, so I’m at home and my mum phones me, she tells me that Jae is down the police station and it’s all because of me! She says you go get him out and deal with it. I get to the station and deal with police, turns out it’s the same coppers that tried to nick me a few months back for doing choo-chooo’s (another story) but before they release my bro they tell him to fix up and telling us “If you want to do graffiti legal there’s a place in Mitcham that runs a graffiti workshop every week” and they give us the details.

A week later I turn up to this place in Mitcham expecting to walk away with all their paint, you see at this time I’m off the rails in my hayday as a writer. We walk into this room and there are nuff peeps, some of them I have met before, they have all been told about this workshop too and fuck… they all have come to get the paint too! So we’re all standing there and this guys comes and says “Lads, come and sit down as I got something to say” so we all sit down and this guys starts to say sorry?!? Turns out he’s been trying to get this workshop of the ground for months but can’t find anyone to run it yet the local authorities keep sending kids to him each week, even when theres no workshop!?! He tells us to call him in a week or two.

As we were leaving he pulls me aside and says to me “Are you SER?”, glancing down to a gold ring on my hand with SER on it, so I say “Yeah, I’m SER“, the bloke jumps for joy and falls to his knees… “OH MY GOSH, I have been trying to hunt you down for months SER as every week when you graffiti guys turn up they all say that I need to get SER to run this as he’s HEAVY”, so the guy offers me the job on the spot and the rest is as they say… ker chingggggggggggg!

Graffiti piece by Ser

Graffiti piece by Ser

What is the biggest risk you have ever taken for your art?

HMMMMM, no risk really, just common sense and being a man by 99.9% giving up doing illegal shit and making money from it to put food in my kids mouth.

What are your thoughts on graffiti being just a likely to be found in a gallery as on the streets these days?

These days? Wasn’t the likes of Crash and dem man dem doing this gallery shiz in “Style Wars“? If you asked me this when I was a kid I would of kicked ya head in and called you a SELL OUT, now I shake ya hand and say you clever boi.

Have you ever displayed your work in any galleries and if so are there any exhibitions that stand out from all the rest?

Not so far as it’s never been my thing but in 2010 one of my best mates and artist George Ioannou from www.cultart.com is opening his own line of galleries and wants to rep the SER & Cru, so as it’s a mate I said yes. At the moment me and Jaz are working on some pieces and as soon as they go live I will give you a holla.

There seems to have been a sudden surge of interest in graffiti and street art recently, why do you think this is?

I really don’t know why but I can only guess it’s because of the true UK Graffiti KING, and I’m happy to drop that I’ve painted a few times with him, the true legend that is Sir Banksy… once a writer always a writer, other writers may disagree but come on guys, give the man his dues for what his done… plus I love his stuff, it’s great!

There is a very fine line between those who view graffiti as art and those who see it as vandalism, what are your views on this?

Simple, if it’s done illegal it’s vandalism… but it’s still art.

Do you prefer doing legal or illegal pieces?

No comment, I have no recollection of the question in question.

Have you ever ‘felt the long arm of the law’ because of your art and if so can you tell us about it?

Too many times but touch my head and “never say never”, only once was I banged to rights and luckily enough it was when I was 13/14 so I only got a caution. All the other times I’ve been caught the police have never had enough evidence to bang me up so I shall keep schtom (another story, maybe a film). HA-HA-HA Mr. piggy wiggys.

Graffiti piece by Ser

Do you see yourself as an artist or a graffiti writer?

100% writer.

Which other artists work do you admire?

AHHHH too many… ok at the moment Jaz is blowing my head, in fact he blew it up ever since I saw his art work on the Genaside II covers in the early 90’s while in my DJ’ing years here and there. The UK’s top, in no order:

• Jaz
• Benjamin
• Mr. Met
• Dep
• Blam
• Bonzai
• Astek
• Wisher
• Char
• Shine & Qwest
• Tizer
• VOP Stars
• HA Crew
• Don
• RT Crew
• Jamie TML
• Soker
• Trans One
• Coz
• Brave One
• Shok1
• Dreph
• Temper
• Remi / Rough
• Sheone
• Zomby
• Rocket01
• Frame
• Seize
• Banksy
• D*Face
• Oker
• Eine
• Petro
• Seige
• Zoned
• Dier
• Snug

What is your preferred medium for making marks with?

Chrome and a fatcap.

What is your colour of choice?

Chrome.

What is your favourite surface to paint on?

I could try a big it up and make it sound kool by saying steel, but in truth I like a roughish sandy wall in a nice cream colour with a hint of yellow as the street light shines on it from above.

Do you have a favourite piece of all time?

Yeah it’s the Care For Croydon wall, not seen a photo of it in years come on Steam156 hook it up bro!

What kind of music are you into?

Read the original here:
Ser – Graffiti Writer Interview