Interviews

Where were you born and where did you grow up? Were you part of artistic family?

I was born in Paris 14th’s district. I wasn't part of an artistic family as such.

Was your universe born or influenced by comics and cartoons from the 1980’s? What were your initial inspirations?

My universe takes its source from various things but indeed there are Mangas from the 1980's (Akira for example), there are comics like the  comics from the US ( Bisley, Crumb and Marvel) and french comic like Edika. Additionally science fiction films and adventure films were a source of inspiration, as well as everything that was done at the cinematographic level and literature, my drawing teachers, my entourage and our elders at the time in graffiti.

What was the trigger that allowed you to start doing graffiti? What was your first graffiti spray?

My first graffiti I don't know the date exactly, but it must have been in 1990 and it was a “Natio” which I did with my friend Soper at the time, a chalk sketch and I even made a first character and with the support of the MAC Crew who encouraged me to continue this path.

Any anecdotes in relation to this that you think are worth mentioning?

 I have plenty of anecdotes but let's say that there is one for example from 1992 where I had done several stations and metro tunnels between Barbes and Place de Clichy with some friends at night, we had a key to access it and we got locked up until early morning.  We did some throw-ups, tagged and graffiti everywhere, and we got caught just before the opening in the early morning, chased in the tunnels with tear gas and thrown stones at, and even a dog  bit the calves of a friend... and it was worth it, in the end we even an appearance on the radio,  journalists photographed us sweating before we got sent out  to the Police station as we left the Metro Blanche.

Do you necessarily associate adrenaline with graffiti?

Adrenaline and graffiti are linked in any case for me it was an essential element especially since I was still in the Vandal to know how to climb on the roofs to get there make graphs but there comes a point where we no longer know whether to do graffiti or access the spot which of the two is the most motivating...

Have you travelled and painted abroad a lot?

Traveling abroad, not so much mainly Spain, Holland, Belgium ,Germany. I also went to Saint-Martin in Greece and Morocco as well.

Is music a source of inspiration for your work? Who are your favourite musicians?

 Music for a long time has been a source of inspiration to create but less and less let's say that it would now tend to be less influence it on what I do so I try to have a neutral atmosphere to create or something completely different for the sound environment which allows me not to be influenced it can be a film or a series too. ...

Who are your favourite artists at the moment?

I’m not too aware of the current graffiti scene what I know is that I see a lot of underground graffiti with a lot of originality as materials used you can see a lot of acrylic paint brushes, chalks. And even graphically it's freer and it's cool and I admit that it fills me with pleasure to see that it even makes me want to do it, it's to tell you to what extent the so called “Peter Pan syndrome” is still very present beyond that it is impossible to make a comparison between that era and the one I experienced without having enough knowledge of the current actors..

If you had to define your style, how would you define it?

My graffiti style initially originates from the influence of my elders and as I said in relation to various things like comics, cartoons, science fiction films and others the life around me my entourage.

I still remember when I was around 7/8 years old that my drawing teacher taught me the "cloud technique", which consists of starting from something abstract to give it a materiality therefore I practiced a lot in transforming abstract things into concrete things, such as for example a scribble that could be transformed in something intelligible like an object or a person or an animal etc. Moreover with my friends from the TW Crew we continued in this vein by creating, a style of direct tracing to know how to draw without making sketches, this was developed around 1994-1995.

What do you think of the current Parisian graffiti scene in terms of its composition to that of the 90s at all levels of creativity and mentality?

I have the impression in the 1990's that it was much more active at various levels of vandalism and urban supports. I think that the level has regressed in the classic style but we take more liberties, particularly on the metros to express oneself..

What do you think of the art scene in general in galleries currently?
What are your plans for next year?

I'm not overly interested in following too closely what is being done in contemporary art, knowing a little more about certain workings of the system but also because I give myself less time to that. I also give graffiti lessons to teenagers, and I find it a fascinating activity to know that it is extremely gratifying to see a kid being in such demand and getting involved with so much fervour, this being the case I sometimes go and watch exhibitions and because everything can be a source of inspiration I watch from time to time magazines covering the scene and of course through my entourage. I manage to be aware of new things here through graffiti, thanks to social media.

 I am nevertheless quite aware that there are more and more of abstraction and that the figurative has not had much place in recent years and that a form of standardization in terms of styles is apparent, but as in all eras concerning painting.

 I also sometimes fall into this ease of sticking has a flow, which encourages me to detach myself even more by focusing on having fun and adventuring rather than comfort.

Where were you born and where did you grow up?

I was born in Epsom, Surrey but at a few months old I was transported to
Walsden (a village in Calderdale, West Yorkshire)… the family story goes that I was put in the bottom drawer of a chest of drawers in the back of the removal van. Age 7 we moved to Gildersome 5 miles south of Leeds where I grew up till I went off to drama school at 18.

Was yours an artistic family?

No.

My dad was a vicar so there were the church ceremonies, stained glass, and brightly coloured robes… and my mum was a self employed drama teacher. Interestingly enough when I was 16 she started an art course by mail and had a spare room as a studio so I guess art was lurking.

Was your universe born or influenced by any particular artists or art form?

No.

I think my artistic universe was born by the colours and forms in nature. As a five year old I used to go off into the woods on my own and just come back for meals. As well as making up imaginary worlds I always loved looking at the colours and patterns. A practice I carried on at Gildersome (though that often involved rhubarb scrumped from the farmer’s fields and a bag of sugar). As a teenager I was an avid fly fisher but it was the colours on the water and the brightly coloured flies as much as the fishing that enthralled me.

What were your initial inspirations?

Three urges: the urge to create, the urge to connect, and the joy of colour.

My other hat is as a professional actor… I went to the Central School of Speech and Drama school at 18 and have been a film/TV actor since 1979. I played Barry in the Full Monty film. All the work and back story are forgotten in front of camera and I’m creating. I’m not copying anything and I’m not thinking about anything… I am just in the moment.

Also I love people, which I guess comes from all the church events I had to ‘host’. The vicarage was always full of people and there were fairs and events on a regular basis.

Any anecdotes?

When I was at drama school I met my next door neighbour from up north who was a few years older than me, he was taking an MA at the Slade in printing and went on to be head of Dublin Art School. We randomly bumped into each other one sunny day in 1978 on the way to Camden Market. We sat down on a mossy wall and talked about the colours for three hours. It was glorious. I’d never talked with anybody about colour before. It was as if somebody suddenly understood me. I was on a high for weeks. It opened the door that led directly to my painting degree and starting my painting practice.

When I was a young actor out of drama school working casual jobs between dashing off to Granada studios I painted (totally self taught) local scenes. Cows were very popular. I’d sell them down the pub for a bit of extra cash… I think they went for £10 to £20 in the 1980s.

 RainbowPark II, SoFLAT Acrylic on canvas, 76 x 60 cm, 2024

What was the trigger that allowed you to start doing paintings?

Time and money.

Earning a living as an actor and bringing up my son didn’t leave much time for anything else. I tried to study A level Art but dropped out… I managed eight years of weekly life drawing… I tried to take an online painting degree but dropped out… it wasn’t until my son went to university that I finally re-enrolled with the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Painting (Part-Time) course at University for the Creative Arts Open College of Arts and completed my degree.

Have you traveled abroad a lot?

No.

I took my son to LA before he went to film school… did the Spanish holidays as a teenager… and ‘hot’ holidays in Europe as an adult. Hitched round Europe (sleeping rough till I got taken in by a German family) after my A levels and before drama school.

Was this an influence for you?

No.

The light in LA was brilliant.

RainbowPark, SoFLAT Acrylic on canvas, 76 x 60 cm, 2024

Is music a source of inspiration for your work?

No.

I learned piano in my 20s and passed grade 6… I was just starting a little jazz when I stopped. It always struck me that colour and sound were closely related.

How much space do you leave to improvisation?

I don’t plan anything but equally I’m not improvising, I’m creating. In acting improvisation involves both spontaneity and thinking. You have to think because you have to ‘achieve’ an outcome… it’s a little like having a loose plan or following a sketch in art. However, when I’m acting or painting I don’t have any plan.

The difference is that in acting creation is instant while in painting

the same process is spread out over about 40 hours.

Who are your favorite artists at the moment?

Stanley Whitney, Monet, Pierre Bonnard, and Matisse.

If you had to define your style, how would you define it?

Formally I’d put my work in the geometric abstraction box but I haven’t been able to define it ‘intentionally’. Having just read 'Monet: The Restless Vision’ I think it’s probably in the same ball park as the internalisation in his later ‘abstract’ paintings.

What do you think of the current abstract art scene?

I don’t feel qualified to answer this as I don’t see sufficient cutting edge abstraction.

What are your plans for next year?

Steady as she goes… I only graduated in January 2024 so it’s very early days. In my dream world I’d have a solo show in London and to be taken up by a specialist gallery… but that’s akin to my fantasy of winning a BAFTA!

To be happy… get better… make art… do some acting… and go visit my son in Thailand.