rss feedMY STYLE JOURNEY: AN ATTEMPT AT DEFINING A TIMELINE
This is the start of the next chapter of my blog. I’ve always wanted to do this, not just for the sake of discussing with you, my story, my initial influences and personal journey as an artist but also to further clarify my own understanding of how I arrived here for myself. Consider yourself warned: This won’t be light reading but for what it’s worth, I will do my best to recall everything I can with as much accuracy as I possible.
Images from L to R: “Hip-Hop ’86″ by Lost Art, “AaronB” on the old Astor Hotel, Auckland 1996, “Merk” during the Wall Of Fame Project, 1995*, “Mean PFB” Auckland 1999, “Tank” Auckland 1998, “Loomit” Auckland 2000, “Mr Quink” Auckland 1997, “Acre” Auckland 1999. All Photos by Jamie ‘Deap’ McCready except * by DLT.
I feel it’s important to speak about my current thinking and motivations behind this block of writing. It’s a fairly daunting task to lay everything bare and typically I think writers tend to shy away from putting them selves out there in this manner of exposed situation but personally, I find it intriguing. In most forms of art, debate and discussion of influences is not only commonplace but considered an essential part of defining streams of work by giving it a reference point. In ‘Writing’ it’s often spoken about in very narrow terms, usually limited to tedious debate about ‘Influence vs. Biting’ and ‘Style vs. Technique’. I can’t even begin to explain how much these clichés pain me. Generally writers masquerade these clichés as some form of intelligent debate but don’t consider for a second how redundant they are in the bigger picture. At this present juncture I find these two debates as mundane as when mainstream media discuss ‘Art vs. Vandalism’ when introducing a news story or printing a newspaper article. I’m glossing over the issue a bit here and I will address it in more depth soon, I promise.
Before we enter into another huge discussion on the theme of ‘Biting’, it needs to be understood that what I said above is in no way intended to be a justification of such an act. It’s obviously a hot topic for me right now in the wake of recent events… Those that follow the blogs and love the scandal know what I’m talking about! It’s no secret that I became a major point of contention in the eyes of a few people and that has been put out there pretty publicly lately. I believe positives can always be made from negative situations and bringing these conversations to the forefront can become the catalyst for constructive debate. I really hope that it’s never come off like I’d downplay or forget those that have impacted me deeply. For this very reason I also feel that its time to shed light on all of my influences across the board. There are a lot of people dotted through out my journey that shared insights big and small that ultimately shaped me into the person I am today. I would like to attempt to pay homage to all of them as best as I can in some type of chronological time-line. The people range from Writers to illustrators, graphic designers and even just some interesting thinkers. Mostly they are from New Zealand, Australia, Europe and the United States and are people that I encountered locally or on my overseas travels. Just off the cuff I’d really like to acknowledge Smooth Crew, The Satele family, Fly, USP, Oli Green, Danny Haimona, AaronB and Merk and DAF Crew, Tank, Mystery, Kwink, Ikon, Webs, Kens, Duck, Mean PFB, Fury, Phat1, Addict, Dyle52, Exist, Acre, P-Money, Mike Weston, Otis Frizzell, Martin Emond (R.I.P), Daim, Loomit, DJ Sir-Vere, Can2, Atom, Wow123, Smash137, Revok, Ewok, Rime, Wane, Dash, Skinz, Doze Green, Futura, Chris Graham, Vans, Deus and Berst. Those are just the few more names of people that have shared their knowledge or opinions (whether knowing it or not) that have shaped or influenced my practices as an artist and person right until this day. There are many more I will remember along the way but I just needed to put those people out there from the get go, I owe them all that at least.
I am going to do my best to tell my whole story, share as many photos from the archive as possible and recount events as I remember them. This stream will take a while to unfold and may be interrupted with other tangents but ultimately I hope it will enable me to reflect on where I’ve come from to better understand where I am going from here.
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Its a good look back into your history which is deep.
Alot of people dont know half your story . There has been alot of debate and drama, but whats new, its the weak part of graffiti (except healthy debate, which you dont see alot of on the net)
People that have watched you over the years would appreciate this story of your journey so far.
And what a great one its been, Im blessed to be part of it bro.
Zeah
Thanks bro.. It’s funny to look at how I’ve spent this last 10 years particularly and to look at the range of projects/things I’ve been involved in… I feel blessed for this life and especially for the dope people that I’ve met along the way. I can’t wait to finish up this first piece I’m writing, I just got home from a 2 day project with only 35mins sleep though so it may have to wait another day haha!
Wow, as a girl writer and still new to the graff game I’m starting to see how caught up a lot of graffiti artists are in drama,Tthis really made me scream out thank you! i believe there is so much negative energy being thrown around between writers and constant arguments over the same crap as well. yea some of it needs to be addressed at times but a lot of writers stop seeing what graff is really about and just focus on the beef.
thanks for your letting us in your head man, its a great world in there!
I look forward to reading more.
Damn still putting in crazy time, it will all pay off.
..2 cents worth..
Looked up that interview – he should be embarrassed. Seemed like the interviewer did everything except mention your name as well. You got haters.
After reading, I looked at some of his stuff from around 2005, which is when I was first introduced to you and your work, and compared it to his recent work. While I can see you have things in common, the biter call is totally unjustified.
For a few years there it seems you were both (a) focused on perfecting those ‘disney’ curves. (so sexy) You both (b) moved towards skinnying up around the middle of your letterforms, particularly around the x height, and beefin out around the ascender / descender lines. And (c) you both like to chop off the end of your stems and put those rounded caps on ‘em… but shit even Dondi was doin’ that stuff.
The manner in which you abstracted your letters, the way your letters flowed into a piece, your connects, your fills, and your backgrounds/funk had nothing in common, and that’s where (for my money.. ha) a writer’s style really shows through.
What’s more, in the last 5 years I’ve watched your confidence and drawing abilities grow exponentially and it’s impacted on your style – massively. The complex fills, multi-layered outlines and the blurring of fore and backgrounds I’m seeing in your current works like the Morningside wall, the Youthline wall, and Poynton Tce are on some next level shit. Documenting them and getting the images out to the graff community would no doubt settle this beef permanently.
(Just send him a photo of the completed Youthline wall with an invitation to battle bro, he’ll drop bricks.)
Lookin’ forward to seeing some of your foundational works as the thread progresses.
Piece Out!
Broke9207
Great stuff man, being a student and practitioner of traditional graffiti style and history as well as being a formal art student I have been waiting for someone with a large enough following to bring these kinds of discussions up. Despite tough critique in my formal education I have managed to persevere while writing extensively on similar topics, let me know if your ever up for extra reading! peace from Miami!
Awesome Cynic! would love to read your writing man. How is sunny Miami right now? get at me via email dude, info@askew1.com
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Wow. This is exactly what I have been waiting for. I’m so glad someone has the integrity to do it at last. I too am annoyed by the trivial debates that breed so much hate and bitterness that we encounter so much in graffiti. Thanks for the inspiration, man.