Download - Re:mapping Graffiti&street art on the local map

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Re:mappingproject RE:MAPPING We stick the city of Roman on the creativity map. We travel, we meet, we learn and work together, we talk about graffiti, street art and urban art, we spread the word.We reanimate urban spaces and urban sub-cultures in Roman, through street art interventions.We are always looking for new locations and communities, partners and collaborators, in order toreinforce urban solidarity by bringing together young people with different social and cultural backgroundssupport the Romanian street art phenomenon by creating professional opportunities for young artists develop international networks of street art and graffiti artists

INTERCULTURAL STREET ART FESTIVALRoman, July, 2014

more than 20 local and international young artists7 days of intercultural encounters with the local communities and emerging teenage crews, collective drawing, participative workshops with disadvantaged kids, urban exploring stickers contestmore than 250 square metres of graffiti in 2 public spaces

RE:mapping started in April 2014 as an exchange project and developed into a creative community spreading across boarders.

CONTACT US

Quantic Association is an open platform for all those who want to explore, to create and to generate change –towards a future in balance with nature in which we all have equal chances and equal access to resourceswww.facebook.com/asociatia.quantichttps://www.facebook.com/[email protected]

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These pages are for you, use them for anything that inspires you *

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I define myself as a visual street artist. The inspiration I take comes after a period of dissemination of things experienced. From the books I read, travel and meeting people (whether they are artists or not), last but not least a good and varied diet (which is not just potato salad but also beautiful fries).

The important thing is not to stop, to be

constant in your work and toalways make

contacts;

it’s not simple.I find small

realities much more fascinating than the impersonal reality of

large cities.

In 1996, by chance, a graffiti competition was organized by the town, it gave

some spray and a piece of wall, I thought why not try it, so I attended. I received a

prize of 15 different colours spray cans. They were cans for cars.

I remember that I thought three things:

-Wow the spray is a really special artistic medium, you have a lot to learn.

-Wow the spray is an artistic medium thought for the hands of a man, and after half

an hour of painting my tendons hurt, I will get the carpal tunnel syndrome.

-Wow the can is addictive, only half an hour passed since I started painting and I

already want to try another colour, to feel it in my nose, a lung will explode.

Why have you stopped doing graffiti? Tell us your choice for Berlin, the walls

you paint now, exhibitions etc.

If you mean the lettering graffiti, I’ve almost never done pure lettering, I have done

many more drawings. For some time, I found a style that you could treat as 3D

Ale Senso[It-De]

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anyone, even when you do not understand it then and there. It is a very tiring city

perhaps because it is too relaxed. In spite of it all, I find it a surprisingly creative city,

I found a second family here, no one points the finger at me or judge me. Berlin is an

island suspended.

For anyone who passes by here, whether your stay is short or long, I think the exact

perception is that of the footprint in the sand on the seashore, Berlin will be happy

to this sign but do not be

surprised really that it

disappears and no one will

ever take it too seriously.

Why did you choose to

attend Re: mapping ?

It was a joint decision: I

found the project on the

Internet and decided to

contact the organizers

submitting a set of

letters, but it was not really that, it was more an ornamental spiral pattern very

similar to the development of a fractal, an ideogram.

This was a journey that ended just as naturally and spontaneously, and I passed to

the use of more varied materials, mixing the spray with acrylic, the use of paper and

recycled materials, site specific installations in abandoned places.

My personal relationship with Berlin is one with a city that I sometimes

really love and, at the same time, I really hate so much. However, much remains to

be discovered or to be done, certainly it is not a city where you get to be bored, it is

a city in perpetual movement, though with much sadness on the bottom. It is a city

that will shape good or bad sense, it does not spare slaps or unexpected sweetness to

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ideas, which have been accepted and approved. The rest was accordingly, with

enthusiasm and participation. So I lived a new experience, I wanted to visit a small

place in Romania (Roman) and paint.

How was the experience with Re:mapping project?

Re:mapping was destined to be a positive experience because the main points of its

success were well defined and aligned and unpretentious. I remember a lot of people

being curious, staying there at almost all hours of the day just to watch or to

exchange a chat; when they realized that we were not “dangerous”, they came to

share wine and food with us :)

Can you make a living out of art?

There are a number of things that have to work in order to live from art, it is not

impossible but it is difficult. Lining up all these things, constantly working on it

with care and patience, bearing in mind that indexing yourself as an artist and

making art is a small part of this game, and it is not enough. In rest, the success is

a variable that you can not, unfortunately, entirely control: it comes early in life,

comes late, or never.

The magic that unfolds along the way, while you are putting so much effort,

becomes the most beautiful and poetic, it is personal and private, a swing that

cradles and supports you if you pass through big disappointments.

If you think about

the future, what will

happen and where do you

see yourself?

(*)

In the bar of Star Wars, as

a meeting place at the end

of the jam.

I see myself travelling.

What advice would

you give to young writers /

street performers / artists

who aspire to a career?

It seems that we are made

to suffer, it‘s our lot in life!

(C3PO to R2D2 - Star Wars)

Remember, Luke:

The Force will be with you,

always. (Obi-Wan Kenobi -

Star Wars)

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My style comes from the relationship that I have with industrial materials

created by man, with the glaze and with building materials (such as stucco and

everything else related) and all the resulting reactions. This is for me a source of

inspiration, the material forming unity to my aesthetic taste… The first memory is

about a tempera on canvas, dark colors, very expressive of discomfort, it was called

“la coda per il pane” in translation “the bread queue”.

How is the situation of art in your country? (any particularities, how do you

see it compared to other

countries).

Bad and can not be

otherwise in a country

like Italy at this historic

moment.

Despite everything, I

always see many small

realities, the excitement,

but I am speaking of the

excitement that does not

why do i paint?

There is no why, so no reason,

my painTing is a

continuing research.

Research in materials colorsand the reactions of both

placed on the

pictorial support.

Angelo Spatola[It]

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end in the newspapers or in the auction millionaire.

I can not say what is the best country to do art, but I visited the Academy of Fine

Arts in Berlin and there were huge spaces with high ceilings that make artist

working-condition better, I think it was a former industrial area, while regarding

my academic experience in Italy I remember I was locked in a small room 4 x 3m

to paint overcrowded with three other guys.

Now I know that it’s even worse. So with this

small example, I can talk about the different

importance that my country gives to art,

comparing to Germany.

Moreover, as in any discipline, as well as at

work, in Italy there is no meritocracy, I don’t

want to tell you fairy tales, it is exactly like

this...

Why did you choose to attend

Re:mapping project?

Because I thought it was an opportunity to

prove myself, I had never participated at an

event like this, with young street artists. I

wanted to push my experiences with them

to see the result. And then I had never seen

Romania!

What were the things you were surprised

of, how was the interaction with the local community? Some memories?

It was a very pleasant experience, very well organized. I also tried to learn more

about the Romanian people and the Roma people in Roman, I was very curious

to have knowledge of their condition, and I think that temperamentally I have

developed so many points of contact with part of them, and in general I felt really

in tune with the people of the place.

I remember that a gentleman who

had a garage right next to the painted

wall once told me that children would

destroy the wall very quickly, by

throwing stones at it.

A few days ago on facebook, a guy who

lived in the vicinity of our intervention

took a classic “selfie” with the side of my

background and I was surprised to see

that the wall was still in one piece.

By this I mean that the beauty of art has

more power and endurance than the

repressions of a “police state”.

Continuing the idea above, I believe

that the purpose of raising awareness

is a very important factor, adding the

aesthetic factor and the relation to

different artistic realities.

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Graffiti and street art galleries? Is it a part of the

future?

But it is an outdated question matter and extremely

old, I do not see how anyone can think of street art in

the galleries as part of the future. It's a useless question

already passed in the '80s, Basquiat, Haring entered in

the galleries bringing their work from the street to the

art world, so I do not see how I can expect to see street

art in galleries in the future...

I make paintings and installations in the context of art

spaces such as galleries.

I hope the new artistic realities (like graffiti) will stay

away from the world of galleries, artists must make

communities, share ideas, experiences, and not fight

against each other to be recognized in the world of art.


Sure you could, but only if “your back is covered”.

[“hai le spalle coperte” is a figure of speech in Italian to describe the situation in

which a wealthy person keeps you financially secure and you don’t have to work

for a living]

I can only recommend to always work with great

constancy on their ideas with “heads up” [“testa

alta”]

I want to thank so much the entire

organization team at Re:mapping project, all

the guys involved and especially Alexandra,

admiring her for a job well done, hoping that in

the future she will be able to do so many other

similar events. I also want to thank all the people

of Roman who contributed and experienced

with us the birth of the wall.

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Hey, hey! I‘m the creator of MyCuteCreatures ( „Creaturi Dragute“ in my

language). I‘ve started this wonderful journey when I was about 16 years old.

Hip Hop introduced me to graffiti and after a while I fell in love with street art. I

can‘t remember anything in particular right now, like a story or something, but I

remember how happy I was to discover that I could do whatever I wanted: draw,

color,be free...

I’m a dreamer, I believe you can live from art, love and air :))

I admire everything beautiful

and original, but my favorite artist of

all time is, for sure, Mother Nature.

I don‘t know what others think, but for me graffiti and street art are the same and I

do them because it makes me happy.

How would you describe your style? Where do you get your inspiration from?

Hmmm....my style....it‘s me :D, everything around me is inspiring: cute animals,

nature, feelings, people, every little thing.

How is the situation of the movement in your country? Also, please mention

what is in your opinion the best plac to do graffiti and why.

In Romania graffiti/street art is, as in other fields, at the beginning and we are

moving very slowly, but is really awesome that we are moving :D.

I‘ve stopped caring about how the movement is going, I just what to do what I like

because I know that as long as I do something, myself, there is movement, there is

Creaturi Dragute[Ro]

,

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hope that others will join me.

The best place to do graffiti

is everywhere because it’s

awesome!!!

What do you think about

graffiti/ street art as a tool of

self expression, empowerment,

active citizenship? Political

statement or just aesthetics?

This is tricky....I don‘t think

so much about this, I just do

it ! Graffiti or street art can be

whatever you want it to be,

that‘s the beauty of it .

Why did you choose to

participate in Re:mapping

project?

Last year was a very difficult

one for me and I refused a lot

of projects, but Re:mapping

really captured my interest

because of its purpose: color

some lives for a little while.

The experience was really

great, I really enjoyed

working with the kids and

the other extraordinary

artists. What surprised me in a pleasant way was the feedback we received from

the community, all my worries and negative thoughts managed to disappear for a

while just seeing how happy the kids were to watch us drawing and to participate

in this, too. I have only good memories from this awesome event. It was one of the

best I‘ve ever been to, in terms of experience and organization.

Graffiti and street art in galleries? Is this a part of the future?

Hmmm, it could be part of the evolution of this movement, but real graffiti/street

art is in the streets as its name is also saying.

If you think about graffiti/street art in the future, what will happen and where

do you want to see yourself?

I‘m not thinking so much about the future, I just enjoy the present and I want

to draw as much as I can . What this will bring me, where it will take me...it‘s a

surprise...a nice one, I hope :D

What advices would you give to young writers/street artists?

My advice is the one I always want to hear:

Do whatever you like, whatever makes you happy!

-- Enjoy everything!

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Graffiti is my PASSION, I DON’T NOW WHY I’M DOING

THIS, I FEEL THAT I NEED TO PAINT A

WALL!

My parents are painters, they paint canvases for a living and when I was a

child I didn’t like to draw and paint, but when I turned 14 years I discovered Graffiti,

a different way to paint. When I was 13-14 years, I had some friends in the hood and

one of them was very popular and the rest of them were doing all the same things as

him. He was in trend. All my friends were doing graffiti because he was doing it. His

tag was Emos and he was from Mzk crew.

This is why my tag is Emzol.

All my friends have quitted on graffiti but I continued. Emos died when he was 18 in

a car accident and now I carry his tag.

Ok, in 2008 I meet Whyx who initiated me in the real graffiti world and I can say

that I was one of his first students.


I’ve learnt all about graffiti from my friends and my style was developed throughout

the years with big influence from my friends: Msero, Recis and Krom. They taught

me how to build a letter, how to combine the colours and what is the flow.

What artists, writers do you like?

Haha, I think I am very subjective. I like artists from Romania: Msero, Kero, Recis,

Seyr, The Fly, Chill, Biex and the list can continue. But also I like Bordalo II, Smash,

Taps&Moses, Madc, etc.

Emzol[Ro]

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How is the situation of the movement in your country?

In Romania it is a good movement. In 2010, the metro was a very big attraction for

a lot of graffiti writers from around the world. But I prefer to paint in Campulung, I

want the people in this town to understand graffiti as an art not as vandalism.

This is why I have a crew with Air and we struggle to paint legally in visible places

and to have exhibitions.

What do you think about graffiti/ street art as a tool of self expression,

empowerment, active citizenship? Political statement or just aesthetics?

Graffiti is self expression! What you paint represents you. And also you can deliver a

message.

How was your experience with the Re:mapping project? What were the things

you were surprised of, how were the locals, the community? Any memories?

I like the idea of Remapping, making professional graffiti in a small town.

I saw a lot of contests and festivals with graffiti but those used graffiti to promote a

company or to win money from the state. But this project didn’t promote a company,

it promoted the town and graffiti as such. The organizers didn’t win money after it,

but they spent the money to make it a good project.

One memory would be that in Roman’s Park we were walking on the grass and a

cop was mad at us because walking on grass was restricted, but when he recognised

us from the local TV channel, he was very happy to meet us.


Graffiti must be in galleries because it’s very clear that it will be a part of the future.

When a new visual art occurs, people are revolted by it.

This always happened in the history of art.

What advices would you give to young writers/street artists, who aspire to a

similar “career”?

To draw a lot on paper, on walls, on no matter what!! To make friends with the same

passion and to love what they do.

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Once upon a time there was a small group of guys called OCA (in italian it

means the members of the goose).

It was 1999, Pier was one of the founders and with the other guys, they

changed the name of the crew and acronyms so many times (one of the best names

that will stay in my heart forever is the DPF Crew).

Writing is like drawing, a need of thoughts. Who cares about the

support, the instruments, paper or walls,

pencils or spray cans?

What matters is the message:

letters or illustrations.

I must believe that the idea

plus a great technique plus true skills will win it all.

When they were young, these guys felt like all the kids who think doing graffiti is a

matter of being cool, on paper and on walls too.

Over the years and through the yards the crew changed so many clothes and

players. We learned about putting on gloves and masks to protect ourselves, we

improved our skills and now we are four: Pier, Simo Mura, Swem and here I come,

Magenta (but you can call me Mag).

With Pier, I’m the co-funder and active part of the Laduck Crew.

I’m Italian, I live between Lecco and Milan, and I have the passion of writing.


I get inspiration from everything and I paint in a flat way. I’m a freaky story teller

that describes what she sees in a pictorial way.

What artists, writers do I like? All those I get inspiration from, who have grown

with me and all the friends I got in these years. No name, no pain.

Laduck CrewMagenta[It]

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Why do you do graffiti or street art?

Writing is like drawing, a need of thoughts. Who cares about the support, the

instruments, paper or walls, pencils or spray cans? What matters is the message:

letters or illustrations.

I must believe that the idea plus a great technique plus true skills will win it all.


Hurly-burly. People in Italy can’t stand what we do but I’ve learned that no matter

how much we care, some people just don’t care back.


empowerment, active citizenship? Political statement or just aesthetics?

I believe that graffiti is a tool of not just self, but especially social expression.

ww We change and they change too with the whole of society.

Unfortunately, a lot of cities’ administrations think that we could stop doing graffiti

if they gave us little parts of legal walls. In fact, I think they used to do this just to

grow businesses and tourism without paying back. But it’s not the right way to

understand graffiti culture.

Anyway, they can’t stop us, because we are not part of some big live T.V.

commercial.

Politically or aesthetically pleasing, we could put our name or our trademark

everywhere without authorizations.

Think about it.

Why did you choose to participate in Re:mapping project?

What is the best part of being a writer? And above all, what is the best part of being

a woman writer? Woman of course.

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Re:mapping project is a great work created by great women and gave us the

special opportunity to create art in a foreign country. Thank you girls (and all the

volunteers - female and male)!

How was the experience with Re:mapping project? What were the things you

were surprised, how were the locals, the community? Any memories?

In Bucharest and also in Roman, I simply found another family. Discovering

different cultures while travelling for painting is the best way to live.

Re:mapping project officially started in a room with all drawing together. Wow!


I have another question for you: how long will graffiti stay in a gallery for an

exposition?


I don’t know, I’m still trying to do that. Meanwhile with two other friends (both

writers) we work as art directors, art coaches and product designers. We arise from

our passions day by day creating handmade design.



Graffiti gave me a lot without

taking back anything. I see

myself into graffiti.

Forever and ever.

What advices would you give

to young writers/street artists/

artists, who aspire to a similar

career? What do you want to

say to them?

Stop chatting on fb. Take your

spray cans and go out. Please

guys, improve your brains and

your way to live.

Any last words?

Minus ghetto style, plus smile.

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Mr. Blob[It]

It all started at the age of 13, thanks to some friends who follow the hip hop

culture.

Fascinated by this world and thanks to a friend who practiced Writing, I got

passionate with this and undertook a long journey in making sketches and going in

search of walls to paint.


Because for me art is more satisfying than anything in the world and is the best way

to express myself - making the messages of my drawings visible on the streets.


For two years now I have tried to create a personal feature that would be

recognizable as my style, trying to associate it more and more to my name, creating

distorted and deformed characters telling facts, stories and moods that surround me.

I get my inspiration day by day from what I live, the people around me and the

moods that accompany the days.


Oh, good question!

Graffiti is evolving day by day towards new styles and new ideas.I do not know what will happen, but for myself, I hope to continue to do this my entire life, to continue to offer emotions to myself and to

the people who follow and appreciate my work.Of course, managing to live from this would not hurt.

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Roman, Neamt( România) 2014

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There are so many artists that I like, starting with the founding fathers who taught

us all. They have done so much for this movement over the years.

Let’s say that I like all the artists who make graffiti with style and have a broad

background on the cultural history of this art.


In my country the scene of writing is very rich. We can say that the Italian scene

has given much to the culture of writing in the world, through the years. There are

many Italian artists who have represented our scene worldwide.

The best place to do graffiti in my opinion...there is no place that is important, but

it is what it becomes of it. It is important to take what belongs to us, the streets,

and anything to express yourself.

Why did you choose to participate in the Re:mapping project?

Because I thought it would be a great opportunity to collaborate with other artists

there, each one bringing their own experiences and above all, to bring something

new, smiles emotions in common place. It was great to see so many artists who

create something for the community

Both for us and for the community it was 10 really intense days and full of

emotion.

How was the experience with the Re:mapping project?

The experience was really intense and full of emotions.

It seemed as if we all knew each other for years.

In fact we have all become one big family from day one.

The community has been fantastic and we were welcomed like children.

In your opinion what is the purpose of these events like Re:mapping, street

festivals like local jams, Meeting of styles etc.?

To have the ability to share your art with artists from around the world, to compete,

to learn new things and, especially to learn about new artists and expand this great

family that carries on this culture worldwide.


It’s about the present and also about the past.

And this culture has entered in the galleries for many years.

More years pass and more new galleries open their doors to graffiti and street art.


It is not easy.

It’s a very tedious road.

You have to produce a lot, to engage in creating something original and unique, take

every opportunity that can help you grow artistically and can make you known and

maybe if you’re lucky you may even live from this.

It is, as I said, a very hard road.

What advice would you give to young writers/street artists, who aspire at similar

“career”?

To engage in the search for his/her own style, to produce a lot, to always do what they

want to do and not to adapt to what the masses want or think is good. And above all:

to express themselves more.

Any last words?

Big Up for Re:mapping, for all the artists and especially for the organizers!

It was a very special event!!! Full of emotions and memories!!!

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Hey, I’m NTH (Nazek the Hater). My story with these art forms started

when I was around 12 years old, first with graffiti and then street art. The reason

I began doing graffiti is actually pretty funny, seeing as I was young at the time. I

was really hooked on a band (Linkin Park :))) and I started writing its name on walls.

After that, I began writing the names of my classmates for them in different styles,

up until a friend brought me a CD full of graffiti songs. I became really absorbed by

the whole phenomenon and that’s when stuff got serious.

After that, I started doing street art because I wanted something a bit different, so

I began working on characters (about 5 years ago). Since then, I’ve been doing both

graffiti and street art, and I love both art forms more than I could express in words.


It’s so simple, but so complex at the same time. It all comes down to this – graffiti and

street art are a part of me. I couldn’t see myself any other way or doing anything

else. It’s not about doing it for pleasure, fun, because it’s cool or whatever – it has

become an extension of my personality and existence. The thing is that it’s turned

into a necessity – I have to do it for me, for my soul, mind and all-around spirit.


I honestly can’t state that I have one single style, especially regarding street art.

It’s so simple, but so

complex at the same time. It all comes down to this – graffiti and street art

are a part of me. I couldn’t see myself any other

way or doing anything else. It’s not about doing it for pleasure,

fun, because it’s cool or whatever – it has become an extension

of my personality

and existence.

NTH[Ro]

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One of the styles is based on fun, I guess (in Romanian we have the term “caterincă”

:))), the other is oriented towards more serious illustrations. I get inspiration from

geometry (namely geometrical forms), philosophy, symbolism and, of course,

life. I don’t have a certain style that I concentrate my work on, I really enjoy

experimenting more than anything.


I truly respect almost all writers and artists that really put passion into what they do

– you can clearly feel it in their work. I could start talking about a lot of artists, but

you can’t compare them because their styles are totally different and each one has

something special that makes them stand out.


As I see it, the movement in Romania is evolving at a slow pace because it is at the

beginning, but I hope that in the near future the talented kids will help take things

to another level. We, the older ones, should set a good example for them and show

them why the movement is so beautiful, from all points of view.

I sincerely don’t think that there is an ideal place, city or country - graffiti and street

art should be done anytime, anywhere, anyhow. Just do it with passion.

What do you think about graffiti/ street art as a tool of self expression, empowerment,

active citizenship? Political statement or just aesthetics?

I believe that graffiti and street art are about what the artist feels, it’s not only

about aesthetics or only trying to prove a statement. On one hand there are many

artists with a powerful political message, on the other hand there are others who

concentrate on the visual part – I really do it for what I feel and what I want to

express. It’s how I calm down and disconnect, it’s what makes my life beautiful and

worth living. That’s why I prefer to work in an abandoned place than on the streets.

Why did you choose to participate in the Re:mapping project?

I thought it was an awesome project – I’m really glad that I made the decision.It’s

sincerely the greatest event I’ve participated in until now in Romania and it was an

unforgettable new experience.

How was the experience with the Re:mapping project? Everything was totally

wonderful. I was really surprised that the people in such a small city were so happy

that we were painting there, that we showed them something new. Usually people

don’t have this kind of reactions regarding graffiti or street art – it was a great feeling

for all of us to see our art appreciated in the community.

The entire project is filled with amazing memories; I couldn’t pick just one. The

whole experience and what we felt there is irreplaceable.

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In your opinion what is the purpose of these events like

Re:mapping, street festivals like the ones from Timisoara, Cluj, local jams,

Meeting of styles etc.?

One of the main purposes is to show the world the beautiful part of

this type of art. Another reason is to unite and reunite the community

of writers and artists. It’s important for artists to meet, become friends,

exchange ideas and evolve together. In the end, graffiti was born from a

lack of communication, why should we lose it now?


I think it’s a great idea, especially if you can combine graffiti style with

illustrations and put it all on canvas. On the other hand, I believe that

raw graffiti shouldn’t be placed in a gallery. It was made on the streets,

for the streets.


It’s difficult in Romania, you have to make a lot of sacrifices.



At one point graffiti and street art will take a commercial turn, the phenomenon has

already started. From my point of view, street art combined with illustrations will

leave a strong mark on the history of art, slowly but surely becoming a style itself,

that will be talked about in art schools for many years.

How do I see myself? Evolving.

What advice would you give to young writers/street artists, who aspire at

similar career? What do you want to say to them?

1. Practice makes perfect.

2. Be devoted and make sacrifices.

3. Without passion you have nothing.

4. Don’t forget respect.

Any last words?

I’d really like to thank Alexandra and the Quantic Association, without them the

whole Re:mapping project wouldn’t have been possible. It was an unforgettable

experience and we can’t wait to meet up with everybody again and do what we

love: paint, laugh and create even more great memories.

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I don’t know what will happen in the future, I know that street art and graffiti will never die, it’s a part of human nature and culture, a form

of expression for everybody.I like to see myself painting murals all day long, until the last day on

this earth.

Hi there, first of all my name is Ro, I come from a small town called

Piatra-Neamt from Romania.

I finished the art high school, and moved to the capital where I started the art

university, and got a degree in graphic design.

The simplicity of the drawings and the paintings from the Bucharest streets

inspired me to create something new, something of my own, so I made a simple

character and started painting it on the city walls.

After a while I met two guys, Nazek and Pren, who shared the same passion for

street art with me.

The two of them already had a crew called Q.I.C (Quick Image Control), and invited

me to join them.

Since then I paint with every chance I get.


I do this because it makes me feel free.

RO QIC[Ro]

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I would describe my style as dynamic and playful.

As for the inspiration part, I usually let my feelings do all the work.


There are many artists that I like, but if I would have to choose one, that one would

be ARYZ.


I don’t think there is such thing as a street art movement in Romania, because there

is no community and there are very few people encouraging this type of art.

As for the best place for painting, for me, every place on this earth is great to do it.


empowerment, and active citizenship? Political statement or just aesthetics?

I think it’s an awesome way to express feelings and easily spread a message, giving

others a reason to smile. I don’t think it should be used for criticism, nor for acts of

vandalism.


How could I refuse a chance to paint and meet other people that share the same

passion with me?

How was the experience with Re:mapping project? What were the things you

were surprised of, how were the locals, the community? Any memories?

It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in my life. Due to the fact that the

event took place in the countryside, I was impressed by the impact it had on the

locals, they’ve never seen this type of activities in real life, it made them extremely

happy.

As for the memories, I will never forget that week and the people that I met there,

BIG UP and thank you Re:Mapping.


No doubt it will be a part of the future.

Can you live from art?

I can’t live from my art in Romania without compromising my style.



I don’t know what will happen in the future, I know that street art and graffiti

will never die, it’s a part of human nature and culture, a form of expression for

everybody.

I like to see myself painting murals all day long, until the last day on this earth.

What advices would you give to young writers/street artists, who aspire to a

similar career? What do you want to say to them?

There’s place for everyone in this world, if you FEEL that this is what you want to

do in your life, then DO IT, apart from you nobody can stop you.

Remember to believe in yourself and THE POWER THAT IS WELL HIDDEN IN

YOU.

Any last words?

I like turtles.

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Hello, I’m Seyr (Stol). I started in 2002 with some classmates and some

friends from my neighborhood. I thought it seemed very interesting, that’s all.

Starting 2006 i decided to draw more serious, to do much more elaborate pieces, i

started to think to have my own style. In 2009 I discovered my personal style.

That period was very good, you didn’t have special materials, you had to do your

own markers, squeezers, to look for good sprays (there were just auto sprays) - I

think those experiments helped us grow, and become more inventive and creative.

I was attracted by the fact that you have liberty, no one tells you what to do, how to

do, when to do, it was my way of escaping from the ordinary.


My style is a mathematical free style, I rely heavily on clean lines - vectors - but I like

to combine effects, to work on layers.

For me, the structure of the letters matters a lot, sometimes I even prefer to do just

outlines.

I like to start from one line and then develop further. Dynamism interests me very

When I’m drawing

it is just me, the wall and my inner creative force, I forget about

anything else,

it is like an energetic discharge. I like the feeling of discovering, to discover new shapes,

to let my style evolve.

Stol[Ro]

37

much. It has to be not static, always in motion.

I allow myself to be influenced by the ambient, the environment. I never know

what wall I will paint, what colors I will use, never respect the draft, I start from an

idea and I sometimes end up changing it completely.

I am very interested in the texture of the walls. I think at some point I’ll get to create

my own textures ( ha ha).

My inspiration: music, geometry, architecture and nature.

I live for innovative ideas, ideas of the moment.

I live for the idea.


Let me think.... I like many artists from different art fields, both in art area and in the

graffiti.


It is a relatively small movement compared to other countries, with few active

people, but with pretty good styles.

I think in the future the situation will change and increasingly more people are

going to be active.

For me the best place to do graffiti is where I find the environment to express myself:

abandoned factories, buildings (wherever I find the frame, the base to “lay down” my

work).

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who do the same thing, to feel good, to evolve together.


It is an option, a way to promote your “brand”, but graffiti belongs in the streets and

unconventional places.


You can certainly try to live from it.

If you think about graffiti in the future, what will happen and where do you

want to see yourself?

I do not like to think about the future, I prefer to live in the present.

I know that evolution is ahead, but I don’t want to think of that evolution. I like to be

surprised by what happens.

What advice would you give to young writers/street artists, who aspire at

similar career?

Work hard and respect the others.

What do you think about graffiti as a tool of self expression, empowerment,

active citizenship? Political statement or just aesthetics?

For me it has nothing to do with politics, it’s strictly personal. It is simply

personal development.

It’s a matter of style.

How was the experience with the Re:mapping project? What surprised you,

how were the locals, the community?

It was the most interesting event I participated in, very good in terms of

interaction with the community. It was very exciting to meet regular people who

had no connection with this phenomenon, and to instantly be friends with both

children and adults.

We all felt great, we formed friendships and I hope to work together in the

future.

I remember all the kids were tenaciously asking us for sprays, they were very

pushy. Eventually we gave them some and they secretly drew on the school

walls (just like real graffers).

In your opinion what is the purpose of these events like Re:mapping, street

festivals like the ones from Timisoara, Cluj, local jams, Meeting of styles etc.?

The role is to promote this way of expression, to get to meet with your friends

40

STE-MARTA We think that street art is an incredible way to speak

directly to the people, and for this reason it

has an enormous It doesn’t mean that street

art must deal with politics in the narrow sense, but a social content is something

essential; with street art

you can speak to humans

about humanity. responsibility:

in can’t be just aesthetics, it is not in its

nature.

We are Ste and Marta, a couple both in life and in art.

We have been writing poems since we were children, before meeting the street art

world. When we met, we started thinking about a way to publish our poems and

writings: the traditional path consisting in printing a book and selling it seemed us

to be quite abused; the publishing system is filled, and it often responds only to the

logic of the market. Moreover, we were searching for a medium that could allow us

to speak directly to people. It was the same period in which we started to approach

the street art world: we met some Italian artists, and we began to think that we

could mix poetry and street, words and aesthetics: we started to bring poems and

phrases out in the streets, first of all on paper (big cartons and things like these), and

then on walls, on gates, and on other urban spaces that can be called non-lieu.

It was two years ago: we have come a long way so far and our intent is to continue

this way, meeting new inspiring artists and realities.


Street poetry is a reality that exists and operates in Italy since ten years ago, thanks

to artists like ivan and Opiemme. Obviously, we started looking at their works. Now

we are trying to evolve and experiment: we work on geometric forms, we adapt

verses to recreate figures, and so on. We put a great attention in finding words and

poems: we read Italian and foreign poets, mainly of the XX century; and we take

inspiration from the contemporaneity, from what we see around us.

ste-marta[It]

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The streets are not only our medium, but also our source.

How is the situation of the movement in your country ?

The situation of street art and graffiti in Italy is quite particular: in the area near

Milan, mainly in this period, it has been approved and incentivized, sometimes

with compromises and contradictions. But there is a lot of suspicion and distrust

about it.

We saw street art supporters being accused of conspiracy (that is quite ridiculous,

if you think about the enormous number of corrupted politicians that are not

punished at all). Sometimes mayors and politicians support the movement, but

often it is a façade, for their political purpose.

The situation changes from case to case.


When we were told about the project, we suddenly thought that it would be a

great opportunity and experience. We had started our work relatively recently,

and we wanted to enrich our baggage: a project in a foreign country, with a social

commitment, was what we were searching for.

Moreover, we saw that the contributors of the project came from graffiti and

street art: our purpose was to add street poetry, bringing words and phrases that,

also with aesthetic attention, could interact and dialogue with the site, giving a

contribution of sense.

How was the experience with Re:mapping project?

It was our first experience in a street art and graffiti project, and we found it

incredible. First of all, for the fantastic people we met there: we think that one of

the best things of the project was the fact that it involved not only an artistic level,

but first of all the human level. It gave us the opportunity of an artistic as well as

human growth: we worked with people that inspire us also today, and that we

consider friends. We also felt accepted and welcomed by the community. A special

thanks to the organizers that had planned everything and had made the project

possible.


Maybe. We still don’t know that world, maybe one day we will be confronted with

it. But it is important not to lose the contact with the streets.

What advices would you give to young street artists/artists who aspire to a

similar “career”?

Before we started this project, we never thought we could do all the things that we

now do. You’ll never know if you never try. So, the key is just to start, giving the

best you have, and see what will happen.

Any last words?

To confront with other people is always the best way to grow up.

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I find it more exciting than just paint paintings. On the wall you can explore with techniques and forms, colors and features. Drawings

on a walls a few hours or days and this brings you to a level of concentration other than the time you spend in the studio.

I was born in Colombia and raised in Italy, and thanks to this I had the

possibility to start an academic and artistic path with large bases of Italian art. In

2008 I started the academy in Turin and in the same year I was introduced to the

world of street art and graffiti. It all began as a child with an innate passion for

drawing and my first memory of a competition with my father. I think that was

the beginning of everything. One of the most important things in my career was

the support from my mother, who always believed in my abilities and in my ideas.

Even if I am a street artist, I cultivate and follow a personal project on canvas. I find

that in my studio I can find peace that illuminates my thoughts and I think it’s vital

that there are these two sides of me. Working on big surfaces outside of a canvas is

a great experience and at the same time is a continuous research bringing always

new techniques and styles.


I followed a path that taught me about the many techniques. Parallel to this, thanks

to the experience abroad, in recent years I tried to set up a pop surrealist style,

where the imagination collides and has no limits. But the main idea remains the

Samsara, the thread that ties life, death and rebirth. I find that is the basis of the

poetics of my work.

Tatis[It]

44


I try to never stop on an artist or manner of expression of others, but to sweep in

a variety of research, from illustrations to oil paintings. In doing so, I find I have a

great artistic culture from the year 800 to the present. This is an important step

to complete a 360-degree artist. Even in the world of graffiti artists have a wide

selection of great artists, but what inspires me the most are illustrators, watching

them work over large areas and using the color professionally. The main artists for

me are names like Aryz, BOM.K, BLUE and Vhils.


Turin is a city with a large number of artists, unfortunately for how beautiful this

aspect is, there are not many opportunities for exposure or to establish interesting

contacts that you can rely on. However, there are a few places where the creativity

of an artist is appreciated and goes beyond an exhibition in the gallery. wSamo

(Torino, Italia) is one of them, a club and cultural center that values the efforts of

each individual artist and through whom I met Re: Mapping (Grupul Quantic), and I

was selected for a travel and cultural exchange in Romania. In my many trips I have

known several people and realities and it is always nice to find interesting people

who live through art. However, I noticed that in Berlin there is a large concentration

of artists and exhibition spaces and new ideas fill the air.

How was the experience with Re: mapping project?

The main interest was to travel and learn about the world of street art and graffiti

of the place. The project developed, however, other interesting aspects such as

working closely with the community and getting to know the reality of a life

completely different from what

I had seen before. I can say that

one of the greatest satisfactions

was to stay close to children,

young minds who showed a

fantastic creative interest. For

all these emotions I again want

to thank Grupul Quantic.

It was also interesting to help

organize an event with so

many artists, and I kept in close

contact with the volunteers of

the project.


Even if both (graffiti and street art) are born in the street and for the street, sooner

or later an artist has to deal with gallery owners and critics. In short, it is like a step

to reinforce your ideas and be able to share a lot more to the world. I do not see

anything wrong in the galleries. One should leave certain patterns that only work

for street art. Not doing so, an artist would not be able to promote to the utmost

what he creates and finally he’ll never survive. My idea is that at the right time you

have to move in both fields.


Linked with my previous answer, living from art is difficult. Working only within

the private sector one cannot expect to survive a lifetime. As I said before, an artist

must be able to move forward and the next step on the road is the gallery. Although

it is a difficult environment, in which I do not feel at ease, it is a way to search for

peacefulness and offers the possibility to do less common interventions.

If you think about graffiti / street art in the future, what will happen and where do

you want to see yourself?

This is a diverse world that can only grow and the only limit I see is when all the

surfaces of the earth are colored (hahaha I like this playful idea!). The audience is

always impressed and affected by urban interventions and therefore I hope they

will continue in the future. The path that I have taken has led me to the knowledge

of the different surfaces, studies of color and an increase in the size of the surface. In

fact, I’m trying to get to decorate surfaces that go beyond the usual wall of Jam.

What advices would you give to young writers / street artists / artists, who aspire

to similar career?

Based on my experience I can say that you must believe in what you do and be

familiar with the phenomena even from a young age and as technical as the art

scene around you. This helps you search for your own style, one of the key elements

if you are to be recognized as an artist. The road is the same for everyone.

The time of vandalism is a short road and the thrill of the street takes place

while you are still young, fresh and without a detailed method to start working

professionally. Get to know who you are dealing with, the public, gallery owners,

critics and as a result behave properly. I always say that the artist must be able to

move in certain circles, crowds.

Don’t be fooled - many will use what you create without giving you credit!