Swatch1 Interview
Part 4
AC: What are the differences between what's going on today and
what you were doing back when you started?
SW1: First, all the good writers are all grown men, who now have
different measures of responsibilty: family, jobs, rent. You can't be as reckless as you
were when you were a kid staying out all night. I remember so many fun nights of
staying out tagging until the sun came up it's not even funny...now everything
has to be planned, nobody really goes out to just bomb until their fingers
fall off unless they are young, newjacks whatever. You also are more hesitant
on weekends, because the possibilty of staying in jail waiting to see a judge
on Monday, (if your turn comes up!) is very real.
I also wish that more writers
would do canvases, and realize their value.
Anybody can take a picture of
your work and use it for their own purposes, graff mags, New York photo book,
postcards, anything, but you can't sell the wall or get back the paint or the
effort that you put in. And the more canvases on regular people's walls means
greater acceptance by the rest of society.
I think that it has mostly changed for the better, but I don't like the idea
that a lot of young kids jump on the hiphop/graffiti bandwagon. New York has also
been invaded by suburban and European writers. Years ago you could get your
paint vicked if you weren't from New York...
AC: You mentioned that graf is a stepping stone to other arts.
Why do you continue to stay active in the graffiti community then?
SW1: The answer why I stay active overlaps into some of my previous
answers about how graff is viewed by society, but its mostly the fame. I could go anywhere
and always be recognized by other writers, even if I haven't seen them for
years. And lots of writers know me because I really am a friendly & fair guy,
and like to meet and talk to new writers.
And sometimes graffiti is a compulsion that has to be satisfied every once in
a while. And because I'm 26 and dress for success I can
really get over on hitting trains. Sometimes I can bomb insides with ink and
then just sit back and read the NY Times and watch the reactions. I don't know
about other writers but I sometimes write my name with my finger
hundreds of times in the air without even thinking about it, maybe I need
to see a therapist or a psychologist about this.
About the stepping stone stuff,
graffiti art is a form of art and expression
that must be accepted as a positive outlet.
The art education that is given
to young kids today is just forcing the mainstream and renaissance art down
your throats. Finding out about art from your own culture is up to you.
School reinforces that Eurocentric art concept, which is basically "the winner
gets to rewrite history." There are lots of Spanish artists that deserve
recognition and study, and the whole continent of Africa has enough history,
culture, and art to deserve a museum as big as a city. So why aren't these
things introduced into young minds? Maybe it's part of the system's plot to
subliminally reinforce the idea that you will never be accepted, you don't
belong, don't even bother trying.... I also think Islamic art is very
beautiful, so is Japanese art and Native American art. I could go on
forever. But the one art that I hate, who cares what the artsy-fartsy
technical term is...the bullshit art, you know, lines, colors and garbage on a
canvas with high prices and more work put into catchy titles than the work
alone. Take the Whitney Museum in New York for example, the artists they showcase
are not the best artists, just the hippest artists. The artists who dress the
best, know about wine and crackers, and are great conversation at parties, or
maybe they suck the right dillnillz...
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