Ante - Graffiti Artist Interview

May 2009

Interview with Ante, a South London based graffiti artist who paints with the LTD Crew and TUS Crew.

How old are you?

Old enough to reminisce back to the 'good old days'.

Where are you based?

South London.

When did you begin painting graffiti?

I started in 1997 but then stopped in 1999 as I turned all my attention to D&B and the whole package that that brings. Started back up again in 2005 - I found there's only so long you can live in Brighton before the graf disease kicks in again.

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

I was into graf from a young age as my older brother painted when Canterbury had a real good scene to it, at the end of the 80's, so I got to see the elements then. Even if I didn't cotton on to what it all was about I still loved all the colours - and that nice smell of the paint is something that stood out.

I started painting when I got to meet Sickone through some mates… I remember watching him drop, what I'd still consider, an ill piece and thought to myself this is me so I went home, sketched away and it just took off from there really.

How would you describe your style?

I don't know - some of the LTD Crew say I have a few different styles; 'fire', 'ice', 'clockwork orange'… I try to switch it up a bit to keep it fresh, although I have been known to switch it up a bit too much with the craziness! Sometimes it's got to be about enjoying it and going with an idea however wacky it is and not worry about trying to produce the perfect piece that would appeal to the masses.

If I had to label my usual style it would be "some curved up pointed semi-wildstyle jitterbug…".

How did you choose the name Ante?

Initially it was Anti - as I was looking for a tag at the stage of my teenage years when I was 'against the world'. When I came back to the tag I thought an 'E' was a better letter to end with… and also raising the Ante, raising the bar - that's what it's got to be about. I throw an in 'IE' on the end if I feel the piece needs the 5 letter balance.

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

I'm in a few crews, but the main two are:

• LTD Crew
• TUS Crew (The Usual Suspects)

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?

I've been on a few trips abroad and they each stand out for different reasons. Going to Berlin with Sickone stands out the most… the usual of painting here, there and everywhere with some more than colourful stories along the way - one of the best for me involving neo-nazi's, arguing in 2 different languages, phone calls, flying beer bottles, getting chased and then thankfully laughing at the end of it.

…it seems a fair few of the early generation writers are picking up the can again and that's refreshing because not only are they bringing different styles to the table but their also bringing a way of thinking that may have got lost along the way…

Ante

What are you feelings on the graffiti and street art scenes in UK at present?

I'm not going to touch on the street art scene as that's something that I don't know too much about and don't follow too closely.

With regards to the UK graf scene, I think it's bit of a mixed bag really. I think on one hand that the UK scene is thriving… it seems a fair few of the early generation writers are picking up the can again and that's refreshing because not only are they bringing different styles to the table but their also bringing a way of thinking that may have got lost along the way, also, with the help of graf sites and photoblog sites such as flickr and myspace, writers have a platform to regularly see what's going on elsewhere which is giving them inspiration and a drive to drop heat for others in turn then to admire.

However, this also creates what I feel is a downside to the scene which isn't a problem that is exclusive to the UK. It's how people can now seek/get 'fame' from only painting a wall on the side of their house or the same plot just round the corner from their house every week and then continually post on the net. The net has, and is, changing the dynamics of it all (like most other things out there) and I just hope that we don't lose the aspect of writers travelling from Nottingham to Bristol or Brighton to London to get their pieces seen by a newer audience as you can't beat seeing a piece in the flesh… especially when it's a writer that you've never seen grace the walls near you.

Having said all that, in a nutshell, I think in the UK there are a lot of fresh crews dropping some proper burners week-in week-out which I feel makes our HOF scene one of the strongest in Europe. As for the streets and steel side to our scene, that's an entirely different rant…

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

I suppose that's got to be when I reached my 147th piece!

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

Continually turning my back on Quest whilst painting!!

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

I'm all for it really, why not?! If you can make money out of it then you'd be a fool not to - at the end of the day we all need that extra bit of wedge.

I know it's not exactly answering the question but on a side note I do think writers need to put the time in at the walls and on the streets before expecting the gallery part… and when they get the gallery then not to forget what got them there - the walls, that's what it's all about, that's where graf should be first and foremost.

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

One word - Banksy. Although I say this, I also believe there's always been the interest in graf, it's just the media pick it up when it suits them. I think nowadays it is more prominent not solely because of Banksy but also as the first generation of people that were exposed to graf and grew up with it now are creating and setting media agendas/looking for artistic displays, etc, etc and graf is becoming one of the first ports of call.

Is vandalism as bad a thing as the corporates make it out to be? Is it worthy of a prison sentence?!

Ante

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

Everyone has their own perception and that's what it's all about - if we all thought the same, we'd be sheep and the powers that be would just love that! To be a fence sitter, I can agree with both arguments… but a question I think needs asking is "Is vandalism as bad a thing as the corporates make it out to be? Is it worthy of a prison sentence?!"?

Do you prefer doing legal or illegal pieces?

It's all about the buzz you get from illegal stuff - being in a yard or street dubbing is better than taking drugs, well most of them. Unfortunately, due to certain reasons, that feeling for me now is too few and far between so now it's all about chilling at a wall with mates and catching jokes, whilst obviously trying to burn them to the ground!

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

Once or twice.

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

Both.

Which other artists work do you admire?

I tried listing them but there's always one other to put down so I'm going to just say all the writers that set the tone, try to do the unthinkable and pushed the limits both now and in the past.

What is your preferred medium for making marks with?

You can't beat a bit of jism on a bird's back!

What is your colour of choice?

I'd say shock blue - goes well with near enough every colour and I love how it sits with black.

What is your favourite surface to paint on?

Anything.

Do you have a favourite piece of all time?

"The Four Horsemen Of Apocalypse" wall by the FX Crew absolutely blew me away when I first saw it and it still does to this day. I remember a feature on them in the Source Magazine years back, all the walls in there were special but this one just did it for me.

What kind of music are you into?

Everything and anything - At the moment I can't get enough of Carl Cox sets from the late 90's. As I'm writing this "Bad Groove" by Son Of Kick (Mayar Remix) is blearing out - big tune!

What is the last album you bought?

It's all about the downloads, Ratatat's new album was the last one I think.

Anything else you would like to add?

First and foremost I'd like to send out some big Ante love to all my LTD / TUS boys. Then a big shout to all those I've had the pleasure of watching paint dry with. Finally, to all those that are chasing their dreams / ideals, be it in graf or whatever, don't waiver no matter what is said or done.

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