Ebee - Graffiti Artist Interview

September 2008

Interview with Ebee, a graffit artist based in Thailand who is a member of the THC Crew and Thailand president for the BNA Crew.

Ebee - August Jam, London (2008)

How old are you?

35.

How long have you been painting / writing?

Since I was about 11, so 24 years now.

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

When I was little my friends older brother always showed us what was new, he got us into the whole electro, Streetsounds, graffiti thing and he also gave me my first tag: "Electro Worzle Popper".

After we saw the film "Style Wars" on TV and the book "Subway Art" that just set the whole thing off and showed us what we was supposed to do… trains and heavy bombing!

Where did you do your first piece?

Dundonald Park, Wimbledon.

How did you choose the name Ebee?

It's a nickname my family called me and sometimes still do. It's my initals.

Do you write under any other names?

Nope just Ebee now!

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

The THC Crew and I am the Thailand president for the BNA Crew.

How would you describe your style?

I can do more than one style, most people know me for my 3D work but I have two styles of 3D and my own style of wildstyle too. I think if people see my 3D's they can tell it's done by me, I try to make them as realistic as possible using correct lighting and shading etc. I don't know what you would call it? EBEE Style ha ha… you have to be original.

Ebee 3D style - Rama 4, Bangkok

Ebee wildstyle - London (2008)

You are currently based in Thailand, what is the graffiti scene there like at the moment?

Thailand graffiti is great! I think there are more bombers and logo artists than there are people doing pieces. You only have to go to central Bangkok to see how much bombing there is. Some great logo art too. The Thai graffers have a great mix of styles too, when they get together they can do some great productions… real burners! I have met many bombers and stuff and they are all cool guys, they have lots of respect for a good piece/production. There is still beef though, sometimes between them, which is a shame… same as everywhere.

What amazes me is how they can do burners with the paint there. The main paint they all use I can't use it myself, it doesn't cover well at all and the colours are limited but they can do some sick stuff with it. I suppose it's what you are used to.

It's a pretty tight community with the graff scene in Thailand, many of them have great unique styles which is hard to find these days so I have a lot of respect for that. Many people think before coming to Thailand that the scene isn't that big over here but they couldn't be more wrong, the Thai graffiti artists are hugely underestimated and you only have to meet the right people and go to the right places to see how big it is!

Has graffiti become a full-time carrer for you now and if so was it a long journey to get to this stage?

No, it's not a full-time career, if it was that would be heaven for me but I have earned quite a bit of cash from it though. I have done the workshop thing and done commissions for clubs etc. The best pay from graff didn't come in the form of money but something else, remember I live in Bangkok… ha ha!

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

Depends where it is and how well it is done. For me it is easy to see what is vandalism and what is art! A wall with loads of lame dubs and tags, over tags, over tags looks a mess wherever it is.

Art or vandalism? Ebee freestyle 3D - Ratchada Soi 14, Thailand

What do you think of the way grafitti is just a likely to be found in a gallery as on the streets these days?

It's great. Anything to push the scene or promote it as a good thing is good. Stop all this rubbish coming from certain people always making graffiti out to be like some dark force of the devil!

Stop all this rubbish coming from certain people always making graffiti out to be like some dark force of the devil!
Ebee

Have you had your work displayed in a galleries and if so is there any one exhibition that stands out from all the rest?

No, I have never really got into that side of things yet. I have had many people wanting canvases and had an offer to do an exhibition but I guess I just love the walls too much. The walls are my gallery and I have enough of them in Bangkok now. I will start to do canvases real soon though. I guess I have been too lazy there but yes I am doing to make a start on the canvas thing real soon, be nice to see how it goes… should be interesting.

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

Both.

Have you ever 'felt the long arm of the law' because of your art?

Yes, a couple of times.

The first time when I was 16 and caught on the Northern line. It was my 1st offence and they threw the book at me, it didn't help because I had hit the yards the night before so they had all the fresh train pics. They spun my house and confiscated most of my stuff and pics. I lost many a good photo and many of my early work never to be seen again… it was a crying shame. I also got a big fine and 18 month probation but I didn't know what it meant so I wasn't too bothered.

I also got caught some years later but I won't go into that.

Do you prefer doing legal or illegal pieces?

Most of my graffiti career was doing illegal stuff. Now I like to enjoy spending some time on a nice wall, not having to worry about who's coming to nick me.

One of my most famous peices here in Bangkok was an illegal one though and everyone would ask how I did it. Everyone was hitting this wall at nightime doing quick dubs or pieces, it is facing the train platform so in the day probably thousands would see it. I just went there, bribed the security and spent the whole day doing it… it was great! I spent about 6 hours there, had all the tourists filming me and the train security just watching and confused.

I only do a piece now if I am pretty sure I won't get a problem… or at least 70% sure!

Ebee - Bangkok train platform (2007)

Do you try to keep your identity anonymous where possible?

No, I am not bothered really.

What is your preferred medium for making marks with?

Spraypaint.

What do you see as your greatest achievement to date?

For me it was when Blen asked me to run the BNA Crew for Thailand, I felt that was a great achievement and still feel proud and very happy to be a part of it… it's like an extended family.

Do you have a favourite piece of all time?

It's a toss up between "Style Wars" by Noc or "Children Of The Grave Pt. 3" by Dondi.

Which other artists work do you admire?

Dez
Seen
Dondi (r.i.p.)
Crash
Daze
Futura 2000
Daim
Peeta

Which other graffiti artists would you most like to work with if given the chance?

All of the above and:

Blen 167
All the BNA Crew worldwide
Rocket01
Seak

I would like to do a proper wall again with Brave One, painted with him recently and love his stuff.

What kind of music are you into?

Everything except thrash metal.

What was the last album you bought?

It was a classical music CD, can't remember the name.

What are you working on currently and what plans do you have for the future?

I just want to try to perfect my 3D style, I am only half way to where I want to be with my style and it can be a lot better. I might go more arty and abstract with it, I just have to perfect my lighting and shading techniques first. There's only a few of my pieces I am happy with so I have to experiment and learn more, also I am gonna start to do the canvas thing and see where it goes.

Anything else you would like to add?

Yes, I would like to say keep rocking to all the graffers out there and big love to the THC Crew and BNA Crew!