Eon75 - Graffiti Artist Interview

August 2009

Interview with Eon75, a spraypaint artist from San Francisco who was influenced in the early stages of his graffiti carrer by the European scene. Eon75 paints with HBT Crew, Team Alosta and WCF Crew.

Graffiti piece by Eon75

Where are you based?

I live in San Francisco… and ironically I live on Haight and Ashbury.

When did you begin painting graffiti?

I began painting around 13 years ago… not that long as artists go.

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

well I used to live in Gainesville, Florida and at that time we had a lega (semi-legal wall) called the 34th Street Wall, there was always a lot of sority and fraternity text on this big beautiful wall. From time to time crews from Miami, Orlando and Jacksonville would come through and do a nice piece or two, but never a very good concept or intelligent background.

Well, one day in '96 Daim and Seemso (Kane7) came through and did a memorial wall for a kid that had died, it was the most amazing piece of art I had ever seen! I walked to the wall the next day and just stared at the characters and the Daim and Seemso pieces, I had never seen graffiti executed with level of precision and mastery. Frankly I didn't even think it was possible. As a result of this I immersed myself in the culture, bought some Kryons and went to the wall the next day and painted my first piece under the name Quad and I have been addicted ever since. The piece was the worst thing I had ever seen but I knew I could do better so I kept painting.

How did you choose the name Eon75?

It stands for "Extermination Of Normality", I used to just write Eon until I found out there was an old school Eon from the bronx back in the 70's so I put the year I was born on the end out of respect to somebody that was there before me.

Do you write under any other names?

I have written under a bunch of different names, some of which are:

Quad
Cata
Asco
Eace

I still use those names from time to time and switch up the style, it's always nice to create a completely different style under a new name… keeps people guessing as to who you are.

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

I am proud to say I write with HBT Crew, thanks to Mr Center Ones.

I am also part of an amazing talented crew called Team Alosta, I can thank the godfather Waf for that. Team Alosta is just filled with so much talent it is scary! The creative energy that Waf and the rest of crew has is unbelievable! Every time Center and I go back to europe to paint with them in Belgium I am always so shocked by what they are producing! Heaven is found in Waf Graffiti Garden.

Since I've moved to San Francisco I've painted a lot with Lords Crew, thanks to Lord Satyr.

Just recently K2 put me down in WCF Crew. If you know your bay history you know they are! Kaytwo is the man and great mentor or mine.

How would you describe your style?

A bit of the organic funk sci-fi weirdness! I just love to shade so I'm always trying to make my objects look softer and more rounded or add dimension to them by overlaying pieces on top of each other. I study a lot of the forms and laws that nature has produced and from there I gain inspiration and a basis for my organization.

If you look at my pieces you always see a rhythm of 3 and there will always be a color balance. If I use blue on one side of the piece, the opposite side will have blue as well to balance out the eye. I'm always looking for a balance and harmony in the piece to let the viewer feel comfortable with what they are seeing.

Graffiti piece by Eon75

Eon75 graffiti video

I believe you went to Berlin in Germany after finishing school to do a masters degree in Architecture, does architecture play a part in the way you paint? What are the influences behind your work?

I went to school in a little East German city called Dessau, after one semester I moved to Berlin as fast as I could and was so happy with the move. As far as architecture goes it taught me how to be rigid and disciplined with my pieces and concepts, I like to tape off my backgrounds to have precise lines and straight edges. Architecture taught me a lot of rules… only by knowing the rules can you break and bend them to your advantage.

While you were studying in Germany did the European graffiti scene have any effect on you and your graffiti style?

Well I traveled a lot and painted with as many people as I could. I learned a lot by watching and just checking out all the walls of fame in Europe. The scene is vibrant and alive, I loved it!

The biggest influence on my style was just seeing all the amazing pieces and productions everywhere, I think I have over 5000 pictures from that time period. Whenever I would pass through any hall of fame it would challenge me to keep painting and produce better and better work. Experimentation is everywhere in Europe and this pushed me to try new things.

The scene in Europe is incredible, I am always blown away by how much raw talent there is… I find that kids are painting pieces I couldnt have imagined at such a young age!
Eon75

What were your thoughts on the European graffiti scene and do you still keep up to date with what is going on over here?

The scene in Europe is incredible, I am always blown away by how much raw talent there is… I find that kids are painting pieces I couldnt have imagined at such a young age! I think because the level of graff is so high everybody keeps pushing themselves to try new things.

I definitely keep up to date as to what is going on, I'm always asking my friends to send me flicks of thier new pieces and productions. I don't want to miss anything!

You have done a fair few collaborations with artists overseas and traveled abroad for your art, where is the most exciting or interesting place you have painted?

When I finished school in Berlin I asked all my German friends "If you had one month left in Europe where would you go?" and they all said "Barcelona"… so went to Spain. I fully intended to travel throughout Spain but got happily stuck in Barcelona and never left, my days consisted of waking up (maybe on the beach) going back to the hostel, grabbing my paint, painting a wall all day, eat some amazing food, listen to Marley, go to the beach and then go out at night. The next day repeat as directed, life was good! I had more happy days in Barcelona than I've had my whole life, it's a magical place and will always be very special to who I am.

What are your feelings on the graffiti and street art scenes in San Francisco and the USA at present?

It's vibrant and alive. In San Francisco there are not so many legal walls to paint and the ones that are semi-legal are on lock down by the crew that painted it last so it can be a bit frustrating at times, I'm used to the freedom that I had in Europe. Other than that I think scenes everywhere are ever evolving and growing. I think people in Europe experiment more and are pushing the boundaries a bit more, but America is where the roots are and you have to respect that.

"The Lab Wall" - graffiti piece by Eon75

I understand you now work as a freelance designer and artist, does graffiti style or a graffiti influence manage to find it's way into any of the work you do?

It does. I like to combine my pieces with my graphics… you never know what little hidden gem you can find in a detail of piece that would make a nice addition to a graphic or concept!

Have you ever had your work published in any books or magazines?

Clouded Thoughts
Graphotism
Refused

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

No not really. Probably moving to Europe for three years and being exposed to another level of graff, everything else in life has just been a happy circumstance of fate.

Crossing paths with Jim Prigoff, Susan Cervantes and Estria were all amazing things as well.

You have had your work displayed in a number of galleries, is there any one show which stands out from all the rest?

I've done shows all over the world, from Florida to Belgium, but probably the best show that I've been apart of was the Energy show. We had 30 graffiti artists from all around the world send canvases in for a group show that focused on the theme of energy, everybody had their own interpretation of the concept and so it was cool so see what each person had in mind. When we had the show in Naples, at www.journeymangallery.com, we had my buddy spinning all night long in the loft, beautiful art, a bar and models going around posing in front of the canvases… it was a good night to say the least!

I feel that the more you see graffiti artists showing in the galleries, the more people are more likely to pay a couple thousand dollars up for a canvas… it gives the art form respect and clout.
Eon75

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

I think it's a good thing, I mean we are all trying to make money off of our art and right now "graffiti" is a buzz word that society is starting to embrace. I feel that the more you see graffiti artists showing in the galleries, the more people are more likely to pay a couple thousand dollars up for a canvas… it gives the art form respect and clout. I'm coming from an art background and that is what I would love to see, other artists will argue and say keep graff out of galleries because it ruins the whole integrity of the culture.

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

Because it is a rebellious art form. It's something that can not be contained or understood. In a way to grasp an understanding of what these "kids" are doing advertisers and media companies have put a focus on it as a way to connect with the youth, but sadly the more you try and connect with the youth the more you isolate yourself from them.

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?

Well, you can't have one without the other. I wouldn't get to have the commissioned walls I do if it wasn't for the young writers tagging everything they see. I was guilty of it too in my youth.

People that view it as vandalism just have not been exposed to the art aspect of it and this is something I like to educate people on, I see it as challenge to change their perception.

Graffiti piece by Eon75 and Chor Boogie

Do you prefer doing legal or illegal pieces?

Don't care as long as I get up.

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

No comment…

Do you try to keep your identity anonymous where possible?

Not at all… exposure, exposure, exposure… ha-ha-ha!

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

Definitely not a graffiti artist, I don't bomb that much and don't tag, I use aerosol as my medium so I would say I am a spray paint artist.

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

Quiting architecture and moving to San Francisco to persue art, about as big as it gets!

Which other artists work do you admire?

Chor Boogie
Waf, I aspire to have his imagination and energy
Omri
Fuck1
Ma'Claim
Os Gemos
Awr
Satyr
K2
Dali
Warhol
Henkel
Giger
Lango

…and the list is endless…

Which other artist would you most like to work with if you were given the chance?

I would love to paint with Tasso from Germany, or any of the Ma'Claim guys for that matter. On top of that I really enjoy Ohs from Italy or anybody that has a great conceptual idea on how to layout a wall and has an organic funk style… Peeta, Obra, Sekel, etc, etc, etc.

Hope to paint with Jet Martinez one day, Cactus and Marie and Does and Nash from the Netherlands to name just a few