Gawd - Graffiti Artist Interview
January 2009
Interview with Gawd, a mysterious graffiti artist from Montreal in Canada who is known to write with fellow Canadian Labrona.
Graffiti piece by Labrona and Gawd
How old are you?
My body is about eighty and the minds twelve, I think I'm veering 30.
Where are you based?
Montreal, Quebec (Libre).
How long have you been painting / writing?
I did a throw up at 13, but I don't think I have yet taken it seriously.
How did you get into graffiti and what made you start painting?
My pops got hired as a principle for an elementary school, when he was giving me the tour when we spotted a burner on the back of the building… it said fresh… and it was!
Where did you paint your first piece?
Me and my homeboy Atwoz painted a kids park shed thing, later some other kids put bubble gum all over the slides and shit and it made the paper in this little trashy suburb I was living at.
How would you describe your style?
Intoxicated masturbation style.
How did you choose the name Gawd?
I wrote some less cheese ball names beforehand. Atwoz proposed Gawd, which I found rediculous, but Big Uncle Fridge said it was dope… and you gotta listen to the fridge!
Do you write with any crews and if so which ones?
Dirty Lawn Bird, but im the only one who writes.
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?
Not enuff. I went to London, Croatia, Bosnia and Hungary with Labrona and I met good folk but didn't really have enough time to paint. Croatia and Bosnia's buildings have some soul and have been through so much, I gotta go paint more in those spots.
What are you feelings on the graffiti scene in Montreal and Canada at present?
Montreal people seem to bomb a lot.
Graffiti piece by Gawd
Graffiti piece by Gawd
Have you ever done any commercial work and if so what would you say was your most well known piece?
I can't even get a job as a dish washer.
Has graffiti become a full-time career for you now and if so was it a long journey to get to this stage?
It's been a career ever since my dope dealing buddy got all his rich partners to buy pieces back in 2000. I pretend it's a career cause I hate work but it's not always a lucritive career, I'm hiding from my landlord as I type!
Is there any one point in your career you would class as 'your big break'?
I thought every sold piece was my big break.
What do you see as your greatest achievement to date?
Beating BB Zed Neuf at Scrabble.
What are your thoughts on graffiti being just a likely to be found in a gallery as on the streets these days
It ain't graffiti if it's in a gallery but the arts good none the less.
Have you ever had your work displayed in a galleries and if so is there any one exhibition that stands out from all the rest?
The Camp Barbossa show was fun because I got to go to London. I do things at Eli Klien in N.Y. and it feels good to expose with a bunch of old, famous artists.
Graffiti piece by Labrona and Gawd
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?
Vandalism is art.
Do you prefer doing legal or illegal pieces?
Illegal… come on now!
Have you ever 'felt the long arm of the law' because of your art?
About a decade ago I got arrested at the airport for a three year old graffiti related warrant, but god is above the law.
Do you try to keep your identity anonymous where possible?
Yeah, but I'm a hermit so it's not hard.
Do you see yourself as an artist or a graffiti writer?
More of a drunk.
What is your preferred medium for making marks with?
Cans and fat caps always made my panties wet! Oil stick arts and crafts are good too, if I do them with Labrona and beer.
What is your favourite surface to paint on?
Rusted, busted up buildings and trains.
What kind of music are you into?
Anything with soul.
What is the last album you bought?
A friend recently taped me a Leonard Cohen tape… thank you.
What are you working on currently and what plans do you have for the future?
Painting. I plan on having money in the future.
- For further information about Gawd please visit:
- Gawd Profile
- Gawd Flickr Photostream
Comments
Fresh Vertical Building burn!..
Posted by CN CONFIDENTIAL on Thursday, 19th March 2009 at 17:58:32
Go Christoph!!!!!!
Posted by mary mary on Tuesday, 25th August 2009 at 19:28:31
Dope Workz*
Posted by GRUELONE on Wednesday, 21st January 2009 at 11:35:17