Lovepusher - Graffiti Artist Interview

September 2009

Interview with Lovepusher, a London based graffiti artist who paints with the ID Crew and spreads the message "Remember Jesus" through his unique style of 3D graffiti.

Where are you based?

I'm based in South West London.

When did you begin painting graffiti?

I began painting graffiti in 1995.

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

From a young age I was always into drawing. I really loved drawing trainers, so I designed trainers I wanted to see by companies like Nike and Adidas. In light of this my school books were filled with trainer sketches and brand logos. Like most youth, I was mischievous and interested in things other than the subjects taught in school.

Near my school was an old graffiti mural. Strangely it had been there for many years and had gone unnoticed. A friend and I noticed it when we changed our route to school. It was so impressive that we couldn't stop talking about it. From that point onwards every day we would walk past the mural and try to decipher the graffiti language. One day after school we finally broke the graffiti code. The mural read "The Andersons". I can't speak for my friend, but I know I felt a sense of personal achievement, understanding something I previously couldn't. After studying the mural I went to school and wrote something in a similar graffiti style. Ironically it was the name of my church, St Boniface.

Later that year I moved to another school in Wimbledon. A couple of weeks in, I was doing graffiti sketches in my books based solely on the mural I had seen. One day while sketching, a pupil in my class said, "you're doing it all wrong". Looking back, I was quite offended by his statement. He introduced himself, said he did graffiti and knew others who were also into it. We struck up a very close friendship and he began to educate me on the culture of graffiti and the idea of "style". He showed me books, pictures and later took me to the writer's bench where I met many other writers. It was like sensory overload, I couldn't get enough. Within an extremely short period of time I was totally hooked. There wasn't any pressure to start painting graffiti; it was just a natural progression from black book (or at the time school book) to any given surface.

Where did you paint your first piece?

Well the first thing I painted was actually dub. It was an illegal trackside on "Wimbledon Alley". Wimbledon Alley was a great spot. It had graffiti pieces and dubs by old London writers such as Probe FDC, Kof DTB, Neat URS and many other fame names. Location-wise, it was a great as reaches could be seen from trains going in the direction of Raynes Park from Wimbledon Station. I remember painting that night but I don't remember considering whether what I was doing was illegal or not, I just had to do it (it was compulsive). We almost got caught that night, which wouldn't have been a great start to my graffiti life. My dub looked great at night but the following morning it looked really shabby. I asked my friend why his dub was more shiny than mine. I later found out that he racked the Simonize Chrome (good paint) and I the novice, racked the 5 wheel silver (bad paint).

With meaning you have purpose and with purpose you have a reason to achieve your goals and ambitions.

Lovepusher

How did you choose the name Lovepusher?

In 2003 with the help of God, I made the decision to write the message "Remember Jesus". Initially I didn't want to change my tag because I had done fair amount of ground work with that name. However that person of old was gone and a new enlightened individual was born. The name had to have meaning and not just be another name that sounded cool, had great letters or 3 letters with an S on the end.

I was listening to Todd Edwards heavily around 2003. One song really stuck in my mind, it was a track called "Push The Love". There was something mystical about the name of the track; I couldn't stop thinking about it. I later realised these words described and represented my thoughts and actions. The word "Love" represented the love and passion I have for Jesus Christ. The "push" became "pusher" and this represented me as an individual spreading (pushing) a positive message. By placing these two individual words together, I created a unique name and more importantly a name with a valid meaning. With meaning you have purpose and with purpose you have a reason to achieve your goals and ambitions.

Do you write under any other names?

No, but in 2008 I did a short style series with the name Mbyte.

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

If I'm available, I'm more than happy to paint with anyone or any crew.

How did you come to be involved with the ID Crew?

I first met TizerOne and Shucks briefly in 2003. They were painting with Totem2 and other international artists on a long mural in South London. It was literally a case of hello and goodbye. A year later I met Tizer again with Insa at the They Made Me Do It gallery in Covent Garden. Tizer recognized me and we got talking. We exchanged numbers, hooked up and began painting walls together. About a year later I was asked to be down with ID Crew. The crew is made up of 10 artists with different artistic backgrounds. I think the best thing about the crew is the good range of creative ability. Some of the members bring a graphic design approach to their work, some work with organic elements and others bring forward a traditional graffiti style as well as super fresh characters.

Painting with my fellow crew members is always great, but our friendship extends beyond the wall. We're there for each other at all times providing love and support.

How would you describe your style?

I would describe my style as essentially a message in surreal (dream-like) 3D form.

Did your style of creating letterforms from 3D shapes, which I have to say always blows me away, take a long time to develop and were you inspired by any other writers out there?

Yes, it took about 2 years to develop. If you can imagine I was coming from an illegal background going into the legal colourful hall of fame/mural scene, so it was a new challenge and experience for me. The first ever 3D style piece I saw was by Delta in 1996. It was in an old graffiti magazine. The piece was so intense on all levels - it had motion, colour and style and to cap things off it even had electricity going through it (seriously). I remember thinking it was amazing and wondering how on earth he did it? Little did I know 7 years later, I would also begin painting using the 3D technique that he, as well as others had pioneered. Once my life changed and I decided to start writing the message "Remember Jesus", I knew I wanted the message to visually stand out, so going in the direction of 3D was the most obvious decision. The potential of 3D graffiti having impact was reaffirmed when I saw a green piece painted by the artist Insa in south London around 2003.

I knew the importance of style and knew the only way I was going to stand out was to be unique. I noticed that the majority of artists in Europe were painting like Loomit/Daim - using vanishing points the ends of their letters. In the U.K. a lot of artists were painting similar 3D styles to Mak1, Astek and Insa. If my style resembled any of these artists I wouldn't be original and would more than likely be labelled as a "biter". The inspiration and total idea behind my style came from listening to the music of Todd Edwards, a music producer from America. His musical production was very unique, awesome and clever. As a Christian he was/is spreading the word of God by having messages of Jesus, Love, forgiveness and salvation within his musical production. He uses vocal sampling and a "cutting up" technique to create a sound where if you listen carefully you can hear the positive message of Christ.

I was really inspired by Todd Edwards so I came up with the idea that I could create a style where the message was there, but you wouldn't be a able to completely see it unless you took the time observe the shapes, lines and contours to reveal the complete message. I had the idea but I couldn't paint in 3D, and especially at the level that was around in 2003. I had to start from scratch and believe me that wasn't easy. Most of the artists I was aware of at the time were taking letters and making them 3D by adding varying degrees of shading and perspective. I decided to use a different approach. Instead of making existing letters 3D, I chose to use two main 3D shapes to build my style. These were the cube and the sphere. I remember an old art teacher in school saying; with these geometric shapes you could create a multitude of shapes internally as well as externally, simply by adding/connecting more shapes to create a new form, or by subtracting one shape from another to create a similar outcome. The results were very impressive but over time I found these shapes limiting to the possibilities I had in my mind. To have complete freedom of expression, I began to use my imagination by twisting the existing geometric shapes to create new ones that were impossible, but were visually sound in relation to what I saw in my mind. I also studied the works of Dali to gain a wider knowledge of shape and light effects. By 2005 I had finally created the style I now use today and continue to develop. For me it's not about my piece being technically correct in terms of 3D angles and light, It's more about painting what I see in my mind (imagination) coupled with my experiences in everyday life such as; faith, nature, people, music, love, dreams and metaphysics.

I believe in 2003 you found God during a time of hardship, are you able to talk about what happened?

Thank you for asking, but unfortunately not.

When you began painting graffiti you used to have what you describe as a "London based style", what was your outlook on graffiti before finding God and how did it change afterwards?

Well looking back now, I think I had a narrow mind and was pretty limited in my thinking. I was in some kind of "the London illegal scene is all that matters" bubble, where I had no consideration for anything other than London tubes, bombing, trackside's and trains. After my spiritual Enlightenment my eyes were opened to the sheer size of the graffiti culture as well as the infinite possibilities within it.

As an artist you must have belief and conviction in what you're doing and not rely on what others think as this can surely be detrimental to your work.

Lovepusher

How do you find that spreading a message such as "Remember Jesus" goes down with the wider graffiti community? Are people quite accepting of what you are trying to say through your work?

To be honest I've never asked anybody's opinion as to whether they like what I'm doing or not. I can only assume some people like it and others don't. Sometimes God chooses people to go out and do his work. Trust me, if God chooses you to do something it's a blessing, so you do it with passion and love. I'm very driven in what I do as my focus and energy comes directly from the God.

As an artist you must have belief and conviction in what you're doing and not rely on what others think as this can surely be detrimental to your work. When you create a painting/piece of work you're creating a new visual language where the viewer sees the world through your eyes.

Do you know of or are you in touch with many other artists who are trying to spread the message of Jesus through graffiti?

There are many artists around the world spreading the message Jesus Christ. I'm in contact with Dolar One from Spain and a few members of the GG Crew (Gospel Graffiti Crew) from America. I really respect all these guys and my prayers go out to them as they continue to do awesome works to glorify God. I also respect the many anonymous artists and people worldwide who are out there on a daily basis spreading the word of God.

I know from a recent interview with Dolar One that he is a fan of yours, any plans to work with any other artists whos aim is to promote the same message as you?

The opportunity arose collaborate with Dolar One, but at the time he had some very important Missionary work to do. I'm sure the opportunity will rise again in the future. In the near future I also look forward to collaborating with Saves and Phat1 from New Zealand.

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'm torn between Finland and Bulgaria. Finland is a very beautiful and peaceful country. The lakes and forests were a great source of natural inspiration. While out there I collaborated with Versoe TPA Crew and Olavi Virta of the EA Crew. Bulgaria was also a great experience for me. I wasn't sure what to expect when I went out there, however when I arrived I found it beautiful and very interesting. Some parts of Bulgaria were still undeveloped - I loved the fact that it wasn't completely westernised with infrastructure everywhere. The small parts of Bulgaria that were undeveloped created a real urban and raw environment, which I found refreshing and a major change from living and painting in the highly developed city of London. While out there I collaborated on a large scale wall opposite the Black Sea with various artists such; Esteo, Funne, SatOne, Herakut, Okuda, Dran and many more.

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

I'm grateful my work has been published in magazines such as Computer Arts Projects, Graphotism, Indole, etc.

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

I wouldn't really call it a big break, but I think a very big achievement for me was creating my own style.

The very nature of graffiti is organic. It's continuously changing and evolving to meet the cultural needs and trends at any one time.

Lovepusher

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 great. The very nature of graffiti is organic. It's continuously changing and evolving to meet the cultural needs and trends at any one time. Graffiti is too dynamic to be restricted to just one specific area whether that's the streets or in galleries. By painting and placing graffiti in a wide range of locations, environments and within the media, ensures that you cater for all. This means everyone is given the opportunity to see and appreciate graffiti, whether it's a writer, the general public or an avid art collector.

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

The large interest in graffiti isn't necessarily something new. It happened in the eighties and has gone full circle. With time, interest in all things graffiti related will die down then rise again in another decade or so. I think for street art, artists like Banksy have helped generate a lot of attention in this area. Banksy has done some great thought provoking work over the years and has been one of the main artists to spark a large interest in the street art movement. At the moment street art is popular, and as we know people are drawn to all things popular. The question is, how long before that which is popular dies down and is replaced by the next big artistic trend?

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?

Personally I view graffiti as artistic expression. Of course issues of vandalism rise depending on where the artist decides to express him or herself. Understandably, laws are set in place to ensure some kind of social harmony. Now if an artist chooses to express him/herself and in doing so breaks one of these laws, then he or she has to be prepared to accept the possible consequences of their actions.

I'm probably just playing devils advocate here but how does the whole idea of graffiti either being created on public property, or property not owned by the artist sit with you? I'm only asking this because aren't there commandments in the bible which prohibit against damaging the property of "thy neighbour"?

The key aspect you're missing when you touch upon the Bible is the word "choice". The Bible offers a guide to many people as to how to lead a good life with love, respect, peace and harmony. Personally I recommend you read it and you'll see that these values are clearly outlined. But you also have to remember that God gives all human beings a wonderful gift - it's called "freedom of choice". Therefore whether you're a Christian who follows the laws of Christ, or an individual who follows the law of the land, you're responsible for your choices and actions. As I stated before, for every human choice there are consequences. We know, we learn and we choose.

Also your description of public property or property not owned by the artist is very vague. A hall of fame for example is not owned by the artist but by the local council for that borough. You have to understand that the local council actually provides these public spaces for artists to showcase their work in a safe environment. Prime examples of such places are "The Pit" at Westbourne Park, Leake Street at Waterloo, Stockwell Park Estate and Southbank (all London based locations where the councils have endorsed free space for artistic expression). Also you have to remember that graffiti artists are commissioned daily and paid very well by various organisations, charities, corporations and small businesses to paint beautiful murals on public property - sorry but I fail to see how this is damaging. If anything, it adds more culture to various areas of any given town or city and in some cases even acts as a tourist attraction. Visitors to London can now pick up a leaflet showing important landmarks in London and also providing a detailed tour of the London street art and graffiti hotspots (So you can see this actually aids London tourism). Interestingly enough 100 percent of the legal places I paint I don't own. These places are all completely legal and are accepted by the police.

Do you paint legal or illegal pieces?

I paint legal pieces.

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

Yes, when I was painting illegally.

Do you try to keep your identity anonymous where possible?

Yes and no. If you see me painting then I suppose visually you know who I am. If you see the artwork and not the artist, then I don't jump on the rooftops shouting that's my work.

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

Both.

Which other artists work do you admire?

• Egs
• Swet
• Stuka
• Delta
• Daim
• ECB
• Shok1
• CMP
• Dare
• Toast
• Phat1
• Askew
• SatOne
• Loomit
• Per
• Can2
• Zedz
• Esher
• Viagrafik

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

All of the above.

What is your preferred medium for making marks with?

Spray can on wall.

What is your colour of choice?

Blue.

What is your favourite surface to paint on?

Different surfaces create different effects, I'm easy.

Do you have a favourite piece of all time?

No, I love everything I paint.

What kind of music are you into?

• Todd Edwards
• 80's Electro and funk
• Daft Punk
• Kraftwerk
• Mister Mister
• Huey Lewis And The News
• UB40
• Genisis
• 80's Power Ballard's
• Enya
• Electronica
• Classical
• Chill-out

What is the last album you bought?

"Full On Volume3" - Todd Edwards

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

Currently I'm working on plans for a large scale commission in Denmark with some extremely talented Danish artists mid to late September. For the future, more travels and new friendships…

Anything else you would like to add?

When all is said and done, you know that LOVE survives.

Thanks for the interview.

For further information about Lovepusher please visit:

Lovepusher Profile

Lovepusher Website

Lovepusher MySpace Page

Lovepusher Flickr Photostream

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