Snub23 - Graffiti Artist Interview

August 2008

Interview with Snub23, UK graffiti artist and contributor to The Cans Festival organised by Banksy.

How old are you?

Forever 23.

Where are you based?

Brighton, Sussex, UK.

How long have you been painting / writing?

Ten years odd.

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

Can't really remember, I've always made art, getting it out into public view was just a natural step.

Where did you paint your first piece?

Started with stencils really, then after meeting the now Grafik Warfare group of artists I went out exploring places to paint - derelict buildings, skate parks and walls of fame.

How did you choose the name Snub23?

SNUB means to disagree and ignore. Enough said.

Do you write under any other names?

Nope.

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

• Grafik Warfare (UK)
• Stencil History X (Paris)
• We Are Friends (Germany)
• TSO Crew (Italy)

Alongside Fark FK you painted one of the walls at Banksys "Cans Festival", how did you come to be involved in that project?

We painted at the Difusor Festival in Barcelona last year and met up with other artists, many we'd been in touch with online. The Cans Festival really brought it all together. Emails and phone calls before Cans were frantic.

Artists from abroad had first go at the walls at Waterloo then Tristan Manco let us know we had a wall to paint.

Have you found that after painting at the "Cans Festival" people have become more interested and curious about your work or has it opened any other doors for you?

More people are aware of my work for sure, the event was a milestone for many artists.

Have you done many collaborations with artists overseas or travelled abroad for your art and if where is the most exciting or interesting place you have painted?

It's my favourite part of painting. I've collaborated with loads of artists, all over the place. Stickers, canvases and walls.

Painted in Europe mostly, the inside of an out of service floating lighthouse in Amsterdam was a highlight. Any time your out painting with your mates is the best.

People think just because you're selling artwork you're raking it in. It's all a juggling act really, the sale of one canvas just funds the next project.

Snub23

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 long time, don't know if it's full-time yet. People think just because you're selling artwork you're raking it in. It's all a juggling act really, the sale of one canvas just funds the next project. I wish I could just paint all day but there's all the admin rubbish and I work for a few clients as a designer separate from SNUB.

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

My mum buying me my first computer, it cost 2 grand and did less than an ipod.

What do you see as your greatest achievement to date?

Buying and building my own shed with money from SNUB sales, I don't know how I ever survived without it.

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

People want what's on the street in their home and that's fine, what I don't like is it being so exclusive and expensive. I’d rather 50 people have a reasonable priced piece than one paying thousands for one piece. It makes me laugh. I don't waste too much time thinking about it.

I'm one of many artists that leave work on the streets for people to take, it's really satisfying and stops you getting too wrapped up in your own importance.

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

Many times, recently at the Cancer Sell, that was good because it was all for charity. I've some good ones coming up too. They're all good in their own way.

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

Art is in the eye of the beholder, what I like others can hate and vice versa

Do you prefer doing legal or illegal pieces?

Legal you get more time but illegal you get the buzz like you just stole something. I'm preferring legal really so I can make my design good and big with no hassles.

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

Drunken doodling got me a night in the cells once.

Do you try to keep your identity anonymous where possible?

Kind of but I'm not too bothered.

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

An artist, I'd rather use many different techniques… it's not all about the spray can for me.

Which other artists work do you admire?

There is a big list… all the usual suspects but my main two are Orticanoodles and Defacto.

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

Dunno, I kinda already have.

What is your preferred medium for making marks with?

Ooo, that's tricky. I love dumping paint on a wall with a fat cap but then I enjoy sketching with a pencil.

Do you have a favourite piece of all time?

Not really, it's ever changing, forever growing.

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

Currently I'm cutting some new stencils, painting for festivals and doing workshops. I have pretty much the same planned for the future.

For further information about Snub23 please visit:

www.snub23.com