Explosive, clean cut lines extruded from chaotic letterforms, seemingly random yet synchronised splashes of patterned chaos – these are all the hallmarks of Melbourne graffiti artist Slicers energetic and motion packed works.
Usually relegated to spaces often unseen by the public eye, his art often draws your eyes outwards, discovering subtle nuances behind what at first seems a disjointed, random sampling of work – yet seen correctly, each a cohesive sum of a perfect whole, precisely executed.
On the eve of his first solo show at Rtist Gallery in Prahran, Slicer gives us a brief glance into the mind behind the work – from demolition sites to the beauty of urban decay, his work with the AWOL and MCT crews to mentoring youths, Slicer is, in our humble opinion, one of the most uniquely styled graffiti artists practicing in Australia today, and we’re completely stoked that he had the time before his show to answer a few questions on over a decades worth of painted obsession …
How and when did you start out painting walls and doing other creative work? At what point did you become conscious that it was no longer just a past time?
I started painting about ten years ago, and after a few years of ink stained undies and paint under my nails graffiti began to naturally consumed my way of life – there’s is no looking back; I live to paint.
You have an really unique and identifiable style – was it formulated in a conscious effort at the beginning and evolve over time, or has it always been an organically developed style?
My style has rapidly evolved and dissolved multiple times, mainly through my constant search for new techniques and styles. I always freestyle my pieces, and basically just paint what feels natural in that moment.
Just on that, tell us a bit about your work with the shapes and line work that you delve into – there always seems to be an element of movement within it?
I love movement and aggression in paintings. It usually displays a focus of my line work – I’m totally obsessed with sharp, fast, fat to thin lines. I try to concentrate on the flow of the lines, and they way they interact with the exact spot, and surface, that I’m painting.
This is your first solo show – have you found any aspects of the process daunting at all? What have you most enjoyed about preparing for it?
This show has been a long time coming. It seems like the right time now to show what I paint in abandoned spaces, and how those pieces influence my work in the studio. The last few months have been hectic preparing for the show – I’ve been falling asleep working in the studio most nights … good times!
Can you tell us a bit about the overall theme that you’re working with for the show? How have you found the process of working on a canvas lately as opposed to working up on a wall?
The theme of the show is around urban decay and my obsession with painting and exploring condemned buildings is prevalent in all my work. I have saved heaps of objects, and really one special piece, from these environments and am giving them a new life in the gallery. Generally only demolition workers, or the odd writer, will see my work before it’s destroyed.
I’ve been painting on a small scale in the studio for a few years now, and its very separate to my graffiti. I enjoy working on canvas with my hands using natural ochres and acrylic – however, nothing compares to the freedom and energy of large scale painting. I’ve actually included a transplanted wall in the show as well, and hopefully it demonstrates my passion for all of that work as well.
How about your work with the AWOL crew? How did you start painting with them? You guys recently did the stunning NGV piece and you collaborate on a lot of walls – what do you believe you each bring to the table when you’re working together?
I started the AWOL crew with my friends. Everyone has their own unique style, but we all share the same dream and we’re a family from different backgrounds. Painting with the whole crew together at NGV studio was the best experience of my life – my best friends all together doing what we love? Dope!
On a separate note, you have done a bit of youth mentoring here
and there – can you tell us a bit about this side of things? To be able to pass on skills and knowledge that you have learnt to the younger generation sounds like a fairly altruistic thing, what is it that drives you to do so?
I’ve been mentoring kids through street art workshops run by various councils for a while. I really enjoy working with the kids who already write graffiti, and opening up their minds to the infinite possibilities of painting, as well as how you can express yourself without smashing everything in sight.
If kids get a chance to learn how to paint, then the quality of the artform will grow. That’s what I support – growth, freedom of expression and people just getting out there and enjoying painting.
You’re probably not thinking too far ahead of the show at this point, but what does the rest of the year hold for you? And, where do you hopefully see yourself, and your artwork, several years down the track?
After the show I’m going to be free from my studio for a while – searching for spots and painting for a few weeks before I go back to my second home in Paris with my lady, LucyLucy, then we’ll probably paint all summer with my other crew, MCT.
Munching on baguettes, drinking Leffe all day and painting burners … what a life!
Images courtesy AWOL & Slicer. You can check out more of Slicers work on his blog, One Black Drip, and you can also find more details for his show, opening tonight, at the Rtist Gallery website, Facebook page and the Facebook event page. Also, check out the AWOL crew website – mad stuff on there indeed …
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