It’s been a busy 2021 already. Hard to believe that it was only a month ago that the US Capitol building and complex were stormed in a chaotic coup attempt and today Trump’s second impeachment hearings begin. I spent a lot of the last 4 years really learning about US history and politics and the nations checkered history of fascism. On top of everything else going on with the pandemic absolutely out of control here in California and the fact I’ve been navigating the logistical minefield which is getting my wife and I back to Aotearoa at the end of this month I’ve been strangely motivated and creatively inspired.
Something clicked into place in December with my painting process and I’ve found a real rhythm with my Digilogue works. I’ve been wrestling with finding more harmony between my analogue and digital processes forever but it’s really kicked into a new gear lately.
Digilogue 6, Acrylic, Spray Paint, UV Pigment & Airbrush Ink, 250 gsm BFK Rives, 19.5” x 25.5” (49.5 x 64.7 cm), 2021.
I’ve also realised that the TMD book project needs more time and research. That revelation has been liberating and allowed me time to have more in-depth conversations with some of our countries key if not often overlooked graffiti influencers. I’ve been hosting a weekly IG live chat with someone different each week, usually Monday 7pm PST (Tuesday 4pm NZ). I spoke with my good friend and crew mate Dr Bobby Hung aka Berst 3 weeks ago then Finer FDKNS last week and lastly Claude Iusitini the founder of Smooth Inc aka Smooth Crew, Aotearoa’s first organised graffiti crew. So much knowledge is being shared and it’s all on my IGTV for anyone that has missed them live. I will keep this series going as long as I can find guests willing to talk to me too!
I had a great Chat with Stephanie O’Brien of the Street Art Unearthed podcast last week and I am thrilled with how that and the subsequent articles she published came out. We had a really thorough conversation about the environmental and health impacts of using spray paint and rethinking the spray can and festival of the future. These are topics I’m very passionate about and have been pushing to get them more in the everyday conversations of people in our scene and industry at large. Sadly with the pandemic being a great flash point for these discussions it has also created more obstacles and disruptions than people and society can handle and these topics have been swept back under the carpet. I’m keen to keep pushing them to the fore. You can read my own personal writing on these concepts here and here.
I hope you all are healthy, safe and well wherever you are!