Hey fellaz,
We told you about Light graffiti. It’s cool but there’s something better : The luminous graffiti!
Here’s a great video of the Knight Light Crew from Brussels. They create some amazing shiny and luminous graffiti.
Enjoy the style!
Ukrainian street art! Much respect to their amazing artworks!
Street art from Ukraine for your eyes pleasure!
via webpark.ru
Hey funky people, Fatcap loves Jurrassic 5. Here’s a video of Cut Chemist. It’s the first video ever shot with a 360 degree panoramic lens. CRAZY. Are ready for the trip? Let’s go!
Cut Chemist - 1st Big Break from eyestorm on Vimeo.
Graffiti from Marseille, France
As the big french cities, the graffiti scene in Marseille got crazy skills. Don’t forget your camera if you go there or you will regret it!
Banbi,Roll,Posk,24H, RPK,PDB
Wise, Vega, JPP.
Mutha
Setwo
322.1 “Art sous pression” is a french graffiti documentary created by Marc Verdenet. It deals with the french article of law that punishes graffiti. You’ll find many testimonials by famous and underground graffiti artists, rappers, national railway staff members, lawers, art gallery owners…
Many graffiti artists participated to this documentary : L’atlas, Nasty, Dize, Jonone, Sharp, Skeo, What, Dion, Open, Barth, Lady-K, One-Up, Oedipe, Hold, , Wire, 2Rodé, Moze, Shadow, P.19…
It’s real and indie, Big up to Marc Verdenet for his work. If you want more info or video check the Marc Verdenet’s myspace
You can find the documentary Here and Here
here’s the trailer
Yo last above’s artwork in Lisbon. Robin hood is back!
Stealing from the rich and giving to the poor
STEALING FROM THE RICH from ABOVE on Vimeo.
Hey party people! Here’s for your brains an interview of ABOVE. Above is a free street artist that you might know, he’s the Arrow man! This globe trotter puts his paintings everywhere. His art is clever and interact spaces around it. FFS: funny, funky and shiny… welcome to the Above world!
Before reading this interview, you can watch the three parts of his last tour : The South Central Tour part 1 part 2 Part 3 , 11 countries over a period of six months. Brasil, Ecuador, Chile, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Argentina, Peru, Panama, Mexico and Paraguay. All the Above’s adventures during this tour are here : South central tour Blog
FC:Where are you from? What’s your background?
I was born and raised in Sunny Northern California. Both my Mom and
Dad were artists and musicians so I was fortunate to have them as
parents. I grew up being influenced by skateboarding and tagging at a
young age.
FC:What was the interest in art and what lead you to create all those things?
I was/am interested in creating pieces of art that have an impact.
Both of my parents are artists so growing up I was influenced by them
a lot and found it normal to make artworks.
FC:How would you define your work and what inspires you?
It’s hard for me to talk about my works. There are many different
mediums I work with and applications so its hard to pinpoint them.
1 common theme is that most all of my works involve color, and a hand
made approach.
FC:What kind of reaction do you want to evoke from your art?
A good laugh.
FC: Ok before going deep inside the Above 
let’s talk about your
different works. First Tell us more about the sign language? Every
creation has got an sense and a goal…
Thank you first of all for realizing the site-specific works of the
Arrow Mobiles. The Sign Language Tour was an extremely intense and
organized tour around literally all of Europe. I was able to go to and
install the Arrow Mobiles in 26 COUNTRIES on that tour.
(http://vimeo.com/1058936) My focus for that tour was to find a
situation or atmosphere in the streets and then hang the WORD/PLAY
Arrow Mobiles to either comment on or give attention to that specific
situation. An easy example would be something like when I hung an
arrow in Amsterdam in the Red Light District that had BLOW/JOB
stenciled on the arrow, or in Barcelona HACE/SOL (Its sunny in
spanish) in a busy intersection in Helsinki HONK/HORN. and on and on.
The Arrow mobiles spin constantly so there is this form of silent
communication used through movements exactly like SIGN LANGUAGE.
FC: It’s a smart, funny and tripping idea. Are you sure that the average people notice it, and understand it? There ‘re a lot of word play. Sometimes it’s like a private jokes isn’t it?
It’s a mixed batch of witty comments, messages, and Word/Plays so
depending on a specific arrow mobiles someone might not get the joke,
or message. You might not think this from seeing a photo of an arrow
mobiles but like I said before they are constantly moving and spinning
around so the lively spinning arrow mobiles catch a lot of attention
from people walking by.
FC:When I discovered your work I understand that you are a globe
trotter. How many country did you visit?
I do like to travel a lot as its important for me as a person and on
my artworks. I stopped counting how many countries I have been to. The
world is a large place and It would be great to visit and create
artworks in a lot of interesting and new areas.
FC: Before going in a specific country, do you know people there? Or
every travel is totally freestyle?
I do both depending on what country I am visiting. I have said this
many times before and insist that I keep saying it because without the
amazing support of this community of artists, and friends literally
around the world that help me along these tours it would be nearly
impossible to travel to so many places. THANK YOU to all my friends
out there (you know who you are!) that have let me sleep on your
floor, met me at a train station, showed me your city, painted with,
and supported me on these past 4 tours around the world.
FC: Tell us about your recent SOUTH CENTRAL TOUR.
Honestly I’m not really sure where I can even start with this
question. Some of the basic information would be that the SouthCentral
Tour was an enduring and very difficult 6-month long voyage. I started
the SouthCentral tour in October of 2007 in Rio De Janeiro, Brasil and
traveled up to Mexico City, Mexico by the end of April, 2008. I was
traveling with another artist named Ripo and we both experienced a
whole lot of crazy things down in South America. With all of my past
tours there was a huge amount of planning and organizing previous to
the tour. I had never been to South or Central America prior to this
tour so I was extremely fortunate to have other friends who have been
down there help me out with contacts of local artists to stay and link
up with. For me personally the SouthCentral Tour was a very successful
tour both artistically and personally. Being in a totally different
part of the world with Spanish being the predominant language I was
able to learn Spanish, new customs and cultures as well as paint
really big illegal pieces.
FC: I heard you got stabbed AND Robbed at gunpoint along your
SouthCentral Tour. Tell us about that.
Yeah well basically I was painting Illegally in a sketchy neighborhood
in Buenos Aires, Argentina during the daytime. My friend ElTono from
Spain was down in Buenos Aires the same time I was so we went out to
go paint. That day ElTono and I were painting we got rolled up on by 2
young kids about 18-19 years old with guns. They showed us their guns
in their pants but it was only until 1 of the thieves pulled out his
gun and pointed it at my head that ElTono and I gave them our cameras
and money. It was a real fucked up situation but in the end were were
better off safe than sorry.
Then 2 months later in Quito, Ecuador I got rushed by 3 crack heads
and had my arm stabbed. This was the most fucked up situation as I had
1 guy with a knife in my arm holding it there while 2 other crack
heads were running their hands through my pockets looking for money.
FC:How do you work your letters, and how do you choose where you ‘ll
place it in the street?
I paint everything from hand with either a spray can or a roller. Its
hard to get the spacing and size typographically correct a lot of the
times but thats part of the art as well, the in-correct aspects. I
choose to paint a Word/Play just like I did with the Arrow Mobiles
when I hung them. I try and observe a situation or atmosphere that is
very present and then I comment on it with a large painting of words.
FC:If your style was a music band or a song? Which one would it be?
Something funky and full of energy. JAMES BROWN sounds about right!
FC: You like quotes. If your style was a quote, Which one would it be?
“NO COMMENT” -Above
FC:Name an artist (or many) whose work you respect and admire.
For me its not so much the visual aesthetic of the artist and their
art but the passion and integrity they hold with their process of
making the art itself.
FC: Which media/support and tools do you prefer? Bombs, stencils,
walls, ads, wheatpaste…?
That all depends on the space I,m working with. My artworks all are
specifically rooted in the context and environement of the location,
So deciding what medium to work with that all depends on the surface
and location. It seems that in recent years I have used a lot of Wood
for the Arrow Mobiles, Fabrics, glued on to them, and some stencils
for the highlights. I have recently been doing a lot of figurative
sitautions from stencils and freehand. There is a lot to explore and
introduce to the streets. I’m excited about the future.
FC:What’s your worst and best habits?
Travelling, and Travellling again.
FC: Do you do drugs? Do you need something particular to be creative?
Sometimes if there is a good situation for it. What makes me get
inspired is traveling and seeing just day to day life and people.
FC:Do you feel the work you are doing is something that should be
preserved or stayed transcience?
I love and enjoy the fact of the non-permanent and ephemeral aspects
of having artworks in the streets. The works can then take on an
uncertain lifespan in the streets. Some “live” for only a few hours
while others grow old for many people to see. If I wanted my artworks
to be permanent I would have painted them inside or in a space that
can preserve them. “What goes up must come down at some time.”
FC: Where did you get this obsession of visual patterns and repetion?
It’s linked with all your work…
I find a lot of curiosity in how we as humans repeat things on a day
to day basis,I find a lot of curiosity in how we as humans repeat
things on a day to day basis,I find a lot of curiosity in how we as
humans repeat things on a day to day basis,I find a lot of curiosity
in how we as humans repeat things on a day to day basis,I find a lot
of curiosity in how we as humans repeat things on a day to day basis.
FC:ok! What was your most adventurous and dangerous graffiti?
There have been several close calls and some stupid spots I have put
my life in risk while painting. One that comes to mind is the
“BUCHAREST DEATH DROP” in Bucharest, Romania
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?
feet wide to walk on and the height was about 12 stories up! Death
would be certain if I fell.
FC:What did you do last week (paparazzy style)?
I flew from Lisbon,Portugal to Dublin, Ireland. Stayed 3 days in
Dublin then flew back here to San Francisco, California. I was
finishing up a some projects in Italy, and Portugal. check out some of
the prints here (http://studiocromie.org/
FC: Ever have any serious graffiti beef?
Sure, It’s part of the job description…I think? I’m sure there are a
lot of people who love to hate my artworks but then again what makes
something good is being controversial. I don’t waste my time with that
stuff.
FC:How would you describe street art and what makes it different than
graffiti or would you say it all falls under the same umbrella of
shit. Don’t you think it’s totally different?
Its all good and there is a place for everything.
FC:What’s coming up in the next few months? Show, travels… etc…
Check out the website to find out more. (WWW.GOABOVE.COM)
FC:What’s your real goal?
Trusting in the unknown and just going with the flow.
FC:Any words of wisdom?
TRAVEL!
Thank’s Above!
A new hair cut for Laid Back!!
The new site of our friends of Laid Back is online! It’s a new day! Go check it.
Laid Back is an internet media mixing radio and magazine focused on urban lifestyle. Good music and great topics! It all started with a radio show.
The Laid Back radio…fresh vibes…
Big up to the team!
Do you remember our post 6 months ago about street art down the sewer?
Well, let’s go for some update! Here’s some new stuff from the creatvie 6emeia crew! Enjoy! Only gutter and sewer street art!
Go check the 6emeia site for more street art on the sidewalk.
“They are the Bonnie and Clyde of the graffiti world, a Queens woman and her boyfriend have been arrested, suspected of causing more than $100,000 in damages at transit facilities around the city. Read more of the article here.”
Via Sense Lost
Yo party people!! Here’s the amazing third part of Above’s worldwide street art tour.
If you don’t know Above check this : Above. Next week, we’ll give you a big interview of him…stay tuned!
The first part, the second part.
SouthCentral (PART 3 of 4) from ABOVE on Vimeo.
Yo fellaz, you’re about to meet Shaka, a great graffiti artist from France. He creates the crew PPA with Nosbé… Beautiful artwork, colorful paintings! Here’s for the Fatcap readers a pure graffiti interview. enjoy!
FC: Where do you come from Shaka? Tell us about your beginnings…
I come from the 91 (Evry), my first painting was in 95 (I put Buster, my homeboy was Shik from ADR). With my brother we created the DKP crew, we met Nilko (W73) in 98; and begin painting seriously. In 2000, I met Unick, Sénick and honey, guys who represent TVA and I made them join the crew; in the wake, my brother and his mates who were excited reinforced the troops.
FC: How do you define your style and your way of working?
For the lettering, I work on the volume and most of the time in roundness, with as much depth as possible. For the characters side, I prefer sketches that I keep to structure and fragment the space. The color is the priority; it’s what I enjoy the most.
FC: What are your sources of inspiration?
The Caricature, Impressionism, Expressionism and Pop Art.
FC: Are you part of a crew? Do you work often with other artists?
Our crew is PPA (Petite Peinture entre Amis -> Small Painting between Friends, Pas de Prison pour les Artistes -> No Prison for Artists, Peinture Pétanque Apéro -> Painting Bowling Aperitif, Plein de Potes Alcooliques -> Full of Alcoholics Buddies, Partisans du Prolétariat Armé -> Partisans of the Armed Proletariat…) founded in 2005 with Nosbé and Bien. It can happen sometimes that we paint with friends, mostly the ELM (Réo, Meik, El K) and the TKO (Noak, Rhea, Ablok).
FC: How’s your collaboration with Nosbé going?
With Nosbé, we met in Plastic Arts College and we hang out together a lot. We had two very different styles: he had lived in Tahiti and was very influenced by primitive arts, tribal, Polynesian, African, tattooing, comics… and me by impressionism, expressionism, pop art, caricature and tattooing. We decided to merge our styles to make unique frescoes. We’re realizing “exquisite corpses” (cadavres exquis) where each brings its particular touch while respecting the other. We discuss it a little and we put everything on the wall without any defined schema. Nosbé works in flat tint and me, more with volume. We don’t put pressure on ourselves, we do what we want, we structure the unit progressively and the more it goes the more we know each other, the more we understand each other. It gives slightly twisted results but it matches our style.
Shaka & Nosbé PPA
FC: What is your best and your worst creation?
Every painting is good to paint, even the ugliest ones.
FC: What are your tastes in music, movies or books?
The cultural richness lies in diversity so the list is long…
FC: If your style were a song, which one would it be?
Patchanka by the Mano Negra.
FC: Do you think your creations must be something that should be preserved or do you think that their purpose is precisely to be ephemeral?
If I want them to be preserved, I do paintings on canvas, with the rest, people can do whatever they want, we just don’t give a damn. A wall is not made to stay, even a legal one. It’s the meaning of life, and we still keep the pictures…
FC: Do you dream in graffiti?
I can’t remember my dreams.
FC: What do you think of the graffiti world?
It’s like in all circles, there’s everything. This is good, there is a positive competition, although not always. A guy who has a strong identity (for example Bom.k) will have followers but it shouldn’t fall into just “copying”, it would be a pity.
FC: What was your most dangerous story?
Two hours hidden behind a bush on the belly, alone by -3°, my buddy on the other side of the highway, or I don’t know where … all brigades mobilized to find us, big fright. It’s not very original; there are a lot of guys who’ll think of themselves while reading it.
PS: Thank you to the cops to be such gringos and for slamming their car’s doors, otherwise I would have never noticed them…
FC: What kind of reaction would you like your art to evoke in people?
I don’t think about that when I paint, but if they could grasp the meaning (when there is one) it would already be a good thing.
Shaka & Nosbé PPA
FC: What do you think of customization of clothing, and of shoes in particular?
Why not? It’s a support like any other. Nosbé does a lot of T-Shirts, it’s as funky as usual, Nilko is also very good in this area.
FC: Do you get to hook up with girls thanks to graffiti? We were told that body painting works pretty well…
I knew my wife before starting to paint; I never came across a chick on the field or sneakily. If I wanted girls, I would be a singer or a sports guy…
FC: Classic question: your views on the legal / illegal?
Illegal = graffiti; legal = painting.
Let me explain: what you do on the streets involves the environment, the moment. The legal is just an interpretation of graffiti. If I make a painting, I would say that I’m just influenced by graffiti because it lacks the essence.
FC: Did you already get in trouble because of graff?
Yeah, we don’t make just friends!
Canvas SHAKA & Nosbé
FC: What are your favorite bombs? And why?
No ads, I am not sponsored.
FC: Describe a typical day of Shaka…
Recently, it’s been either in a field, either in the workshop that I share with Nosbé. Let’s hope it lasts!
FC: How do you choose your Persos? The Benoit Poelvorde really rocks; does it just come to you?
In general, I always find characters that have a relationship with Hip-Hop. Poelvorde, it’s really because I love the character, his multifaceted side, tortured, the sad melancholic clown who inspired me for this painting.
Benoit Poelvorde Piece by SHAKA
FC: What do you think of the “Parisian hype” on street art and graffiti?
If the guys can make a living with what they do without betraying the image of graffiti, well bravo but that’s what I’ve already said, you do paintings, you sell photos in a gallery, this is not graffiti anymore as far as I’m concerned. Personally I work alone, I don’t know these people and they don’t know me but it’s not a problem. You cannot blame an artist because he wants to live of his work, however you can blame him for being an impostor. We have to give a name to a movement, there are also people who have nothing to do with graffiti but get inspired by it, and you can’t blame them as long as these people do not give a false image to move forward. We cannot afford to judge these people, whether we like it or not, as long as it’s not a shame like I crush a can and I sell it $ 3000!!
FC: What difference do you make between street art and graffiti?
Do you see one? It depends on the limits you give to Graffiti, if there are any. Many things have always inspired graffiti and that’s what makes it evolve just like Hip Hop. Stencil, collage, engraving … I think people have given the name “Street Art” to a graffiti that thinks, that develops a concept beyond the mere signature. For me, it’s communication! A way to exist at each one’s own level.
FC: Name some artists that you respect and whose work you appreciate?
The ELM, Nilko and Jaye, Obao, Muto, Opare, Sirius, Popaye, Bom.k, the DSK, Noodles aka Versus… And I forgot some.
Shaka & Nosbé
FC: What are your plans for the future?
Doing what I like without having a label that sticks to me; freedom, man! (It takes some cash obviously).
FC: What is your ultimate goal?
Living from what I do, and why not the recognition of my peers.
FC: How do you see graffiti in ten years?
Even more diverse, with multiple influences and without stupid constraints “graffiti is like that and not otherwise!” It’s the kind of sentences that will kill the graffiti.
FC: Dedications, or a few words to add?
Nosbé, Bien, kilos of mates, ELM (Réo, Meik, El k, Dume), CDB (Bien, TKO, Noak, Ablok, Réa…), MZF (Oust, Wame, Staf…), TGC (Ofman, Vela, Miop, Monoy…), ONU (Beak, Cons, Pino), Ironik for Nosbé, ADM (Pesa, Howie, Jorgio, Ksam, Ak…). My brothers Jack (Stick RIP) and Laurius, FAT aka Tavu, IOG (imposteurs of graffiti), DKP(des kilos de potes), Hemir, Honey, Unick, Sénick, Versus, Opare, Nilko and Jaye W73, Ahmed, Kombo.
Thank’s Shaka!
Shaka, Nosbé, Bien, PPA crew
The Fatcap blog presents you pure letters by GARY. Found on brighton rocks flickr.
This guy is dope! We’ll present you as soon as possible the whole crew of Gary…. some real graffiti killers! Stay tuned 
S.T.TICKS is a new street art crew. I saw some of their artwork in Paris 3 month ago. They create nice wheatpastes.
You’ll get more info on their Blog STTICKS
Some pictures found on their blog and on the flickr of Yoyolabellut
Lyl
Jsm
Duster
Beatnik
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