How long have you been into stencils and what got you interested?

I've been into stencils for about 3 years. The first I heard of stencil graffiti was when a friend at college made a short film about Banksy. I looked at his website and liked what I saw. Then I picked up Tristan Manco's book 'Stencil Graffiti' and learned about Blek le Rat, Nemo, Miss Tic and the wider stencil scene. The beginning of the Iraq War was the catalalyst that got me first painting on the street. My first few stencils were anti-war propaganda.

Whats the best thing and worst thing about the art you do?

The best thing is the exhilarating feeling of freedom I get from painting on the streets. The entire city is a potential canvas. I like cycling around deciding which wall I'm going to put my next stencil on. The worst thing is the criminalisation of my work and street art in general. There are tens of thousands of street artists across the world who paint walls illegally but with good intentions. It's a great shame that the lawmakers don't recognise this.

Whats been your best piece to date?

Probably the legal piece I did on the side of St Philip's Church in Cambridge. A 7 foot high Jesus on the cross. It's great because it's on a really busy street but the council can't touch it.

Have your sold any of your work?

No. I expect I will in the future but it's not important to me. Although I'm starting to have exhibitions, my work belongs on the streets.

What was the last book you read?

'The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test' by Tom Wolfe. It's a crazy book about Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters travelling across America in the mid 60's on a bus called Further, ingesting much LSD on the way.

Last CD you bought/downloaded/shoplifted?

James Brown - In The Jungle Groove.

Other than Art, what else do you like to do?

Watching films, listening to good music, drinking, thinking, dreaming.

Finally, if you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Nothing. I'm happy as I am.

 

Interview - Mr. Burrows 13/05/06