INTERVIEW WITH ADOR | graphic design | graffiti & street art 17/01/2013
Q: What made you to become an artist?
A: I've always been into drawing, I never stopped and I went to fine
art school, but I didn't show and talk about graffiti at school. My
researches were somewhere else, but it feed what I do know for sure
and helps me to look at our surrounding.
Q: Why graffiti? How long are you into graffiti?
A: I'm not sure we can call it graffiti, it depends the definition.
Street art, graffiti, painting on wall, illustration. I don't like
names. Painting is good to give a free way to talk, communicate, in
the public space. No pieces to sell, just a freedom to propose a
vision, to make an exchange with people. I made dirty tags in 2003,
and I get many spray to make my first fresco in 2005. After this, I
still renew my stock when I can.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I'm searching, I'm inspirited by a lot of things, maybe
everything. So it looks like what I choose, and what you know. As
much thing I love as things I hate. Some times I take care to create
the thing I find the ugliest. Stories in my mind, but I don't
understand everything and sometimes people ask me: - "Does it mean
that? Does it mean this?" -"Why not" or "yeah." Rarely not, because
I have several interpretations, or none, which depends to my mood.
Q: Seems like you're inspired by the
comics books and cartoons. Do you have any favorite characters? How
much does the character design helps you to express your own
opinions?
A: I can talk about a lot of artists, my characters should be
cousins with those of others painters of our generation. No
favorite, as much a dictator as a self portrait by Rembrandt. But I
hope there are some opinions, some way to behave, strong wills. I
will get behind me when I'll be 80.
Q: Can you tell me about the making process? How do you usually
develop your basic ideas to the final design? Do you use a sketchbook?
A: The better thing to paint a wall is to get an idea before, a
project designed before. In this case I go to the wall running. I
often mix characters that I already painted, in different situation.
I avoid to paint many time the same one, because even if I enjoy to
do it, my friends throw me stones. Also because I want to improve,
and I'm rarely happy one time the painting is done. I can
paint with lots of people and I have no new things, so I do
something I already know and I'm so depressive and I'm sure to hate
the world (and in this case I can find an idea), or I find an idea
in front of the wall and I scream my happiness to the whole world.
Q: Being a graffiti artist must be fun. Have you ever worked
in a team?
A: It's fun, for sure. Organization is difficult, but when we
succeed to talk and to paint a common picture without get in
trouble, it's a lot of fun. We're getting older but we still tease,
joke and give free slap, eat sausage and drink beer. We share a lot
of pleasure and existential questions with 2049, IBS, EYC. Sometimes
featuring works, also with other people I met.
Q: What role play “tagging” in
street art?
A: I like it so much. Each time I travel I look at it a lot. A lot
of happiness when I discover a fresh one of a friend of mine. Role
is to be here. Society needs tagging. A lot of people do it, someone
search far their style, whatever. I did it a bit, but I'm more a
drawer. It's the basis of graffiti, I don't paint letters, I don't
really part of it. But I don't care. Express yourself. The main
thing is that people are living.
Q: When would be the "dream" piece you would love to work on?
A: I'm working on it since I was born, but when it will be done, I
think I will dream at an other one or change my job. For the moment,
right now, I want to create an oran utan disguised as a penguin on a
island where Christopher Columbus is cooking a chicken. And I also
try to make sense.
Q: Looking at your characters on the
walls, makes me feel like I'm already a part of the story.
What is the usual message?
A: Happy to heard this feeling. No actual message. If there are
reaction, feelings, it's not lost. Maybe it means look at you how
scabby people can be. I pick it up in this wonderful world. One day
I was painting a nice guy who was offering flowers, and a woman on
the street said "it's so beautiful'. I liked but it's not really
interesting. And other one came, and said "you are a good drawer,
but what you do is disgusting". I enjoy the ratio between
themselves. Have fun, enjoy, be involve, be worried, give up, or
this is your fault.
Q: Would you say that your mural art could be little
sarcastic or comic?
A: Something like that I hope, but I cannot judge, even if I often
ask my friends. And sometimes I like interpretations. A recurrent
theme is the huge farce, or the big parade. Make fun with a lot of
things can be a solution to avoid to be bad, especially against
mustache who can be serious.
Q: You really made me laugh with your interior design, I'm
talking about the mixed wall art of all the comics characters. I saw Cartman, Tinky Winky, Betty Boop and so many more! Wow,
that piece is probably the most eye-catching, however, what was the
actual idea?
A: "The wedding of Cana", or "Les nooks de Cana", painted with Rigol,
Escro, Furoncle in a restaurant. The idea was to take the famous
canvas and put all our culture, rich or poor. A face of what we
know, and what we are, with a flower instead of Jesus Christ.
Q: Do you also work on interior design as
free lancer etc? If so, share some of the coolest experiences.
A: I do it more, as orders. It's cool when people ask me to paint my
universe. I will go on. Sometimes bars, restaurant, music room,
club, festival, wall outdoor… Especially with friends, those are
good moments.
Q: What would you say that is most challenging in being a
graffiti artist?
A: I really don't know. Maybe make something better each time, and
share a kind of message. Sometimes there is no message, just a
proposed structure in a disordered frame or assumed chaos in a
semblance of order.
Q: Have you ever had some problems with the police? What are
your thoughts about the harsh laws, globally?
A: I had one time to repaint my tags, another time they didn't read
tags so they just keep us to be drunk, and sometimes they want we
say ourselves we make shit. Have free walls to paint is good, but a
part of graffiti have to be illegal.
- Would you change something?
More free wall, and more orders to paint on cities?….
Q: People could be ruff, jealous, crazy,
super-cool... As an artist, what are some of your greatest
challenges or obstacles you face?
A: Yes because to paint outdoor generate reactions. Last time, a guy
came and said "you don't fed up to do it?" A friend of mine answered
"Yes, but somebody have to do it". 5 minutes later another guy came
and said "It's good what you do, go on". Don't take care of people,
if everything is cool it's better. Sometimes people like or hate the
fact to paint on the street, sometimes they like or they hate the
subject. We especially see it during "Over The Wall", a project
based last summer in Nantes. The greatest challenge is to arrive in
a city and chill with the other painters and try to have good time
and exchange ideas.
Q: Where are you based now?
A: Now I'm in Shanghai for few months, and it seems be ok to paint.
I spent last summer in UK, London is so cool to paint, thanks Global
Street Art. I will come back in France, Nantes is a nice city. For
the following I don't really know. I like project, I need project,
and often it goes with travel. People I meet help me to get
inspired. I'd like spend time in USA and South America later.
Q: Do you still enjoy painting as much now, or do you feel
jaded at all, do you still have the enthusiasm?
A: I'm young and my enthusiasm is growing up. I have a lot of work
and a lot of things to do.
Q: Do you have any advice for the new artists?
A: Have to make.
Please feel free to share your website.
You can contact me at madrolinone@yahoo.fr and my website
http://www.ador.book.fr
Thanks for the interview.