This fact helped me realize that to show something in the street was completely different to present it in a gallery. Someone like Taki 183 was not making what was considered “art” at this time. I have to be part of this”?īlek le Rat: When I saw the graffiti in New York, I knew that something was happening here, something very important, a kind of turning point in art.
Matthew Eller: So how long were you in NYC?īlek le Rat: I spent three months Eller: So what was the thing that clicked in your brain that made you say, “I have to see this more. So compared to Europe, it was a big new thing for me. We felt completely clear, like in the freeist country. Matthew Eller: I mean, there was no rules back then, right?.
I was an artist and Larry told me “You must come to the United States because you’re gonna have a big surprise when you come”. Larry and I were student at a fine arts school in Paris. Matthew Eller: So you came to New York just for vacation or…?īlek le Rat: Yes, on vacation. It was a really incredible thing to witness, you know? That would be a magnificent challenge. But unfortunately I don’t have any pictures, but it’s permanently ingrained in my Eller: Have you tried to repaint it from memory? See how close you could get it?īlek le Rat: Yeah, yeah, yeah. But for 10 years I digested what I saw in New York, I always remember what I had seen in New York on this trip. So it took me 10 years to realize my first taste. So, when I saw the first graffiti in the subway in 1972, or outside in the street, I would say to my friend, Larry, “Why does this happen here? Why are people doing this? What does it mean?” You know, because it was all so new, this visual of people writing their name, it was impossible to have this concept in Europe. You know, we had some political graffiti, but nothing compared to the United States. It’s was a happy accident because in Europe at that time in 1972 it was impossible to find graffiti. Matthew Eller: So let me stop you quick, were you a graffiti fan at this point in your life? Did you come to New York to find graffiti or was it just a happy accident?īlek le Rat: At that time I was a student of architecture in Paris. At that time Taki 183 and everything was only in New York. When I was 20 years in 1972 I took a trip to New York City, and thats where I first discovered graffiti. I started to make graffiti in 1981 in Paris. For those who are not familiar with your work why don’t you tell them a bit about yourself?īlek le Rat: My name is Blek Le Rat.
Blek currently has a Solo show on exhibition here and its a must see! So let’s get started with the basics. Matthew Eller: I am currently at the beautiful West Chelsea Contemporary Gallery in NYC speaking with the living legend Blek le Rat.
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