"All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love. There is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness and Truth. Art is not a handicraft, it is the transmission of feeling the artist has experienced." -- Leo Tolstoy
Last month I interviewed Urban Calligraphy artist el Seed at his exhibit at Sino Shop Montreal. Filmed alongside Samantha G of Samantha G Photography, the full interview in its entirety will be featured in an upcoming two-part series with subtitles...
How to Network
I crossed el Seed about six weeks ago and immediately didnt hesitate on meeting him. We took the subway together as I shared my classical calligraphy from my sketches off bamboo done over the past three year period.
el Seed looked into the details of my work and we spoke as the train rumbled through the city's underground. As a former graff artist myself, it was quintessential that I met el Seed and that we spoke on a potential collaboration. We clicked immediately and spoke of everything relating to art all the way to culture and family and of course, identity.
Aside from connecting so naturally with a brother, we spoke about family life and the current state of the Arab/Muslim world--I guess it would impossible to avoid mentioning this since we all have some genre of connection to our roots and distinct homelands.
Down in Sino's Hood...
Heading down to Sino Shop with el Seed was something in itself...as we spoke, we mentioned much about France and his birth city of Paris. While Sino himself is also from France, I felt as if I was already there :)
Sino's Shop is a piece of beauty. A friendly ambiance, an atmosphere we all yearned for when we were young graffers and there was no store of the likes for us to shop and meet other artist...
When it comes to a proper supply of Montana paints, Sino is the spot. As el Seed and I entered, we encountered none other than Italian artist and painter Nicolò Gola...
The Gola Factor...
Gola was chillin', plain and simple. Baggy pants and a colourful array of newly purchased paints he was up to his friendly usual even though I never met him ever before in my life...Undeniably, he's one of those guys with a very colourful demanour in context of his character and personality.
el Seed and Gola spoke it up and exchanged ideas at the Sino desk...Gola spoke of Gaza Graffiti alongside el Seed and both mentioned Banksy's works on the walls of the occupied territories...from there, Gola gave us a tour of his web-site and utterly colourful pieces in Spain and Italy.
Without doubt, what I just Love about Gola is his vivacity, vibrance, life, sponteneity and colour. I dont percieve him as a dark artist but a colourful, bright and energetic.
el Seed and the Spiritual Spray
el Seed's art in itself has become a medium of choice in terms of conveying and sharing some of his core convictions with the world. Every wall is a distinct canvas for expression. For el Seed Arabic script in itself is a manifestation of message.
In essence, to el Seed, the rather intriguing fusion of Graffiti and Arabic calligraphy is a primary form of art in context of visual expression and creativity. In essence, the artist becomes more concerned in pinpointing a message in his art rather than repeatedly reproducing his very own name; within this is the conceit of self-effacement. El Seed makes use of the elements of lines, colour, and structures in order to produce a particular narrative. Each mural and canvas speaks a story.
Throughout his work is the re-emerging notion of specified themes representing unity, beauty, equality, freedom and Justice. Moreover, the aesthetic ideals of his urban art are a reflection of the aspect of roots and identity while also crossing into the realm of cultural values and hospitalities unique to the Middle-East.
Arabic Script and Spraycan Handling...
Written from right to left, Arabic script at its best is undeniably a flowing continuum of ascending verticals, descending curves, and temperate horizontals, achieving a measured balance between static perfection of individual form and paced and rhythmic movement. For el Seed there is great variability in form: words and letters can be compacted to a dense knot or drawn out to great length; they can be angular or curving; they can be small or large. The range of possibilities is almost infinite.
The Background Track: Mickey Boston
When it came to the track of the feature shot at the Sino Shop, I wanted to do a piece of melody that would highlight el Seed's work...it was a vibe and rhythm and verse that complimented my style as a former graffer and current calligrapher and what el Seed is currently doing.
The track itself will be featured on my upcoming album which is far faaaar away from being released...
The track is called: Spraycan Soul by Mickey Boston.
1 comment:
Gr8 stuff!!! Tru Artz!! whut-whutt!!!
Everything 100 overr herrre!
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