Interview about his project “Sun kissed*”
19-12-2023

Name of the Street Art piece that has modified the urban space: Sun kissed*

Location : Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Year : 2023

1- If you had to choose a Street Art piece that you created, as a transformation of the urban space, which one would you choose? How does this Street Art piece denote urban space metamorphosis?

*Sun kissed. Most of my projects I do on older buildings in the suburbs or the lesser neighborhoods but this mural creation was for a brand new apartment building in Smyrna, Atlanta, USA, with higher price range apartments. Everything was so new and clean so a street art piece really makes a difference in this multi colored community. They embraced it and recognized themselves in the design because of the 2 portraits of a black and white woman.

2- Why did you make this Street Art piece in this urban space? Was it the town hall or the property owner who authorized or asked you to create it? Can we consider this work as illegal/vandalism or legal, what is your criteria?

It was asked/authorized by the property owner. So it’s legal of course, it was a commissioned job.

3- What is the message you want to communicate through this Street Art piece? Is it related to the urban space where you did it?

We’re all connected!

4- How was this work integrated into the urban space? What was the interaction that the inhabitants of this city had with your project? Did they participate in its creation?

The colors integrate the environment and building materials.

The inhabitants didn’t have interaction except thumb’s up, compliments and likes of passers-by.

5- Do you think it is important that the local people participate during the production of your work and that they become artists modifying the urban space or do you prefer to carry out your projects alone without anyone seeing you?

I prefer to do all my projects solo or together with my wife and partner in crime Nancy Montforts, whom I am working with since 10 years now. I did a lot of ‘participation’ mural projects and gave workshops but in my opinion it doesn’t benefit the end result. I always give the comparison of a baker, whom I’m not going to tell how to bake his bread or help him baking, let the shoemaker stick to his last.

6- According to you, what is the criteria that determines your Street Art work modifies the urban space and why is your work considered aesthetically well done?

It always modifies the urban space because it turnes blank walls into art. I guess my artwork is considered aesthetically well done because of the high level of realism, the multi layered style, arty additions like fragmentation and transparent overlaps. The skillset I build up in almost 40 years of practicing.

7-What is the “historical future” of your work? Should we take care of it, preserve it and repaint it as if it were a museum’s piece of art? Or should it be allowed to age with the city itself?

It’s always nice if your artwork withstands time, and is still up when I am long gone, my legacy to the world. But I also like the transience, paint that fades due to the sun, layers of paint that peel off, or when nature takes back with moss growth or mold and ivy. All elements that makes my artwork a living and changing thing which isn’t always unsightly.

8- How does your work add value to the urban space in which it is produced?

I guess it does on a social level, like cohesion in a neighborhood, that is another kind of value of course but still a value.

9- What were the difficulties that you encountered during the completion of your work modifying the urban space?

Weather conditions that made painting impossible due to rain or hard wind, lifts that broke down, a shortage of paint, difficult customers who keep changing the design, strain on my arm and shoulder… are just a few examples. The highlight was the collapse of scaffolding, causing me to shatter both heels and be unable to walk for six months.

10- Why is urban art important to modify the urban space? What sort of projects are you planning to do in the future ?

I think it’s important to have public art everywhere because it helps building bridges between people, art unites. Next projects: just doing as much murals and paintings as possible worldwide. In 2024 we will be visiting to Australia for the first time. Looking forward to that. And I have Canada and Japan on my bucket list to do a mural… so if anyone reads.

Interview conducted by Art Bill – journalist and owner of Street Art In Action.

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