Features
art & design
Revok
Welcome To The Revoklution
"Competition is always good for anything, but in LA when we beef it does not end with graffiti. We take our shit seriously, and beef usually results in serious beat-downs." Revok
When some-ones status has continued to reign supreme within such a naturally competitive culture as graffiti through maintaing constant evolution, re-invention of style and good old fashioned hard work then it becomes simply a waste of time to argue that they are anything but an insurmountable talent. Such is the case with Revok an artist who has continued to embrace the culture with a passion and fervor that has seen him stay at the top of his game and maintain his high profile both in his home town of LA but also world wide.
Who are you?
Revok, MSK/AWR, Los Angeles.
Do you remember the first time that you actually wrote on a surface illegally?
When I was around ten or eleven years old, I used to skate and I made a stencil of the Thrasher magazine logo and put it up all my skate spots.
How was this sensation different to how you feel when you are painting illegally in 2008?
I think I am a little jaded now. I used to get real pumped up, but it has become so routine now that I don’t really get as excited or intimidated for that matter.
Most capital cities in Australia have been subjected to a stencil art boom in the last few years, what's the scenario like in LA?
Not so much stenciling, but wheat-pasting posters has become real popular, it seems like every week there is some lame new poster guy. With the exception of Shepard Fairey and that WK Interact guy, that poster shit does nothing for me.
How fundamental is beef in the Los Angeles graffiti scene? Is this a good thing?
Well, it keeps things moving, it challenges people. Competition is always good for anything, but in LA when we beef it does not end with graffiti. We take our shit seriously, and beef usually results in serious beat-downs. Not with my people, but it is not uncommon for people to get shanked and shot over graffiti. There are many writers who have been killed over graffiti beef.
In the last year couple of years you've been involved in a project organised by Rime known as The Exchange. What's the basis behind the venture?
Rime is a real motivated cat; he is always coming up with great concepts for keeping graffiti interesting. I am sure he has many motivations, but I think at the core of it, he just loves graff and good lettering styles. It was a perfect way to get a lot of his favourite writers together and have them exchange styles. Idealistically he wants everyone involved to step out of their comfort zone and grow stylistically from the process.
Do you think that the idea behind The Exchange can be pushed further?
Sure, it is just the beginning…
How important are freights and passenger trains to yourself and other writers in LA?
I have just recently gotten into them. They are not a huge priority for me, but for many writers on the West Coast, that is their primary focus.
Los Angeles, as a whole, is renowned for having a lifestyle unlike any other city on earth. Through your travels, how true has this proven to be?
Very true, I fucking love this city! Sure it has its pros and cons, but in this city you can live any way you choose. I would say the most disappointing aspect of Los Angeles is the fact that bars and clubs shut down at 2AM, that and the insane property value.
How closely linked is the graffiti scene you grew up in to the gang culture in your city?
The two often run very parallel. Many writers come from families or at least neighbourhoods where gang culture is a dominant force. So, in turn, many writers have a similar mind frame from that of a gangster. When they bring that mentality to the graffiti realm it becomes more about ego and violence and less about doing dope graffiti. Plus, if you want to get up in Los Angeles you have to venture into gang territory to paint, and gangsters do not like writers! I have been shot at on a few occasions.
I read an amusing interview with Pysa about some trouble that you ran into in Japan, have you got any similar stories?
That is one of hundreds, Zes and myself once befriended some prostitutes working the strip once while painting and they posted up on the block, looked out for us and distracted the patrol cars while we painted so we hit them up on the wall.
If you could only tell one story to symbolise what you like about graffiti to keep you going for so long, what would it be?
I still just can’t believe all the crazy experiences I have had because of this shit! When I was a little kid sneaking out at night to go tagging, I never dreamt in a million years that this shit would pay my bills, get me flown all over the world, introduce me to the most amazing people and get me sponsored by a paint company that makes paint for graffiti! I have to count my blessings; life could be much worse for somebody whose days and nights are dedicated to breaking the law.
To stay up on Revok and his ever expanding catalogue of amazing work you just need to check his website. He posts up on the regular and there is no arguing the talent this man possesses once you've gone through his massive gallery of previous paintings.
Back
Revok, MSK/AWR, Los Angeles.
Do you remember the first time that you actually wrote on a surface illegally?
When I was around ten or eleven years old, I used to skate and I made a stencil of the Thrasher magazine logo and put it up all my skate spots.
How was this sensation different to how you feel when you are painting illegally in 2008?
I think I am a little jaded now. I used to get real pumped up, but it has become so routine now that I don’t really get as excited or intimidated for that matter.
Most capital cities in Australia have been subjected to a stencil art boom in the last few years, what's the scenario like in LA?
Not so much stenciling, but wheat-pasting posters has become real popular, it seems like every week there is some lame new poster guy. With the exception of Shepard Fairey and that WK Interact guy, that poster shit does nothing for me.
How fundamental is beef in the Los Angeles graffiti scene? Is this a good thing?
Well, it keeps things moving, it challenges people. Competition is always good for anything, but in LA when we beef it does not end with graffiti. We take our shit seriously, and beef usually results in serious beat-downs. Not with my people, but it is not uncommon for people to get shanked and shot over graffiti. There are many writers who have been killed over graffiti beef.
In the last year couple of years you've been involved in a project organised by Rime known as The Exchange. What's the basis behind the venture?
Rime is a real motivated cat; he is always coming up with great concepts for keeping graffiti interesting. I am sure he has many motivations, but I think at the core of it, he just loves graff and good lettering styles. It was a perfect way to get a lot of his favourite writers together and have them exchange styles. Idealistically he wants everyone involved to step out of their comfort zone and grow stylistically from the process.
Do you think that the idea behind The Exchange can be pushed further?
Sure, it is just the beginning…
How important are freights and passenger trains to yourself and other writers in LA?
I have just recently gotten into them. They are not a huge priority for me, but for many writers on the West Coast, that is their primary focus.
Los Angeles, as a whole, is renowned for having a lifestyle unlike any other city on earth. Through your travels, how true has this proven to be?
Very true, I fucking love this city! Sure it has its pros and cons, but in this city you can live any way you choose. I would say the most disappointing aspect of Los Angeles is the fact that bars and clubs shut down at 2AM, that and the insane property value.
How closely linked is the graffiti scene you grew up in to the gang culture in your city?
The two often run very parallel. Many writers come from families or at least neighbourhoods where gang culture is a dominant force. So, in turn, many writers have a similar mind frame from that of a gangster. When they bring that mentality to the graffiti realm it becomes more about ego and violence and less about doing dope graffiti. Plus, if you want to get up in Los Angeles you have to venture into gang territory to paint, and gangsters do not like writers! I have been shot at on a few occasions.
I read an amusing interview with Pysa about some trouble that you ran into in Japan, have you got any similar stories?
That is one of hundreds, Zes and myself once befriended some prostitutes working the strip once while painting and they posted up on the block, looked out for us and distracted the patrol cars while we painted so we hit them up on the wall.
If you could only tell one story to symbolise what you like about graffiti to keep you going for so long, what would it be?
I still just can’t believe all the crazy experiences I have had because of this shit! When I was a little kid sneaking out at night to go tagging, I never dreamt in a million years that this shit would pay my bills, get me flown all over the world, introduce me to the most amazing people and get me sponsored by a paint company that makes paint for graffiti! I have to count my blessings; life could be much worse for somebody whose days and nights are dedicated to breaking the law.
To stay up on Revok and his ever expanding catalogue of amazing work you just need to check his website. He posts up on the regular and there is no arguing the talent this man possesses once you've gone through his massive gallery of previous paintings.
Back
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