The 8th subject from my artists series is Falko of The Villainous Animators from Mitchells Plain, Cape Town, South Africa. Falko started writing in 1989 and is undoubtedly the pioneering forefather of African graffiti. Traditional New York style graffiti was a huge part of his formative years, but today he is focused on taking his herd around the world.

Falko paints strategically placed African Elephants, using these majestic creatures as a vehicle to present a diverse range of daily scenarios and broad spectrum of emotions. He invariably uses the elements of the space to inform his work. Recently he has painted in the Kalahari Desert with the Bushmen, in London last August and Mumbai where this portrait was painted at the National institute of Fashion and Technology.

Falko’s vision is to take his herd to every continent, to countries that afford him the opportunity to put the herd in unusual contexts. He is currently working on a project called OnceUponATown in which he travels to paint in remote towns in South Africa. This has included #Nkandala in the shadows of the presidents controversial home, and with the Ndebele in Mpumalanga. I’m looking forward ‘Falko’s return’ to the UK this summer

The 7th subject from my artists series is Sidd Sap. Sidd started writing in 2012, primarily as a means of expression and to beautify the city. Writing is in its infancy in India and has been imported as part of the ‘Hip Hop package’ in much the same way it was in Europe in the 80’s. He is committed to raising the profile and respect for the artform, and holds free workshops for the kids in his city. Sidd has been an invaluable fixer during our stay in Mumbai.

The first subject in my current artists series is of the talented @carleendesozer. I first met Carleen about 18yrs ago when she blagged a graffiti job with Haringey arts council. They didn’t know that she couldn’t write Graff to save her life but as she says ‘Dreph was the legit graffiti writer they had also hired. So he taught me how to write and my cover was never blown.’ An that’s what I admire bout this gifted, resourceful and tenacious artist.

In 2000 she started selling paintings at Portobello Market after leaving her day job. This venture evolved into painting on clothing and making accesories. She became known in Portobello as the afro lady cause she would slap an afro character on everything…lol. This is where things really took off as there were few people painting black figures on clothing back then. After 4 years she briefly opened up a clothing boutique in Stratford, again using fashion as a vehicle to sell her work. After a brief spell in the TV industry she took time out in LA in 2004. There she continued making work and on her return decided to focus on improving her airbrushing skills. By 2005 she was airbrushing all over London and after a couple of years decided to really focus on developing her career. Her influences are Hip Hop culture, magazines and fashion, Airbrush art.. think LL Cool J’s jacket in ‘Round the way girl’, American comics, photography and fairground art. I reconnected with Carleen about a year ago and had seen the few bits and pieces she had produced up to that point. She told me that she was intending to paint more on the street. One year later it’s pretty amazing to see the quality, scale and ideas in the paintings that she is producing. In such a short space of time she has inspired so many. From tattooing to large scale murals, logos and Cd covers, Carleen thrives on the challenge of trying her hand at new media. She draws from her imagination and when asked what motivates her, her response was ‘Rebellion.…My mother told me I would never be successful drawing black people’

I’m honored to present Bunny Bread as the subject of the second portrait from my current artists series.

As a second-generation West London graffiti writer, Bunny then known as ‘State Of Art’ was one third of the legendary Non Stop crew. Together with Fade2 and Cane101, Non-Stop were active between 1983 and 1987. They pushed the bar, and to my mind controlled the ball court hall of fame in Ladbroke Grove during those active years. In ‘87 Bunny and Cane partnered with Rich and Rage from No Limitz, painting the incredible production ‘The earths edge’ in Trellick Towers. Bunny refers to those times as a ’throwing down of the gauntlet’. Earths edge stayed untouched for over two decades, a testament to the influence and respect the scene had for Non Stop. After writing, Bunny and friend Nak formed ‘Airheads’, successfully producing airbrush painted artwork and clothing.

Bunny was also at the beginning of the West London Broken Beat scene in the late 90’s / naughties. During this time he and friends formed the Uprock and Jazzrefreshed music movements, holding events and supporting Broken Beat, Hip Hop, Funk, Soul and Jazz.
Bunny has a distinctive sense of style, embodying the DIY ethic of 1980’s London street style. Post Hip hop he has reverted back to his earlier influences of the 2Tone movement, a nod to a time when our African and Caribbean parents dressed sharp, clean and slick.

Today Bunny is focused on film and photography and is currently running createnotdestroy.com . There is no doubt that the 80’s/90’s battle mentality underpins everything he has turned his hand to.