Instagrafite's Q&A with Mr Cenz
Oct 19, 2015 22:32:39 GMT
Commissioner, IggyWiggy, and 4 more like this
Post by sɐǝpı ɟo uoıʇɐɹǝpǝɟ on Oct 19, 2015 22:32:39 GMT
big thanks to Instagrafite for putting this Q&A with Mr Cenz together. enjoy!
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Mr Cenz is a London based artist, his street work can be seen all over London. His female portraits with a futuristic twist are quite unique and instantly recognisable. He has a graffiti background but he's fusing elements of abstract in his work and this year he travelled quite a bit to put some work up abroad also. We sat down with him to talk about art, the graffiti scene and his upcoming solo exhibition at London's Proof Gallery.
Nbf: Could you tell us a bit about yourself and the type of work you do?
Mr Cenz: I am a graffiti artist so my first and foremost passion is letters. Everything I do has that influence and my history and beginnings in the 80s is very important to me. I basically paint murals on the street for the public to enjoy. Recently I have been fusing my letter style with my photorealism, illustration and other style/techniques to create unique faces, which can currently be seen all over London.
Nbf: Where does the name Mr Cenz originate?
Mr Cenz: When I started out I used to write ‘Cence’ and over the years it just progressed into ‘Cenz’. Its important to keep the same name so I just stuck with it. I recently added the ‘Mr’ on as there was another artist writing ‘Cenz’ and I wanted to be unique. Like most tags it has no meaning I just enjoy writing the letters.
Nbf: You’ve been involved in the graffiti scene over 20 years. What are the most noticeable changes (positive and negative) that you picked up on?
Mr Cenz: Well let’s start with the positive. People are much accepting and ready for my fusion of styles these days- I was trying to mix up graffiti and fine art techniques years ago but people just thought it was weird and didn’t understand it. These days with the new street art movement fusing different genres/skills is encouraged. Also it’s so easy to get walls to paint these days, especially in East London- so that’s obviously a good thing. Basically there are so many opportunities for artists these days. The negative thing with the scene becoming almost pop culture is that there is now a plague of bad street artists. You have to sift lots of crap to find the original and inspiring ones.
Nbf: What do you think of social media like Twitter and Instagram in terms of helping artists to connect with other artists and art lovers?
Mr Cenz: I think its great and amazing that people can see your work and give feedback from all over the globe. The bad thing is that young artists spend too much time looking at other artists and not developing their own styles. They need to switch off and do some more drawing. The graffiti art law of not biting has been lost!
Nbf: What's the weirdest commission that you have got and is there any you turned down?
Mr Cenz: I get lots of weird requests like painting an xbox and a fridge. I obviously turned these down but I do like a challenge just with things a little bigger!
Nbf: What's the strangest thing you have in your studio?
Mr Cenz: Ha! Nothing that strange really maybe an original smurf figure from when I was young, holding a paint palette and brush! Apart from that it’s just a lot of mess.
Nbf: Which artwork of yours that you created is your favourite? Why? (please include picture of this work)
Mr Cenz: I normally only like my new work for a few weeks then I'm like 'I can do better than that now'. But I have painted so many walls this year that I actually have a few at the moment.
Nbf: Describe your typical workday.
Mr Cenz: If I’m working on my own stuff and not a commission then I usually get up early and check the weather first. If it’s good to paint outside on the streets this is always my preference. In preparation I get together some references pictures or rough sketches. I then go to my lock up and sort out my paint. Choosing a colour scheme is always a challenge, I try to have variations with each wall. I then pack up my good old wheelie bag and get the train. I have usually planned the spot the night before and always have a hit list of places to paint ready.
Nbf: What other jobs you have done besides being an artist?
Mr Cenz: Well I've always been an artist I've just had loads of shitty jobs to get money like laboring on building sites and working in tip too bakery putting rolls on a conveyer belt! Ha!
Nbf: Who is the most famous person who owns a piece of your art?
Mr Cenz: I wouldn't have a clue. Probably the famous person I've painted for is the president of Azerbaijan though!
Nbf: What are you working on at the moment?
Mr Cenz: Well I'm flat out at the moment creating work for my upcoming solo show 'Future Flight' at Proof Gallery, London from 5th November. This has taken up a lot of time, as the works are incredibly detailed and intricate. Apart from that I've been producing new exclusive work for the forthcoming 'Art Heist' group show and I have a limited edition Giclee print coming out with derbby.com in late November. Oh and of course still trying to get out and paint on the streets once s week too.
Nbf: You have been invited this year to paint at Las Vegas, Tahiti and Denmark. Can you tell us about these experiences?
Mr Cenz: Yeah it’s been a cool year. First up was the ONO'U graffiti festival in Tahiti. I was one of 20 lucky artists to be selected to take part in the competition. It was an amazing place with beautiful people and a crazy graffiti scene, everything over there is painted and the locals love it. Then I was honored to be invited to probably the best graffiti jam in the world 'Roskilde Graffiti Festival' alongside some legends in the game like Soten and kwest. I was really lucky to be given one of the big high profile walls. Then after lots of others events in the UK I was the first international guest for the The Linq Hotel mural project in Las Vegas, organized by ISI Group. I was painting a wall on the strip in 105 degrees heat amongst the crazy people. Good times!
Nbf: You have met legendary photographer Martha Cooper this year. Did you ask her anything?
Mr Cenz: Yeah we met in Tahiti and she was cool. Everyone was trying to chat to her and her attention so I just said hi and went a out my business. I was lucky enough to hang out with her and lots of other cool people but I didn't bother with the usual questions and selfies. I thought she is probably sick of all that.
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Mr Cenz is a London based artist, his street work can be seen all over London. His female portraits with a futuristic twist are quite unique and instantly recognisable. He has a graffiti background but he's fusing elements of abstract in his work and this year he travelled quite a bit to put some work up abroad also. We sat down with him to talk about art, the graffiti scene and his upcoming solo exhibition at London's Proof Gallery.
Nbf: Could you tell us a bit about yourself and the type of work you do?
Mr Cenz: I am a graffiti artist so my first and foremost passion is letters. Everything I do has that influence and my history and beginnings in the 80s is very important to me. I basically paint murals on the street for the public to enjoy. Recently I have been fusing my letter style with my photorealism, illustration and other style/techniques to create unique faces, which can currently be seen all over London.
Nbf: Where does the name Mr Cenz originate?
Mr Cenz: When I started out I used to write ‘Cence’ and over the years it just progressed into ‘Cenz’. Its important to keep the same name so I just stuck with it. I recently added the ‘Mr’ on as there was another artist writing ‘Cenz’ and I wanted to be unique. Like most tags it has no meaning I just enjoy writing the letters.
Nbf: You’ve been involved in the graffiti scene over 20 years. What are the most noticeable changes (positive and negative) that you picked up on?
Mr Cenz: Well let’s start with the positive. People are much accepting and ready for my fusion of styles these days- I was trying to mix up graffiti and fine art techniques years ago but people just thought it was weird and didn’t understand it. These days with the new street art movement fusing different genres/skills is encouraged. Also it’s so easy to get walls to paint these days, especially in East London- so that’s obviously a good thing. Basically there are so many opportunities for artists these days. The negative thing with the scene becoming almost pop culture is that there is now a plague of bad street artists. You have to sift lots of crap to find the original and inspiring ones.
Nbf: What do you think of social media like Twitter and Instagram in terms of helping artists to connect with other artists and art lovers?
Mr Cenz: I think its great and amazing that people can see your work and give feedback from all over the globe. The bad thing is that young artists spend too much time looking at other artists and not developing their own styles. They need to switch off and do some more drawing. The graffiti art law of not biting has been lost!
Nbf: What's the weirdest commission that you have got and is there any you turned down?
Mr Cenz: I get lots of weird requests like painting an xbox and a fridge. I obviously turned these down but I do like a challenge just with things a little bigger!
Nbf: What's the strangest thing you have in your studio?
Mr Cenz: Ha! Nothing that strange really maybe an original smurf figure from when I was young, holding a paint palette and brush! Apart from that it’s just a lot of mess.
Nbf: Which artwork of yours that you created is your favourite? Why? (please include picture of this work)
Mr Cenz: I normally only like my new work for a few weeks then I'm like 'I can do better than that now'. But I have painted so many walls this year that I actually have a few at the moment.
Nbf: Describe your typical workday.
Mr Cenz: If I’m working on my own stuff and not a commission then I usually get up early and check the weather first. If it’s good to paint outside on the streets this is always my preference. In preparation I get together some references pictures or rough sketches. I then go to my lock up and sort out my paint. Choosing a colour scheme is always a challenge, I try to have variations with each wall. I then pack up my good old wheelie bag and get the train. I have usually planned the spot the night before and always have a hit list of places to paint ready.
Nbf: What other jobs you have done besides being an artist?
Mr Cenz: Well I've always been an artist I've just had loads of shitty jobs to get money like laboring on building sites and working in tip too bakery putting rolls on a conveyer belt! Ha!
Nbf: Who is the most famous person who owns a piece of your art?
Mr Cenz: I wouldn't have a clue. Probably the famous person I've painted for is the president of Azerbaijan though!
Nbf: What are you working on at the moment?
Mr Cenz: Well I'm flat out at the moment creating work for my upcoming solo show 'Future Flight' at Proof Gallery, London from 5th November. This has taken up a lot of time, as the works are incredibly detailed and intricate. Apart from that I've been producing new exclusive work for the forthcoming 'Art Heist' group show and I have a limited edition Giclee print coming out with derbby.com in late November. Oh and of course still trying to get out and paint on the streets once s week too.
Nbf: You have been invited this year to paint at Las Vegas, Tahiti and Denmark. Can you tell us about these experiences?
Mr Cenz: Yeah it’s been a cool year. First up was the ONO'U graffiti festival in Tahiti. I was one of 20 lucky artists to be selected to take part in the competition. It was an amazing place with beautiful people and a crazy graffiti scene, everything over there is painted and the locals love it. Then I was honored to be invited to probably the best graffiti jam in the world 'Roskilde Graffiti Festival' alongside some legends in the game like Soten and kwest. I was really lucky to be given one of the big high profile walls. Then after lots of others events in the UK I was the first international guest for the The Linq Hotel mural project in Las Vegas, organized by ISI Group. I was painting a wall on the strip in 105 degrees heat amongst the crazy people. Good times!
Nbf: You have met legendary photographer Martha Cooper this year. Did you ask her anything?
Mr Cenz: Yeah we met in Tahiti and she was cool. Everyone was trying to chat to her and her attention so I just said hi and went a out my business. I was lucky enough to hang out with her and lots of other cool people but I didn't bother with the usual questions and selfies. I thought she is probably sick of all that.
