MAZE INTERVIEW
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Keams (Q): When, where, and why did you get into the art form know as graffiti? In addition, who got you started and who did you look up to for a "role model"? Maze (A): I started in 1984/85 when I saw the movie STYLEWARS on TV.I always liked drawing and I thought:THIS IS THE SHIT!!! That time I did only do shit on paper,and started tagging up the neighberhood.Ruling at that time were the USA(united street artists) in Amsterdam(SHOE,ANGEL,JAZ)and CAT 22 and DELTA.Later I saw characters from COSH,he was the king of cartoons,and for me...he still is! In '89 I started doin' walls with CAST,at that time I only did the characters and the backgrounds.Because a lot of people liked that shit,they started paying me 2 do walls.I did a few coffeeshops(a sort of bars, where you can buy and smoke weed and hash,it's legal here!)I started doing freaky landscapes and characters in it.Always bought more paint then I needed for those walls,so I could travel to Dordrecht,Rotterdam and Amsterdam to empty those cans. I always was in the hip-hop scene.In '94 I stopped painting a while ,because I started go to big parties in R'dam and A'dam and went nuts on the big Gabberhouse-parties(very fast and agressive house music)used a lot of dope and after the parties I always had pen and paper in my hand for a couple of days and created more freaky landscapes,characters and letter-pieces.In '98 I started doing walls again with SEAL and EAST(EMS).... Keams (Q): What do like the most about the graff/art culture? And why? Maze (A): What I like the most is: it doesn't matter who you are or where you come from,if you're good you can be a king! Keams (Q): What do you have to say about the graffiti scene in HOLLAND? Who do you like painting with? Do you have a specific city any where in the world that you just love? Have you ever painted in Miami? Maze (A): No never been in Miami. The Holland graff scene always is alive,a lot of trains running with pieces because they can't affort 2 clean everything anymore. And in the scene are always people who are very creative,but I would like to see more characters...How it differs from other locations,don't know.I've only painted in Holland. I like Rotterdam and Amsterdam,Amsterdam for the fresh styles! I like the pieces from: PONE,MESS,CHEST,NYSE,STAYN,MATE and in Eindhoven I see some cool stuff too. My style differs from theres because I started with characters,and in a lot of my pieces you can see elements of that,and I always do characters in my pieces. INTERVIEW CONTINUES BELOW Keams (Q): "Graff an act of vandalism" says the media. What is your perspective on this topic? Maze (A): An act of vandalism?Nobody ever asks me about anything,whenever they wanna build something in my face.When the government wants to build something on a spot,they do it,no matter what people think about it . Some people like to see graffiti on a train or wall,and they get up and put it there. Keams (Q): Please tell me what graffiti means to you, along with one word that describes you and your art. Maze (A): No matter what other people think of graffiti,it's always alive.There are always people who wants to show their skills and creativity to other people on the places they choose and where you can't denie them.Just like the commercials they put down your troath whenever they like it. One word:FREAKY. I like freaky styles. Keams (Q): What do you think is the best thing to do graffiti on: walls, trains, roofs, or paper? Do you enjoy painting legally or illegally more? Maze (A): The most I like to do is walls. I only did one train. I like to see a lot of trains running and pieces on the weirdest places. I enjoy painting legally the most,because I can spent a lot of time doing a wall. Also I like music,beer and weed while I'm painting. This year I want to try some canvas too... Keams (Q): Do you believe that graff attracts girls? Maze (A): No I don't think graffiti attracts girls,but the girls I've been with all thought it was cool. INTERVIEW CONTINUES BELOW Keams (Q): Give me a good chase story with all the details... Maze (A): In 1990 or sometime like that ,about 20.00 hrs.on a thursdaysevening,I was doing a wall with CAST in the citycenter of Breda.Suddenly we heard the tires of a fastmoving policecar in the tunnel we were in.I took the bag with 12 sparvar cans with me and runned behind CAST the other side of the tunnel out.The tunnel was under the trainyard,so we went up that way and hitted the fence,running across the yard to the other side,with the second fence.Two cops running behind us with gummi-sticks.We went quickly over the second fence and kept running.After a while we lost the two cops,and we stopped running after some time.We walked into the park,and started talking about wat we should do now,suddenly behind us that same tires spinning of the same copcar trying to hit us while we took off.CAST took a right turn into some bushes and I followed him.I stepped into some mud and smashed with my face into a tree,felt on the ground and saw the copcar on about 2 meters from me.Doors opening,and the same two cops quickly getting out. Where CAST went,I had no clue.So I started running again with two cops on my tail,one of them at least 2 meters long,and a gummi-stick in his hands,damn. He started smashing with this stick on the back and sides of my knees while I was running.After a couple of smashes my knees felt like rubber,and I hitted the floor.I tried to get up and start running again,but the cop smashed me back on the floor and kept hitting with this stick.The only thing I could do was protecting my face,untill he stopped. When he stopped ,he puts me cuffs on on one arm,and walks with me to a trafficsign ,and puts my other arm in the cuffs. I was standing there ,cuffs attached to the traffic sign,and a bag with 12 sparvar cans beside me on the floor. But I had no paint on my hands and I knew that.They started asking questions,and I decided to play dum.They saw CAST painting in the tunnel while they saw us there.That time I was smoking a joint,while he filled his piece.I said I didn't know his name,because I just met him at a coffeeshop.I said we went from there,to see him doing the wall. They said;when we come back we want a name,and they just left me there.Couldn't go anywhere 'cause I was cuffed onto the trafficsign.After 2 hours trafficsign and about 4 hours cell,I walked free with no charges,and the losing of 12 cans. Had to steal a bike to get home... INTERVIEW CONTINUES BELOW Keams (Q): What are your plans for the future? Maze (A): Plans for the future.I like to do big walls with more people. Keams (Q): Do you think that your type of art helps or hurts the look and feel of the city? Maze (A): I think this type of art gives a city a feeling.Because all cites have their own styles and looks. Keams (Q): What are some "tricks of the trade" that you use while painting? And what type of cans do you think are the best to use for the different "elements" of graff (ie. piecing, bombing, etc..)? Maze (A): I have no tricks. I like sparvar the most, but lately I use a lot of belton too. Keams (Q): Do you have any tips for the writers just entering into the graff scene? Here's one for you that some people have emailed me about: How do mix paint in a simple and easy way using house-hold products? Maze (A): Tips.Always keep trying and improving on yourself.Be original at all times and don't forget the kings from the past,who made the first steps,and gave the scenes in different cities their own feels and looks. INTERVIEW CONTINUES BELOW Keams (Q): Describe you think your style of art differs from others around the world? Maze (A): I think it differs in one thing,there are almost no writers who do freaky landscapes.That's my thing. Keams (Q): Did you and your boys have a huge production planned for the new millenium? If so where and who? Maze (A): No nothing really planned. Keams (Q): Do you have any last words of wisdom for all the writers out there? Any shout-outs? Any requests? Maze (A): I wish 2 say peace and respect 2: COSH,PONE,MESS,OASE,ZEDZ,SHOE,ANGEL,JAZ,MELLIE,DEPHAEZER,SHAKES,SEPHEN,COME T,CAST,ZYME,NYSE,STAYN,SAER,SPRITE,ODES,EAST,CHEST,everybody I've ever painted with and everybody who keeps the dutch scene fresh and alive. Also the OSDORP POSSE,NEOPHYTE and ROTTERDAM TERROR CORPS for killing those braincells and giving inspiration. PEACE... |
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