Monorex: The writing’s on the wall
Artist:
RWD
It's not just musicians that are heating up the British Isles creative juices; we've got some of the world's coolest artists too. But who are the new Banksy, D-Face and Space Invaders of '08? RWD meets Monorex, a creative design collective of talented artists from all over the UK. Interview by Dwain Lucktung...
I know you guys are undercover, so who are we talking to?
My name is 'T', and I'm the main Monorex honcho.
How did you get into the art game?
Well, I finished university with a degree in animation and started the Monorex collective just over three years ago. We now play host to over 30 talented artists and creatives.
What do you think about people being arrested and imprisoned for graf? Have you ever had problems from the law?
Do what you feel best to do - we create spray commissions, we do not call it graf as what we do is legal and is produced for completely different reasons. We respect the illegal side, but that is not what we do (anymore)! To be honest, we don’t like using the word 'graffiti' as it's different from what we do - of course some of guys came from that world, but they are now full-time freelance artists.
As well as Nike, Ecko, Reebok and Vauxhall, you also hold underground art battles called Secret Wars, right?
Yeah, it's 90 minutes, black paint on white walls, one on one. We have two judges and a decibel crowd vote to decide the winner. We hold them all over the country. It's basically set up like an FA cup, with knockout rounds to the final.
Who thought up the idea?
Monorex run the production of it but I thought of the idea of Secret Wars a couple of years ago. Since then, things have flourished very quickly with collabos alongside Reebok and Ecko. Plus the franchising of different cities across the UK (London, Birmingham, Southampton) with more to follow... The winner gets a large, engraved 'Secret Wars' trophy, a cash prize of £1000 and prizes from sponsors like clothing, watches and technology.
How do budding artists get involved?
Email studio@secretwars.co.uk with info about yourself and some examples of your work and it goes from there.
Ok, so we get Secret Wars, but tell us about Monorex?
We are a multi-creative design agency, home to over 30 artists who offer skills in all kinds of departments from fashion to spray art. We also do a lot of consultancy and branding for large and small start-up labels. We are constantly evolving.
Is there money in being an artist?
Of course, otherwise I would not be here today - the art world is a tough industry but you have to be prepared to hustle.
Who are your inspirations/ greatest influences?
Jeff Staple, Banksy, Barnsley, Branson and many more. Banksy is good, but it's time to move over and let the new kids on the block get a piece of the action!
What’s next for you?
More Secret Wars and battles across the world - plus some special collabos with different artists and large labels...watch this space! Oh and come along to the London Secret Wars finals (Odisy vs Wen) - the date is to be announced but check Secret Wars site for confirmation. We have also just come back from a European tour covering six countries - we drove 4000 miles across the continent battling loads of different tribes and crews from all over.
Check MySpace.com/thesecretwars, monorex.com, secretwars.co.uk or dontsleeptour.blogspot.com for the diary...
RWD Magazine
It's not just musicians that are heating up the British Isles creative juices; we've got some of the world's coolest artists too. But who are the new Banksy, D-Face and Space Invaders of '08? RWD meets Monorex, a creative design collective of talented artists from all over the UK. Interview by Dwain Lucktung...
I know you guys are undercover, so who are we talking to?
My name is 'T', and I'm the main Monorex honcho.
How did you get into the art game?
Well, I finished university with a degree in animation and started the Monorex collective just over three years ago. We now play host to over 30 talented artists and creatives.
What do you think about people being arrested and imprisoned for graf? Have you ever had problems from the law?
Do what you feel best to do - we create spray commissions, we do not call it graf as what we do is legal and is produced for completely different reasons. We respect the illegal side, but that is not what we do (anymore)! To be honest, we don’t like using the word 'graffiti' as it's different from what we do - of course some of guys came from that world, but they are now full-time freelance artists.
As well as Nike, Ecko, Reebok and Vauxhall, you also hold underground art battles called Secret Wars, right?
Yeah, it's 90 minutes, black paint on white walls, one on one. We have two judges and a decibel crowd vote to decide the winner. We hold them all over the country. It's basically set up like an FA cup, with knockout rounds to the final.
Who thought up the idea?
Monorex run the production of it but I thought of the idea of Secret Wars a couple of years ago. Since then, things have flourished very quickly with collabos alongside Reebok and Ecko. Plus the franchising of different cities across the UK (London, Birmingham, Southampton) with more to follow... The winner gets a large, engraved 'Secret Wars' trophy, a cash prize of £1000 and prizes from sponsors like clothing, watches and technology.
How do budding artists get involved?
Email studio@secretwars.co.uk with info about yourself and some examples of your work and it goes from there.
Ok, so we get Secret Wars, but tell us about Monorex?
We are a multi-creative design agency, home to over 30 artists who offer skills in all kinds of departments from fashion to spray art. We also do a lot of consultancy and branding for large and small start-up labels. We are constantly evolving.
Is there money in being an artist?
Of course, otherwise I would not be here today - the art world is a tough industry but you have to be prepared to hustle.
Who are your inspirations/ greatest influences?
Jeff Staple, Banksy, Barnsley, Branson and many more. Banksy is good, but it's time to move over and let the new kids on the block get a piece of the action!
What’s next for you?
More Secret Wars and battles across the world - plus some special collabos with different artists and large labels...watch this space! Oh and come along to the London Secret Wars finals (Odisy vs Wen) - the date is to be announced but check Secret Wars site for confirmation. We have also just come back from a European tour covering six countries - we drove 4000 miles across the continent battling loads of different tribes and crews from all over.
Check MySpace.com/thesecretwars, monorex.com, secretwars.co.uk or dontsleeptour.blogspot.com for the diary...
RWD Magazine
Submit to:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comments
No comments yet
