Cue back to the summer of 2001. At that time, graffiti was blowing up, and kids were buying paint
markers by the dozen and tagging with reckless abandon. I was helping organize a graffiti art show, and the day of she setup, I took a look amongst the pieces and couldn’t help but be riveted by three by the
artist EGR. One I had seen on the cover of Pound Magazine, a motel scene with prostitutes milling about. A second was of a skimpily dressed woman
wearing a fur stole. All conventional signs of women being perceived as objects. But, there was something different about these women. A certain
boldness and confidence radiated from the canvas. They had sharp
features, with embellished sprays of red and green shading along the edges, where most people would stick with greys and blacks.
I met
EGR later that afternoon, and found out that EGR was in fact a young woman. Three years later, EGR is blazing trails with her graffiti art all
over the world, painting scads of murals in the Toronto area and having her work featured in Elemental and Honey magazine. Keetologue has some catching
up to do.
When I found out that it was you behind all the work, I was really surprised, because I was always under the impression that
graffiti artists were male. Have you come across this mistake a lot?
Back in the day, I was having an identity crisis and really did not want
people to know my identity, or my sex.. I didn't want my name to appear on
any of my paintings. I almost wanted people to be shocked to find out I was
female, and they often were. I wanted to test the boundaries or limits that
are unspoken but most definitely there, for minorities (or females) in such
a field. It was a way to rebel against the stereotypes. Most graf artists
are male, yes, along with most skaters, most rappers, hockey players,
etc. I feel that to depict the female form as both strong and feminine, as
well as to act the part, or be the part, I may be helping other women to
do the same and not try to 'fit in', but to be happy to stand out among the
rest. In time, my friend, we ladies can hope to change the stereotype and
make marks deep enough to change people's first impressions.
I was
reading another interview with you that mentioned that you used to design clothes - do you
think you'll get back into that again?
Slowly but
surely I'm getting back into it. I mostly alter vintage clothing and make
wack clothes "cool" again by funking them up, but I'd like to get back into
designing. Just wait for a line of clothing to come out, originals and vintage finds mixed with
silkscreened and original designs. Plans are
in the works.
When graffiti started becoming really popular again
several years ago, there were a bunch of kids going out to buy paint markers
and tagging everywhere just for the hell of being cool. Do you feel as
though they are ruining it for other artists who are in it for the long
run?
Well, there always will be the youngins, the toys trying to get
fame by getting up 'all city' or 'all suburb' with horrible, and I mean
horrible shit. These kids need guidance from older writers and artists, or
a forum to go to to work on their artwork in BOOKS before they go pissing
off people and starting beef with established writers by not knowing the
unwritten rules of the game, tagging over pieces and whatnot. Its a kind of
empty sadness I feel for these kids that need attention like that. If they
were really serious about it and put passion into it by working on their
skill level or to learn about the artform, then its a step in a positive
direction. Kids need to be educated. Most tags in general, whether
beautiful or butt ugly, generally give graffiti art a bad name because most
of the general public still doesn't quite have a grasp for what is
esthetically beautiful, or artistic or not.
Have you been active in
promoting the legitimacy of graffiti art?
Hopefully just by being active
in the artistic community, as well as participating in graffiti related
events, like Under Pressure, Style in Progress, and the 416 Graffiti Expo,
and just by making my work accessible to a large audience and within the
community, I am promoting the fact that one can survive and thrive and make
a difference in terms of the legitimacy of graf art by inspiring others.
What's up with RC? Often times do you have to keep separate what you do
with them with what you do for EGR art?
I have put a lot of time and
focus into my career and I think sometimes what I do for EGR Art has been
misinterpreted. Its been years since I've seen some of those
fellas; people move around and lose touch, sometimes in ways we don't anticipate, and its really unfortunate when I think about it. I give mad
props to RC crew, and have been inspired to see them come up in the
game. Props to Kure, Safe, Werk, Clew, Cyke, & Dazem.. One love RC!!
Have you come across many female graf artists that may not have a
lot of skill, and capitalize on the fact that they're female?
I don't
really think so. In fact, I think its hard for alot of girls to step up to
a wall with a certain level of confidence to rock it. You've got to feel really
comfortable with yourself and the medium. Some might like to talk
like they're into it, but when it comes down to it, if she's rockin it
then that is dope, she deserves a certain level of respect for having the
"balls" to put herself out there like that. Talk is cheap, action speaks
volumes.
How is graffiti evolving, like where do you see it going?
Hmmm. Tough question. Sometimes it feels like everything has been done
before, but then again, the paint itself is changing in quality, and there
is definitely some new ILL SHIT out there, inspired globally thanks to the Internet. The lines between art and graff have massively been blurred
over the years, and mediums are being mixed. Advertising is at an all time
BOOM and we are rebelling, competing with the corporate world. The state of
the world is changing, along with it, our perspective. Art reflects its
time and culture, they go hand and hand. I worry about the exploitation of graffiti and hip hop and the effect its having on our culture. Hopefully it will just finally bring a level of acceptance and we can begin a new movement.....
Who was the first person who really appreciated your
work and got the ball rolling for EGR art?
Wow, the first person.. I
almost need to say my teachers at Sheridan College, Lorraine Tuson
especially. Having the faith in me to fire me up and show me the
door, plus my Ma who's always had my back. The rest kinda happened like stepping stones, one gig at a time.
Who is your favourite
artist?
I would have to say Glen Barr. I dig his stuff so much I can only
handle it in small doses cuz its soo good, like chocolate.
How
did you develop your style?
Lots of drawing, like every day. Painting
often. I feel my work is very drawing based so I spend alot of time on
linework. Practice, practice. Putting my all into Sheridan College for
Illustration, plus being active in graff and simultaneously delving into
fine art endeavors like learning oils on my own, prepared me for developing
as a well rounded and self sufficient artist. I think.
Do you feel
like you've made it with your work? What level do you want to reach with
your work?
I want to be a better artist, I want to feel that I've said
what’s bottled up inside me at times that I can only really communicate
through my art, and I'm not even close to having done that yet. Oh, and I'd
like to own a car someday, like an old classic like a Cutlass or T bird.
With the territory of success, comes selling out - has anyone ever
accused you of selling out?
Hell yeah. There are very thin lines
between what people see as good promotion and downright selling out. See, I
want longevity in my career, as well as a certain level of creative freedom
of expression in my daily life, combined with the fact that I gotta eat, and
these are all factors that I consider before accepting a job. At the end
of the day the last thing I need to worry about is what other people think
of the choices I've made.
What kinds of projects are you up to now?
Ooooh.. It varies from day to day, but right now I am in the works of
creating a graphic novel, which soon you'll see previews for on my
site. I'm painting on lowrider bikes also, my new love.
What do
you think you would be doing if you weren't doing what you were doing now?
There's nothing else I would be doing. I just wouldn't be here. It sounds kinda sad, but I feel
that in life, you've got one chance, you must take it
and live it. I feel very fortunate for the opportunities I have and the
great people around me. I would like to do more traveling, to Europe, Oz,
and basically everywhere - there are just so many things I'd like to see and
do in this lifetime!!
No doubt. Keep up with all of EGR's upcoming projects at
her website, http://www.egrart.com.
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