Graffiti artist battle

DW (English)

Graffiti is found throughout Johannesburg, often carrying political or activist messages. Despite the skill and beauty behind the work, street art is still undervalued in many parts of the city. We meet two local graffiti artists who face off in a portrait battle. Who will come out on top?

Transcript

00:00The walls of Johannesburg breathe with colour.

00:03A living canvas where two Graviti artists write their truths with spray cans.

00:09First up, Ted, who discovered Graviti in the stillness of lockdown.

00:14Graviti followed me in the streets during lockdown.

00:17The roads were empty, everything was open and I could have nice fresh air and just express myself in open streets.

00:24Then there's Floyd, who's got hip-hop in his veins.

00:28Graviti is like a child of hip-hop, right?

00:31It comes from that movement and culture.

00:35So for me, Graviti was always like, you know, it was always the other aspect of hip-hop that contributes to the expression of youth.

00:46They've never met before, but now they're painting each other without even looking.

00:51When they're done, their artwork will meet on two sides of the same wall.

00:54Hey, what's up, bro?

00:55What's up, man? How are you doing today?

00:57I'm good, bro.

00:59I'm good.

01:00What's your name?

01:01My name is Pat.

01:02Pat?

01:03Yeah.

01:04That's Floyd, bro.

01:05Easy Floyd.

01:06Pat and Floyd went to art school, but they weren't about following the rules.

01:11They took the Graviti route, which didn't get a thumbs up from their friends and family.

01:16How would you describe or say, like, Graviti changed your life?

01:21I was mainly behind a computer screen.

01:24Okay.

01:25Doing graphic design allowed me to step out into the bigger world.

01:30Graviti's got its battles, and these two have fought their fair share.

01:34Yeah, culture really is quite stigmatized, you know, for painting.

01:38Yeah.

01:39Even in the times I've been arrested for painting a wall, the police will ask you, why are you

01:43doing this?

01:44Just put both eyes on the wall.

01:46And have you been arrested?

01:48Yes, I am.

01:49For painting.

01:50For painting.

01:51That's interesting.

01:52I've never.

01:53Really?

01:54Yeah.

01:55So one of the things I would do in my neighborhood is that I would go in the daytime, right?

01:59And then I'd find an abandoned space, you know?

02:03And one time police did stop.

02:05They were driving past and you won't guess how it went.

02:09They were just like, hey, what are you doing?

02:11And I showed them my sketch and they were like, oh, that's interesting.

02:16And then they drove on, you know, and left.

02:19And that changed my whole perspective because I was like, oh, okay.

02:23Let me try doing this more, you know, daytime rides, you know?

02:27And would you say, do you know anyone else in your family who was an artist?

02:32None at all, man.

02:33None at all.

02:34So you can't trace maybe, yeah.

02:35I can't trace it, man.

02:36You're a very small family.

02:37Yeah.

02:38I'll be in the process of extending this family.

02:40Thank you very much.

02:41Okay.

02:43I like that.

02:44I like that.

02:45I found myself a very supportive partner.

02:48That's good.

02:49I'm in the same boat, you know?

02:51Yeah.

02:52My partner's also very supportive, you know?

02:55Three hours of listening, sketching and peeling back layers.

02:59Now it's time to face the person behind the voice.

03:03Yeah, I'm done.

03:04Are you done?

03:05Ah, fantastic, man.

03:06Let me greet you, bro.

03:08Look.

03:09Look.

03:10Ah.

03:11You made a cartoon of me.

03:13I like that.

03:14I like that.

03:15So I got a hint.

03:16You got a cap.

03:17So I tried, man.

03:18Yeah.

03:19First impression, I mean, that was fun, actually.

03:25You know, it's very reminiscent of the process of being a graffiti artist.

03:31You know, you end up, you do sometimes meet people you've never met before in any case,

03:35and you guys just jam, right?

03:38Ah, my thoughts were really painted.

03:39It was fantastic, you know?

03:41I didn't think I would get a portrait in my lifetime of myself.

03:45And I love the profile you use, you know?

03:47The side view profile was used a lot back in the days, you know?

03:50And I appreciate it a lot.

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