Taking street art to newer heights
Dulen Dissanayake
"The streets belong to us. They are ours. So why shouldn't we use the
streets to communicate?" asks the acclaimed French graffiti and street
artist Da Cruz, who is currently in Sri Lanka working with the
Collective of Contemporary Artists (CoCA) on an art project at BMICH in
celebration of French Spring Festival.
Teenage start
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Purnima of CoCA |
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Da Cruz |
Having stepped into street arts in late 1980s as a teenager, now in
his mid-thirties, Da Cruz recalls the importance of his relatively
premature entry. "When you are an early teenager, you see things
differently. Education hasn't quite had a heavy impact on you. You can
observe and recreate things your own way not having been exposed to
popular tradition." He explains. "The conventions don't affect you much.
And that spirit lives with you."
Art to the people
Da Cruz believes that as nowadays people can hardly afford time and
expenses in going to galleries, exhibitions museums etc., art should
come to them and make them enjoy, appreciate and think. "Doing it in the
streets means being always with the people." He says. "I believe what
flows in the streets is real life-people in real situations. They are
unprepared. When they see genuine art in such circumstances, it hits
them hard and makes them think deep; it has a huge impact. They also
relate it to their own lives and the influences run a long way."
Working class art
Da Cruz is an informed supporter of working class art. He is no fan
of gentrification but tries to keep an open mind as an observant artist.
"I use all acrylics, spray, graffiti, watercolour freely. My art is
mainly about existence." He finally relents after series of questions to
probe into his art.
"Having art only for the elite is not good; it blunts the taste of
the common man. So I also raise questions about existence. Street art in
fact is a universal language. It bridges people of diverse cultures,
classes, religions and ethnicities together, enables them share
experiences and creates a discourse. It broadens the possibilities of
both the artist and the spectator."
Beyond the mask of civilisation
Da Cruz's work seems to have a very tribal, primitive aura to it.
"Yes," he admits. And adds: "though we may be from different continents,
our origins are the same. It is something we all share in common, so it
appeals to all of us. It is mysterious but real. Now we wear masks, but
who really hide behind the masks are ourselves. I try to reveal this
deceitfulness and make people reflect on our true selves. I want to take
the audience the journey to where out many different pasts merge."
Band-aids
"This is my first visit to Asia." Says Da Cruz. "I want to stimulate
artists here. Share cultural experiences and hopefully it helps some
discover new horizons. After all, street artists are band-aids: they
happen to see before many others and freer to ask widely penetrating
questions through their art."
CoCA
Bidding goodbye to Da Cruz and his ever-brightening, multi-media used
work, we find Purnima and her associates of CoCA who have just finished
working on their Conceptual Wall of art while helping Da Cruz at the
same time. "It took five of us 4 days to finish." They claim tirelessly.
"It is only a prelude to the Petta exhibition we are planning to have
this August. In this wall you can see different elements emerge, mingle
and fade. So, it is not a visual wall but a conceptual wall."
CoCA has their goals set. "We want to take art to the people.
The more they have exposure to art, the more they respond to it. Our
Conceptual Wall drew a lot of positive responses. Hopefully our works
help to have more sophisticated audience in the country." They also wish
to thank Da Cruz for letting them work alongside him and for being a
well of inspiration and help.
One of the pioneers of Art Film today, Kim Ki Duk, has started his
life as a street artist in Paris.
He also recalls that the colourfulness of life and art in the street
has contributed immensely to his films later on. Let's hope, then, all
these admirable efforts inspire a of long-living, alternative tradition
of street art in Sri Lanka and the inspiration seeps into other arts as
well!
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