Article by Brian C. Beavers
Bombing Science: How do you feel about the modern art world’s embrace of graffiti as an art form?
Atomik: Very few gallery owners are cool and love our writing. For the most part I dislike the whole “Gallery World”. There’s a lot of snobby artists, curators and buyers. They look at writer’s as criminals who don’t deserve to be in a gallery.
BS: Do you feel the commercialization of graffiti has tarnished it in any way?
Atomik: Writing graffiti can’t be tarnished. It’s a raw art form of vandalism, style and tradition. Commercially, sometimes kids that haven’t paid their dues end up making a lot of money off graffiti when the jobs should be going to real hardcore writers.
BS: Are your pieces politically, socially or more aesthetically driven (or all of the above) and how do you decide what ideas to convey?
Atomik: Most of the time my pieces are aesthetically driven, meaning they are meant to be visually appealing. Occasionally a piece I do will be socially driven, something major has to be taking place in the world or my city for me to go and paint a piece about it.
BS: Who were your major influences and what drove you into the graffiti scene?
Atomik: Meer & Ener (RIP) WOW. Rage, Ease & Jel IHS. Dneee DFC. I was attracted to graffiti by seeing it all over my city growing up.
BS: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Atomik: My crew, we feed off of each other. Seeing old school flicks from Miami. Traveling and painting with writers from completely different city scenes and schooling.
BS: Are there any artists outside of graffiti that you admire?
Atomik: Tattoo artist Jose Carrera from Ocho Placas in Miami. Johnny Robles, Asylm & Swank SH, Mear (LA) and The Mac are incredible painters. All these artists are writers but they’re use of paint or ink is dope.
BS: How does the graffiti scene in Canada differ from the American one for you? Where do you consider it to be most prominent in the world?
Atomik: I’ve never been to Canada, I want to go soon though. I’ve never left the USA, except for Puerto Rico. I’m going to Europe later in the year. I consider the graffiti style in Los Angeles to be the most prominent in the USA.
BS: What is your overall message? Is there something you’re trying to convey?
Atomik: I’m from Miami. Everyone sleeps on Miami, thinking it’s all about the blow, broads and beaches, but we play a serious part in the writing world. The scene here sucks right now because of toys, but hopefully things will get better and we can blow up.
BS: What sort of upcoming projects do you have in the works?
Atomik: In April a book named “Miami Graffiti” is coming out. We’re going to have a jam, a show, a book signing and a production for the release. Jim & Karla Murray are putting the book out through Prestel. Will be available on Bombing Science soon!
BS: While looking at your site, www.theatomikbomb.com, I was able to view all of the different mediums you work in. How do you find the time to keep up with all of it?
Atomik: Graffiti dominates my life. I can’t keep up with designing, tattooing, art or any other responsibilities for that matter. It’s a major problem. I just take things one day at a time.
BS: Where do you see the art world, most specifically, graffiti, in the next few years given its constant evolution from year to year?
Atomik: Writers will be celebrities in a few years. Look out for my rap album, clothing company, sneakers, cologne and movie. Coming to a swap meet near you.
BS: What differentiates your work from the rest?
Atomik: I’m the average writer. Nothing I do is different from the next kid. I believe in tradition and progression. Hopefully one day I’ll do something so fresh that I get eternal props.
BS: What does “atomik” represent? Where did you get it from?
Atomik: My homie Honer MH gave me the tag in 1994. I represent TSC, MSG, BUK50 and 28. People like to throw dirt on my name, but don’t get it twisted. I’m a man of my word. If you have a problem with me, let’s solve it. We can fight, battle, talk it out or whatever. I have 35 kids toying me that don’t even know me dog. I’m a writer, not a fighter. I didn’t get into writing to become a gangster, I’m all about painting.
BS: How do you feel the Miami scene is compared to say, New York or LA? What makes it different?
Atomik: The scene in Miami “was” dope. Before the city was up on the buff we had a county filled with tags, throwies, get ups, burners and blockbusters. After the city cleaned up the graffiti it died out. The writers here lost their motivation and either quit or moved, they didn’t pass down the tradition to the next generation. Now we have a new school of writers that didn’t get schooled properly and are wak, Miami reflects that.
BS: A lot of times artists can lose their way or get a block on some creative processes, and need to get their juices flowing. What keeps you hungry, what keeps you going?
Atomik: I’m never satisfied. I feel like I can always do more and do it better. Every time I rock something I can find a problem with it. I’m constantly trying to out-do my last piece.
BS: Phins fan?
Atomik: Hell yeah. I hope we win a Super Bowl before I die.
