Interview by Cian Walker.

Bombing Science: Introduce yourself- how long have you been writing? Do you rep any crews? Where are you from?  
Dais: I write Dais. I did my first piece together with “Fat Kim” and Thomas Karl Oscar in the local concrete tunnel back in 1988. I rep AllStarS. (ASS). I live in Copenhagen, Denmark.
BS: Why the name “Dais”?
Dais: The name “Dais” is the middle of the word Dadaism (In Danish “Dadaisme”). I find a great deal of inspiration from the Dadaists, who really where expanding the art scene 90 years ago. The Dadaists began as an anti-art movement, in the sense that it rejected the way art was appreciated and defined in contemporary art scenes. What brought together the Dadaists was that they shared a nihilistic attitude towards the traditional expectations of artists. But don’t get me wrong. I’m really down with graff in its traditional form. I just find it fun and inspiring to do stuff in different ways.
 
BS: Needless to say, your work veers towards the abstract, has that always been the case or did you begin by painting in a more traditional way?
Dais: I started out like everybody else. But pushing the limits has always motivated me. And different schools and friendships have had influence on me. My painting style changed during a painting class at an art school in 1999. I started to mix spray with acrylic paint. And my pieces became more 3 dimensional. And since then, my style is slowly moving around exploring itself.
BS: When you collaborate do you find it tough to pose these ideas of abstraction? Or do you choose to work with people who you already know will be up for it?
Dais: I think the beauty of painting with others is when you create something that none of you could have done alone. It’s all about mixing the styles and making them become one piece. When you succeed it actually looks like the work of one single guy. Another thing I focus on, is to be open for what ever the painting process can give. F.ex. to see mistakes as a possibility instead of deleting them right away. And off course, some people are more open for that than others. But then again I think it’s a great challenge to paint with people with an opposite painting style. 
BS: What materials do you use for your productions?
Dais: I prefer to use acrylic paint and spray. I think the more elements and materials you can make work together, the more complex and interesting the result will be. I have also been experimenting creating different tools together with Tele and Rodeo (both from Denmark). Tele and I did huge fat-cap strokes without watching the wall in order to create out of control strokes. And together with Rodeo I mounted a spray can on a drill placed on a long stick. 
BS: The spraycan hat and the drill are really interesting- any other crazy inventions?
 
Dais: Crazy?… ok let’s call them crazy. Here you’ve got 3 more:
1. A broom is perfect for huge strokes.
2. How about asking a hang around kid to participate painting?
3. A wig makes a nice warm woolen hat.
BS: I notice a lot of repetition in your work- birds, penguins, vans- is there a reason for this, and these images in particular? Also, is that an MF Doom mask in one of your canvases?
Dais: Hmm… I think it’s a bit like writing the same name all the time. Having the recognition of certain elements. But on the other hand, I find it interesting to really explore an object. Drawing it in different contexts, different perspectives, with different materials, etc.
And yes it’s the mask of “the sofa king” on the canvas.
BS: Do you try to convey a particular meaning or emotion in your work and is there a particular direction you’d like to see your work go or is it just a natural evolution?
Dais: I see a lot of emotion in my work. Most of it is a result of an open painting process. Sometimes I choose motives with a certain meaning. F.ex. Penguins = Business Men. But I’m only using them as elements in a larger composition. I’m not trying to communicate clear messages.
BS: What (and who) are your main influences? I notice a lot of architectural shapes? Are you influenced by Music or literature in any way?
Dais: No, nothing specific. I simply try to see the possibilities in what ever comes my way.
 
BS: The ‘Ambient Media’ section of your site really interests me. How long have you been doing work like this and how did it come about? What is the process for these pieces?
 
Dais: The streets are pretty much the playground, right? So I thought, why not modify some objects that’s already there? And they worked out fine for some ambient Dais tags. They ended up not too expressive. Most people would not even notice the letters written. But maybe you don’t have to yell in every piece you do. And… I find it really fun to imagine the workers trying to figure out what the fuck has happened to their construction work materials over the weekend.
BS: Do you have a favourite piece?
 
Dais: Hmm… I think different pieces have different qualities. F. Ex. See the 4 pieces below.
I like the first one because it’s openly defined. And the sketch feeling is kept in some areas.
I like the hardcore feeling of the second one. Very energetic strokes in black and silver.
I like the third one because it’s looks so f***ing stupid. It makes me laugh. I did it together with my friend Kaspar Oppen. I think he is really talented: http://kasparoppen.net
And I like the provocative use of such a big surface on the fourth one. Drawing almost no figurative elements.
BS: Any last words?
 
Dais: Have a look at my website: https://www.dais.dk/
Take care…
Dais

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