I write Dizy, I am from India and known as the first female Indian classic graffiti writer. I am in my mid 20s and it’s been a decade since I started graffiti. And am currently living between Delhi & Berlin for the past 6 years.
My Graffiti journey isn’t easy, I started from scratch especially being a girl.
So I got into graffiti through Hip-Hop. I started with breaking during my school days with my friend. At that time the breaking scene was growing in India. And during those times we started noticing graffiti on the streets done by foreigner writers. And also on music videos, we spotted graffiti.
When I started in Delhi, I had real a struggle as there were no other girls doing classic graffiti so I got to write with guys for protection as it wasn’t safe for me & other guys were also not that supportive to me. they didn’t take me seriously. But I was so passionate to do graffiti because it was totally something new, fascinating and adventurous & I got hooked to it. So I struggled a lot coz I was hooked to graffiti but pretty alone so then I decided to take my parents with me for safety who were very supportive to me.
We don’t have much apt graffiti materials available at that time in India. So we used to paint roller paints and industrial spray paints. And used to make own mop markers. Later on, some spray brands were available.
Highlight:
In 2011 -2012 there was Indo-German Urban art hip-Hop program by Zebster. Where I got the opportunity to meet & work with famous & pioneer German writers/artists. This was an ecstatic experience that I wanted to learn more to do Graffiti in full power. So I wanted to travel to Germany coz I already had made many contacts with good artists. But I was still a student with no money so I pleaded my parents to finance my internship program but it was an excuse for graffiti. After I traveled to Germany to explore more.
And continued exchange programs partnership with OTR since 2011.
Style back then:
During my initial Graffiti days, I had an old school New York graffiti teacher “King Slone” we got to know through a mutual contact. He used to give us (me & younger brother) Skype lessons every day where he thaught us the basics. So in the beginning our styles were influenced by old school NY style & As I also had old school writers friends influences on me.
My all-time favorite female writer is classic RosyOne from Switzerland.
My Current style:
Now I would say I don’t have really fixed style. From this year am more focusing on different styles and look for inspiration in anything or from anywhere to be more creative with writing my name which isn’t boring for me or people to see my works.
Crew:
When I get into graffiti first international female crew I got to know was StickUpGirlz, I looked up to these female writers who have been writings for so long, and last year they took me in as their last youngest member in the crew.
And I have my 3 “tag sister crew” in Berlin “CleanGirlsDirtyHands” the name based on our clean lifestyle except for our dirty hands. Lol
Awards:
I have been honored by the president of India in 2018 as “First Lady” for graffiti in India. I think my love & passion for graffiti paid well …hahaha… 😉
Also this year on Women’s day I got awarded as 100 phenomenal women of India.
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