Alright so thanks for taking the time out to do this interview, can you give us a brief introduction of how you got to this point? When did you start, what crew do you rep (if any), and what’s the story behind “Krary”?
I started graffiti in 2000 until 2003 within the VAL Crew. I then stopped for a long time to return to the game in 2014, then joined BGN in 2019 and DMG in 2020.
So to start things off I really enjoyed the video you did with the YouTube channel “writers 2 banlieue”, watching your work was a lot of fun. For the readers at home can you tell us a little bit about how this joint collaboration came along? Also, what does it say at the very beginning before the video starts, I imagine it says something about charges against graffiti artists for vandalism but I don’t understand French.
The collaboration is done in a very simple way, I was contacted by Instagram and I accepted.
What is your favorite documentary or book that covers the history or major players of graffiti and why?
I haven’t had so many books in my hands, or seen documentaries. But I loved Graff It magazine.
You seem to post quite a lot every month, I’m curious do you stay in the same area or do you travel around to do your work? What is your favorite city to tag and do you have any crazy chase stories? Have you ever been caught?
I paint mainly in the suburbs 91 that’s what I prefer because it’s my area, rarely in Paris, at least once a year. No crazy anecdotes, and yes I got caught twice stupidly because I was drunk so I wasn’t very vigilant.
I see you post a lot of collab pieces you do with your buddies, do you prefer to work with others or do you like going solo? Would you say that painting with your friends is the appeal of graffiti for you? Or do you have higher ambitions like making money or getting fame, which matters more to you?
Of course I would like to be able to make a living from my art, to have a sponsor in order to have more material to create more beautiful works, I would also dream of being able to travel.
But surely not to become famous because I think that would make me lose my energy and my vibe.
What kind of music do you listen to when you paint? Who is your favorite hip hop artist and why?
Lots of French and American rap, to quote Bone Thugs And Harmony, Twista, Rittz for their fast and jerky streams and a lot of old school like 2Pac, Biggy, Nas Moob Deep, etc.And in French for their streams and lyrics by guys like Nepal, Swift Guad, Ol Kainry, Seth Gueko, A2H, ATK, Disiz, Kery James, Deen Burbigo, Rocca, Rohff, Lino, Taipan, Orelsan, Taipan, Tito Prince, Flynt, etc I like what makes you think and what makes you grow.
But currently I listen to Big Red a lot …
How important do you think the blackbook is to you as a graffiti artist? Do you like to plan things ahead or do you just go for it when you paint?
I don’t really have an opinion for the blackbook because I don’t have one. It was never a desire or a project for me, because it is not something important to me. I find my pleasure in simpler things, without real goals or absolutely wanting to complete a project. The problem with the book is that it stays in a shelf, a desk, well in short, it collects dust … Like our drawings or canvases …
What are your favorite supplies right now and what do you recommend for people just getting into graffiti?
I always work with the same tools, inexpensive materials …
But I love the aerosol bomb because it is a tool with which we can work without limits, we always discover new techniques or effects depending on the bombs and especially their quality.
Then for the drawing itself, I really like the fine marker in 0.4 and a pencil. In truth, I think that no matter how much money you have, poor or rich, it is in fact the end result of the work that counts. It’s not the material that makes the artist …
But I still dream of a sponsorship in order to be able to discover other art materials. If you guys could help me get one, it would sure make me happy!
What is your favorite part of graffiti culture?
My favorite part of graffiti is still the exchange between yourself and others, your crew is the real part of graffiti, the street, the atmosphere it gives off, being outside, seeing the world, living … It’s nice to have his final photo of his production, but it’s the past moment that counts for me, having memories and having the feeling of having shared something, to learn from it.
Is it collaborating with other artists or traveling?
In this case, I only collaborate with my crew or with good knowledge only, I don’t want to make new friends at my age, and even less, to mix with just anyone. I paint almost that in our sector, painting elsewhere does not really interest me. Conversely traveling and traveling to paint, yes of course, I would love that but for that you need money. We always come back to money, and for everything,
How do you think its changed since you started in 2000?
I think that my change since 2000, is the result of ten years of absence, it allowed me to do like a reset / reboot, to have a new way of reviewing my own vision of things and especially my own style .
I came back with a whole new look and imagination. It’s a very good thing I think to take a break, it’s a moment that necessarily helps to come back with an evolution. For my part, this break was not wanted, nor even my return to the game, so even oblivious of that, I see a huge change since these past 20 years …
For those out there that are hungry to improve at their craft but don’t know how to exactly what do you recommend?
I don’t know if I can give good advice …
But I think that you have to be daring, not to be afraid of missing a work and above all to find your own style.
I see you like to incorporate a lot of cartoon figures into some of your pen and ink drawings which are really cool, I love how you make a ratchet looking sailor moon haha. My favorite is probably your saint seiya piece, it’s super stylish.
Thank you, yes I really like this style exercise.
I had stopped doing it and I’m happy to get back to it. A pen, a color of improvisation and style. It’s a very good exercise …
When you were coming up who inspired you and taught you the ropes and who inspires you now? Who are the artists that are inspiring you now?
I made myself alone and it took a long time, and this work is endless. wow, there are so many … I could not name them all …In my early days, I was shocked by the work of Mode2, Alex, Lazoo, Etc for the characters For the lettering, I was marked by guys like Pest, Diksa, Frez ,Meik, Dume, etc.
Any shout outs you would like to give? where can people follow you?
Big Up to GURS, ERKO, BESK, GRYPE, AHER, OKYB, DALER, PASHA, JKZ, SALAZ, KSMO, MEIK ,DUME and those with whom I have affinities.And a big thank you for knowing that you carry me;) You can follow me on my Insta: @krary
Interview by Wesley Edwards
