SCOTLAND HAS LOTS OF
DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GRAFFITI AND THIS
GALLERY IS A NEW STEP FOR THE
whole Street art movement...
Another finger twitching move took place “We are slowly trying to edge towards the Amy is first to respond, though Ali is clearly
last year when Glasgow Underground idea of those walls being back in public eager to give his view as well. “I would
approached Recoat with the proposition of and show that it is possible for walls to describe that as semantics. Graffiti, street art,
allowing a group of graffiti artists to paint a be managed and maintained – it is tiny bombing, stencils – those are just words. The
mural at the SPT Underground Festival. steps though.” “So do you think what has people who struggle with it are the purist
happened in Glasgow has had a significant graffiti artists. Even the guys who started
The impressive finished product was a effect on the health of the Scottish scene?” back in the day have always struggled with
collaborative piece from Ali, Amy, Sam I reply. this. Do you sell out if you sell your work?
Bates, Rogue, EJEK and the Edinburgh I think that is something that every artist
artist Elph. “Who approached who?”“Back “Duncancumming.co.uk and scottishgraffiti. struggles with.”
int day”, jokes Ally in his best Yorkshire blogspot.com are good indicators of the
accent, “that used to be one of the halls strength of the scene as they contain “People say that it is vandalism but there
of fame. We knew the PR Company doing thousands of pictures that have been taken is a creeping change where people say ‘I
the Subway festival and they asked us if we across the whole of Scotland. Lots of know it is illegal, but oho isn’t it cool’”,
wanted to do anything with the space and people send their photos to the site and it she continues. “For example, many of our
we did.” has become a real hub for the scene and the customers say ‘so this is graffiti, just like
forums allow artists to communicate with Banksy but most artists are nothing like
Local reaction was positive with other artists, each other”, clarifies Amy. Banksy. Art should be accessible and it
residents, SPT workers and passersby all should not be an elite pass time to make it or
voicing their approval, though one elderly “Scotland has lots of different levels of own it. I do not see how it matters where the
resident was not so elated. “Is it true that an graffiti and this gallery is a new step for art is, if a piece is good then that should be
old woman gave you abuse while you were the whole street art movement,” continues all that matters.”
painting?” Ali. “Analogue books in Edinburgh were
an inspiration to us to set up Recoat. They “I have always thought it was a bizarre thing,
“Dogs abuse”, answers Ally, casting a wry hosted some graf before we did but it was what is cool about working in the Co-Op
smile my way. “She was shouting at Elf, not a dedicated space in the same way we for 40 hours a week and never achieving
screaming ‘you are not even young, you are are.” anything”, concludes Ali. “Why is that better
not even a wee boy, what the fuck are you than making a living out of being creative?
doing?’” I cannot help but laugh. “We had In certain circles the concept of a ‘graffiti Don’t waste your time in a shit job wasting
a sound system and drummers, the works”, gallery’ is regarded as an oxymoron, yet your time and your talent.”
adds Amy “But there must have been some more and more are springing up across the
confusion between the residents and the world. Despite this new direction early artists The Front Row, a couture fashion inspired
council but it was all above board, we even such as KaySlay argue that legal graffiti is a exhibition, opens on the 10th of October 7-
had the permission of the shop who owned paradox and graffiti is only genuine if done 10pm. There will also be a bargain show on
the wall.” Ali is keen to highlight that he on a train or on public property. I put this 14th of November 7-10pm with all pieces
hopes Kelvinbridge was only the start question to the Recoaters. under £40. From more information visit
0•GUM
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