Blek le Rat

Interview with Blek le Rat

Graffiti World Godfather

With his distinctive stencil art, Banksy has become one of the recent great things the UK has ever produced since PG Tip Pyramid tea bags, but to every prodigy there is an influence, a role model, an intervention to the monotony of daily life to guide one such Banksy and numerous others onto the path to express their messages in their individual styles. That source of inspiration is the French graffiti artist Blek le Rat, who began the stencil graffiti revolution twenty some years ago. UK Adapta met up with Blek le Rat at his first UK solo exhibition at the Leonard Street Gallery in Old Street, London to better understand the affair between this iconic artist and his notorious mistress, Madame Le Rue.

Name: Xavier Prou, born in Paris, 1951. An architecture student, he went on holiday in 1971 to New York City where the exposure to the graffiti art had such a profound impact, his fascination would be the catalyst to devoting his life to graffiti art ten years later. This pioneer is one of many artists who have played a vital role in bridging the gap between Street and Mainstream Art. Having moved from the city to a Parisian suburb, and now in his mid fifties, Blek’s love for work continues to create art that has not missed a step since its birth.

- What made you take your stencils to the streets?

B: I had no interest nor could I perform tagging or lettering, which was a popular form of graffiti. I wanted to do something only I could do and that no one had ever seen before. Pondering these two thoughts, I came up with Stencil Graffiti.

- What was your debut work?

B: A stenciled rat. I took this animal, common in all urban life, and showered Paris with it. The people’s curiosity was the fuel to its popularity.

- Who is your favorite artist?

B: England’s Franics Bacon.

- Who has had the greatest influence?

B: England’s David Hockney. England truly has many wonderful artists.

- Whose art has caught your attention recently?

B: The New York graffiti artist Swoon. She’s incredibly talented. Two years ago, I was in Buenos Aires meeting several artists making a graffiti film when I met Swoon. I have never met anyone quite like her before. Very aggressive.

Working alongside historic artists

B: In 1987, I met with Keith Haring and Jean Michel Basquiat, both legends in the art world, and became friends with them in a Parisian nightclub and had dinner with them afterwards. Keith was an exciting person where we talked about many things, mostly street art and galleries, as he made a big impression on my art career. He was gay and had these two lovely boys next to him (laugh). On the contrary, Basquiat was a little paranoid. He didn’t say a word. We didn’t even make any eye contact. He sat in the corner of the table the whole time with his head down. Now that I think about it, I should have talked to him.

A message with feeling

B: This is the stencil of French journalist Florence Aubenas who was captured and taken as hostage in Iraq in 2005. I made thousands of stencils and pasted them all over Paris to keep her in the public image so we would not forget her until she was freed. She was eventually set free. I create art because I believe it is a powerful tool in politics and society.

- Do you have any thoughts about the Japanese art scene?

B: Oui! I love Hokusai (1760 - 1849). This is a story from my past, but I dated a Japanese girl when I was a student. She was studying abroad in Paris, and I dated her for two years. Her name was Nobuko Itozu. She was very beautiful. She’s probably a big artist now...

- What does the future hold for Blek?

B: The business of art has become more important in London as it is in New York. That has the potential to move on to Paris and Berlin perhaps. That’s why I chose to do my exhibition here. Hopefully, by using London as the start, I would like to spread to other European cities. To continue my stencil graffiti is most important. Leaving my mark on the streets is important for me because it preserves my existence.

- Thank you so much for your time. UK Adapta have become your biggest fans!

B: It was my pleasure, thank you. Let’s stay in contact.

Website : http://bleklerat.free.fr/

Written by Toshimi Takaishi