Cyclops

Cyclops Interview

-Cyclops is an artist whose works can be found predominantly on the street as well as finding its rightful place in galleries. Living in Manchester, then Bristol and now London, it is hard not to notice his iconic work. He plays a major part in BC and is well-known for his skull character. I have wanted to interview him for ages, but unfortunately, he is in Thailand at the moment. However, he was kind enough to do one over the internet for us whilst enjoying East Asia's delights.

- For those of us who don't already know you, please tell us a little bit about yourself.

C: I'm an artist, I live and work in London. I paint with Sweet Toof, Tek 33 and Rowdy, the BC crew. I'm lazy and antisocial.

- What have been some of your influences and inspirations over the years?

C: Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Janes Addiction, GZA, ODB, The Velvet Underground, Joy Division, Garfield comics, Tex Avery, Sandman, Radley Boothe, Ultramagnetic MCs, PE, Bukowski, Burroughs, trash, drugs, saints, god, come downs, The Fall, Caravaggio, Gaugin, Mike Kelly, Revs, Martin Lea Brown, second hand shops, Donna Matthews.....Barry McGee, Cept, Sickboy, Tek

- Over the past couple years, you and your crew have been very prolific in London. What keeps you motivated to keep getting up as much as you do? Is there a message?

C: Not as prolific as some....I think bigger and bolder maybe. I'm in Bangkok at the moment and there's this dude BNE, I think from San Francisco, and he IS prolific. It's like his stuff is municipal or a part of the city, it might as well be put up by the city. He's fucking killed it. I want to paint more. There is no message, only in the thing itself, the act is the message.

- Your fine art is very different to your street-based stuff. Is it a conscious decision to keep them seperated in terms of aesthetics?

C: It's been growing that way naturally for a while I think. It's like two different projects almost, so it's easier to keep them seperate....although I do have ideas in the studio that I can see working outside. But it's that thing about trying to sell graffiti in a gallery, and this way I don't have to worry about that. I make my paintings, and if I want to go bombing, well that's cool too. It's not like I'm trying to sell some ropey old outlines in a show.

- What direction do you want to take your art in the future? Will you continue to mix it up between the illegal and legal side of things?

C: I just want to continue to grow and change and find out what it is I'm on about. I want to make films, music...and I'll always be doing something illegal. Not necessarily something wrong, but something illegal.

- Any future projects that you are allowed to tell us about?

C: I have a show coming up in Hong Kong in November....and a solo show next year with Black Rat press which should be cool. Maybe some stuff in Japan...plus whatever else happens in betwen, it's anyone's guess really.

Cyclops: www.beforechrome.com

Written By Selph