Agrinio, Greece
Art is Something I get paid for once in a while

Meeting of Styles Copenhagen 2021

Hello! I am from Greece I love food and travelling, Graffiti and Art is my Passion!

When did you start painting and how did you get into it?

I started Painting around 2003 at age of 12 inspired by the Street culture and Hip-Hop, since I was drawing from a very young age when I discovered Graffiti I knew immediately I am gonna do it too!

Describe your style

My Style is Based on the Letters from my tag name SNUZ painted with Graffiti elements. I like to use vibrant colors and abstract shapes its more an expression of Art for me than a traditional Graffiti Style.

What are your inspirations?

I am inspired by many Graffiti Writers and Artists from other industries around the world over the years, also Music plays a huge role to my work depending on the mood I am at the time. I get big inspiration through traveling or reading as well!

What is special about your home city and it's art scene?

This is a very interesting question since I come from a small city in Greece, Agrinio. The Art scene was small from the beginning and got smaller through the years, the opportunities for other things was low too, this motivated me to try harder on everything I do and push my work and myself to the limits many times in order to Get Up. I don't think I would be like that if I was coming from a bigger place. So its a special place for me it made me to what I am today.

What is your favourite painting location so far and what makes this your favourite?

I like to paint abandoned places, I have found one in my City and I go there from time to time to try new ideas and Styles without worry about being seen or interrupted, places like these are always the best for practice!

What would be your dream location/collaboration/project?

I would like to paint around USA at some point, would love to collaborate with many Artists from Graffiti/Street Art and Music scene that I admire, it will take forever to write them all down now but if I get to choose one would be DOES from NL! My dream Project would be to Paint on a Space Rocket or something, haha !

Describe a perfect painting day

Great Spot - Good weather, had breakfast in the morning and People with good vibes around me !

What does graffiti/street art mean to you?

For me it's just my life, I wake up, eat, sleep and repeat with that on my head. I hope I will be able and do it till my oldest days.

Are you more into solo artworks or into collaborative productions?

I'm always working solo, I am up for collaborations if I get the chance with an Artist that I love his/her Style tho!

Who are your favourite artist(s) to collaborate with so far?

My style worked really well together with my best friend and crew mate ZEP, I always love to paint with him we have the same ideas!

What do you think about Meeting of Styles and painting jams in general?

I only started to participate and visit some 'Meeting Of Styles' outside of Greece last year. What I love the most about these kind of jams is the amount of really Great Artists and People you get to meet, that they actually appreciate your Art and become your friends instantly since you share the same passion! For me these are the memories that matters the most! It's Great that people still organize them I wish I could afford to go to more of these around the world!

How do you see the rise of street art and new tendencies like big scale muralismo?

It's beautiful we need more of these in our cities! I also want to start painting big scales murals at some point its really natural evolution for the Graffiti scene.

How do you see the commercialisation of graffiti and street art?

It was about to happen at some point, there are so many talented Artists out there. I think not only Street Artist but Graffiti Writers should be paid for their work as well.

What do you think about social media in terms of graffiti and how do you think it affects the scene?

Obviously It connects people and you can share your work with the world, you can also find inspiration from other peoples Art. It makes things easier for everyone to get into Graffiti than 20 years ago that you had to find a Graffiti Magazine from someone to see what's happening outside your City. On the downside many people do it just for likes/followers, some others make Graffiti Pages with other Peoples work and make money from it by promoting your piece in a page full of content that doesn't belong to them in the first place. Then we have people judge the talent of an Artists by the amount of likes/followers than the actual Art and skills. I've seen really great Artists being overlooked cause they don't have big numbers and some toys have huge numbers at the same time and considered good, this is kind of messed up but it is what it is...

Name the aspects you dislike about graffiti/street art

It's harder to sell/display a Graffiti Style than a beautiful Portrait to the world but both have a great amount of skills and dedication to be created. Most People will consider good ART a painting of something real with low skills only because it shows something, and overlook a traditional high skilled Graffiti Piece that is well made only cause they don't get it.

Name the aspects you love about graffiti/street art

I love the creation process, we need more color in our life! It's our job to deliver to the streets!

In your opinion, what is the most exciting thing happening these years in graffiti or street art?

How it became from vandalism to Art, something coming from the streets that you can now see in museums and galleries around the world. What being criticized from society now being appreciated.

Does your personal situation affect your way of painting?

I work as a Cook in order to make money for living. When I work I don't have the time to do Graffiti the way I want, so I always end up quitting my jobs from time to time in order to participate in festivals, travel and paint! Sorry Boss, I am a Graffiti Writer!

If you could compare your style with music, what would it sound like?

Machine Gun Kelly - Alpha Omega

What is the most current topics of modern society for you?

Covid?

If you were president or king, what would you change?

Where should I begin...

Anything you want to add?

Follow me on social media @snuzstillfree
and check out my website www.snuzstillfree.com

Cheers!

SNUZ..