CRAZY MISTER SKETCH
Innsbruck, Austria
Art is my full time work
Meeting of Styles Copenhagen 2021
Hello friends, I´m Crazy Mister Sketch, an Austrian dude who likes to paint walls of all sizes and shapes.
WHEN DID YOU START PAINTING AND HOW DID YOU GET INTO IT?
I started about 10 years ago when I was in high school - was trying to be cool basically. But then the unexpected happened. Something clicked and graffiti stuck with me ever since.
DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE
I´d say its sharp and to the point but still flawed. Calm but still impulsive. Just controlled chaos.
WHAT ARE YOUR INSPIRATIONS?
They range from other graffiti artists to comics and movies all the way to classical art and architecture.
“…PAINTING STRANGE LOCATIONS IS SORT OF MY THING. CAN´T REALLY PICK ONE BUT AMONG MY FAVOURITES ARE A HUGE ABANDONED STEEL MILL IN BELGIUM, A SMALL HOUSE ON TOP OF A MONOLITH IN THE UTAH DESERT, A SHIPWRECK ON THE SHORES OF ICELAND…”
WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT YOUR HOME CITY AND IT'S ART SCENE?
Well the scene in Innsbruck is small but very tempramental. All in all, people come and go, but the potential is definitely here. We have tons of beautiful walls surrounded by tall mountains that are still waiting to be painted.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PAINTING LOCATION SO FAR AND WHAT MAKES THIS YOUR FAVOURITE?
Love that question because painting strange locations is sort of my thing. Can´t really pick one but among my favourites are a huge abandoned steel mill in Belgium, a small house on top of a monolith in the Utah desert, a shipwreck on the shores of Iceland, an abandoned cold war NATO command bunker or a deserted mining town in the rocky mountains.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DREAM LOCATION/COLLABORATION/PROJECT?
I always like to visit remote places that graffiti hasn´t really gotten to yet. For example Svalbard or Abkhazia would be dream locations. As for collaborations, I´d love to paint alongside the likes of Sofles, Semor or anyone from Loveletters or MSK. All these guys have been huge inspirations for me when I started, mad respect!
DESCRIBE A PERFECT PAINTING DAY
It involves being up super early with the team and trekking through the woods, up a mountain or through the less touristy parts of town in order to get into some surreal abandoned location unseen. Climbing to get inside, the spot turning out to be amazing and therefore taking us way too long to explore and paint. Then eventually getting back out to the real world completely dehydrated and hungry. Some beers and a good dinner to close out the day would be the cherry on top.
WHAT DOES GRAFFITI/STREET ART MEAN TO YOU?
It means freedom, but also control over your life. To me it´s been a vehicle that has led me face first into so many amazing experiences, helped me connect with amazing people and took me to lots of cool places. The friends I´ve made along the way made all the trouble worth it.
ARE YOU MORE INTO SOLO ARTWORKS OR INTO COLLABORATIVE PRODUCTIONS?
I can paint solo for sure, but it´s always more fun with the crew.
WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE ARTIST(S) TO COLLABORATE WITH SO FAR?
Hard to choose from but one of the stand-outs would be Lovepusher. Such a pleasant dude to be around and a super talented artist as well. Cheers to you buddy!
“To me it´s been a vehicle that has led me face first into so many amazing experiences, helped me connect with amazing people and took me to lots of cool places…”
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MEETING OF STYLES AND PAINTING JAMS IN GENERAL?
They´re awesome. Likeminded people, good mood, and the most insane artworks that will make you go "sure, my piece will look alright next to that" while contemplating running away and starting a new life - what´s not to love?
HOW DO YOU SEE THE RISE OF STREET ART AND NEW TENDENCIES LIKE BIG SCALE MURALISMO?
They´re exciting. As someone who has dipped his toes into muralism as well, I can say it´s a whole different experience painting a mural vs painting a piece. But you see lots of writers getting into it these days and for good reason. It´s a whole new way to push your limits and stepping back from a wall this big and taking a good look at the finished thing for the first time is a trip.
HOW DO YOU SEE THE COMMERCIALISATION OF GRAFFITI AND STREET ART?
I don´t really have a problem with it. The thing is, someone who does exhibitions or comissioned walls can still go out and smash trains at night. I do think that the most important part of being an urban artist is painting when there´s no money involved but that doesn´t mean you´re not allowed to - in addition to that - do paid projects as well. If you do call Graffiti your job, there´s a difference between the walls you paint for work and the walls you paint in you freetime. All in all, ain´t nothing wrong with making a living doing what you love.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA IN TERMS OF GRAFFITI AND HOW DO YOU THINK IT AFFECTS THE SCENE?
There´s ups and downs to it. Not everybody can travel and social media will give you a platform that reaches beyond your city limits. Also, seeing the works of others on there can be a huge motivator. Of course, us artists aren´t immune to the pitfalls of social media. It´s timeconsuming to be active on there, it´s addictive and it does "kill" the city-specific signature styles.
NAME THE ASPECTS YOU DISLIKE ABOUT GRAFFITI/STREET ART
People who trip over their own egos or try to start forced beefs.
NAME THE ASPECTS YOU LOVE ABOUT GRAFFITI/STREET ART
The aesthetic, the people doing it, the dynamic aspect of pieces coming and going and the (literal and figurative) doors it can open.
“If you do call Graffiti your job, there´s a difference between the walls you paint for work and the walls you paint in you freetime.”
WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING HAPPENING THESE YEARS IN GRAFFITI OR STREET ART?
I like how accessible it has become and how it has transcended all cultures and age groups, opening it up for a lot more people. Whether it´s muralism or stylewriting - the output that will come as a result of that will no doubt be super sick.
DOES YOUR PERSONAL SITUATION AFFECT YOUR WAY OF PAINTING?
It might someday, but for now painting is my only occupation so it´s smooth sailing.
IF YOU COULD COMPARE YOUR STYLE WITH MUSIC, WHAT WOULD IT SOUND LIKE?
Like a lowfi hip hop instrumental that swells up and turns into an intense synthwave beat.
WHAT IS THE MOST CURRENT TOPICS OF MODERN SOCIETY FOR YOU?
Climate change and social issues like rascism or homophobia are the top issues we need to adress.
IF YOU WERE PRESIDENT, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
I´d divert funding to renewable energy sources, impose harsh taxes on big companies if they don´t conduct their business in an ethical way, encourage openness and paint a sick ass burner inside the oval office.
ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD?
Create + Explore all day!
