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Are your Eyes Closed? The Interview with Street Artist GILF!Article by: Veronica Baesso

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to tehran outside
"To Tehran with Love" (on the corner of Mott and Prince St. in Soho)

I discovered the Brooklyn-based street artist Gilf! at the FountainArtFair in NYC. I immediately fell in love with her rebellious artwork. At once powerful and playful Gilf! is focused on  creating positive change through her work by challenging institutions that give power to social inequality and corruption.

Read below our interview with Gilf!, if you would like to see more of her artwork visit  www.gilfnyc.com

 

What is your background and how did you become involved in street art?

I have a fine arts background- I studied it in school, although originally I went to college for engineering. That was too linear for my brain- and what I found so refreshing about my art classes was that no one was SUPPOSED to have the same answer. There’s no cheating in art- it has taught me the value of individuality, and the power of originality.

 

How would you define “street art”?

This is such a loaded term. Street art has become so hyped. As much as everyone praises Banksy, his movie really put a spotlight on the movement and created this inflated frenzy around it. It’s definitely a super interesting and diverse movement. It’s hard to define because there are so many facets, styles, and personalities. I think it’s really important and has grown out of a necessity for people to express themselves publicly.

“The Big Swim”

 

How would you describe your style within the world of street art?

There are a lot of artists who create beautiful one of a kind works and give them to the world as street art- I have so much respect for their dedication and craftsmanship. I make street art for different reasons. My aesthetic is very graphic. I have a super short attention span, as do most New Yorkers. I walk down the street at 10 miles an hour- if I see something and it takes too long for it to “click” they’ve lost me. My work is concise, clear, and to the point. I find it hard to add superfluous detail when I’m discussing something important like war or global warming. I want to make a visual impact on you that will stick and make you think about it.

 

Why do you think street art is important and what message are you hoping to communicate with your artwork?

Street art is important because you create a dialog with people you don’t know. You put it out there for the rest of the world to enjoy, hate, or interact with. You can push people to think about important issues. Many people turn off when you talk about  difficult subjects. If you do it visually you allow them to process it alone, without judgement, conflict, or ridicule. No one is forcing an opinion- I just put mine out there and let the viewer decide whether it’s valid or not. I hope with my work I can affect some sort of change within my viewer. Maybe they google the idea, and learn about the issue I’m discussing, or it festers in their brains and they ask their teacher or a parent about it. The only way things change is if we first start discussing them. Street art to me is truly about inspiring people to give a fuck.

“Why are your eyes closed?”

 

How do you feel about being a woman in a field that is mainly dominated by men?

Woman everywhere are fighting WAY bigger battles than I am when it comes to their survival. It blows my mind that men can kill a woman in some countries and it’s LEGAL! My struggle pales in comparison to those brave women. I’ve definitely been disregarded by guys who assume I am more of a groupie than an artist. I always love showing them how completely fucking wrong they are, that’s so gratifying.

 

What and who inspires you the most?

I’m continuously inspired by the uninspired. Those are the people I need to speak to, whose eyes I need to open, whose minds I need to change. I will say there are lots of people doing amazing, positive things in this world, I am lucky to call some of them friends- they also inspire- or at the very least give me some hope. If there are enough of us who work to create change it will happen.

“Love Life” -the very 1st GILF! Stencil

 

Which piece are you most proud of and what does it mean to you? 

My first piece, definitely. Getting the courage to go do that in the middle of the night, having NO CLUE what I was doing, it was the best decision I ever made. I’ve never felt a high like that. It was so empowering. It was the beginning of my true self expression- it was a pivotal point in my life where I couldn’t be complacent anymore, and had to make my voice heard.

 

How do you see yourself differing from other artists in your same field?

I’m inspired by different mediums. Sometimes it’s spray paint, sometimes it’s wheatpaste, or fabric, or moss- I constantly need to feel challenged by my materials. If I’m not learning, I’m not content. I feel like most artists tend to stick with the same medium and continuously hone their skills that way. It’s more interesting to me to allow the material to speak and affect the perception of the piece. I’m very focused on the installation aspect of my indoor work and I like to see that translate to the street when it makes sense.

“Green Thumb”-photographed by Jaime Rojo/Brooklyn Street Art

 

What is the difference between street art that is done secretly and work that is commissioned?

Time, stress, and maybe money if you’re lucky.

 

What does a world positively impacted by your artwork look like?

Wow. It looks awesome. Happy, clean, functional, and peaceful. I’m going to keep working until I make all of that a reality.

“The Colonel”

 

What is next for you: where do you see yourself going in the future?

Whether it’s considered street art or public art- I want to take my ideas around the globe. I need to discuss my thoughts with, and be a positive catalyst for, those who weren’t lucky enough to be born in a safe or educated society. One of the large projects I’m working on now is called RE SOURCE. It’s a project designed to create a  collaborative spirit and sustainable agriculture within a community that has been ravaged by war, natural disaster, or extreme poverty. I hoping to get the first RE SOURCE project off the ground in 2012. Thats a good start- I have enough projects in my head to keep me and a small army busy until my 200th birthday. Let’s hope I last that long!

 

What are the challenges facing street art as urban landscapes change?

Well I’m definitely not looking forward to drones monitoring NYC. As police presence grows it makes it more and more difficult to put work up. It’s also sad to see the beautiful old brick buildings that have been hot spots for street art get torn down to make way for  new glass high rise apartments. As that happens in lower Manhattan and Brooklyn the art and the artists just get pushed out further and further. However it happens the community all tends to move together- wherever that may be.

 

 

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