Graffuturism + 1xRUN Present Remi Rough’s Debut If Only Silence Could Speak

1xRun Thru Interview
If Only Silence  Could Speak by Remi Rough

1xRun: Tell us a bit about this piece, is the original still for sale?
Remi Rough: Good question, I actually have no idea! It went off to a show in Milan a couple months ago called “Amazing Day.” It had some incredible other artists in it like Poesia, Moneyless, Berst and Rae Martini to name just a couple. I think the exhibition is still up. It’s in some amazing 18th Century museum just outside of Milan. I’ve been so manically busy of late I haven’t had a chance to catch up with Mr. Wany to ask how it all went.

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1xRUN: What materials did you use to create this piece?
Remi Rough: It was painted on premium canvas with a mixture of spray paint, emulsion (I think you call it buff paint in the States), bitumen (roof tar), and turpentine. I like watching the reactions of different substances with each other. I guess the trick is to become really good at knowing what will do what and with what and when. I’m getting there…

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1xRun: How long did this piece take?
Remi Rough: I think I worked on it for roughly 5 days. Most of my pieces take between 3 to 6 days, occasionally I’ll manage to get one done in just a day, but that’s a rarity.

1xRun: What is unique about this piece?
Remi Rough: Well apart from the fact it’s from an original painting. It’s the first ever print I’ve done from one of my paintings… I’ve only ever made screen prints from drawings and digital artwork references. So this is a first in terms of that.

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1xRun: Why should people buy this print?
Remi Rough: If people like colour and forms that distort the norm and everyday shapes and paths that fill their lives, then this could be for them. It’s not for everyone as it’s abstract and ambiguous. However, all the forms and references from my 29 plus years as a graffiti writer are there, embedded deep within the piece.

1xRun: Describe the piece in one gut reaction word.
Remi Rough: Destructavist.

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1xRun: When did you first start making art and what was you first piece?
Remi Rough: I started making art when I was a child as most people do and I started making my own art in 1984. It’s been a fun and arduous journey since then. The first piece I did said Daze. It was an amalgamation of four different letters from four various pieces within Subway Art. All things considered it wasn’t truly terrible! There were one or two redeeming qualities if I remember correctly, or maybe I’m just being romantic?

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1xRun: What artists inspired you early on?What artists inspire you now?
Remi Rough: Pride and Bando from The Chrome Angels as well as The London Giants were huge early influences on me. Their letter styles and the way they used colour made these guys true style masters. Also Futura and Dondi really excited me.

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As  for now, so many I couldn’t possibly mention them all. In recent years I’ve really fallen in love with the work of Van Doesburg, Mondrian, Malevich and the constructavists as well as the work of the Vorticists. Discovering new artists all the time is a joy and a luxury most of us take for granted. The internet has opened that up for us. We don’t have to  meet up 6 times a year in a Parisien cafe to show each other sketchbooks. We can google, email and connect immediately. It’s really amazing when you think about it. Some artists whose work really blows me away constantly as of late is Steve More, Carlos Mare and Smash 137.

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1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work?
Remi Rough: I do listen to music when I work, all the time, and different music can wholly effect the work I make too. The Searching For Sugarman OST has been a favourite of late as well as Boards Of Canada and the new A La Fu ep.

1xRun: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why? Any deceased artists?
Remi Rough: I’d love to mix my work with Retna’s calligraphic painting. I loved the work he did with Risk not so long ago and I think we could really layer and work into what we both do. We’ve actually talked about it too. I guess we just both have to find time in our schedules and be in the same city for more than a day to make it happen. For the latter, I‘d love to paint a mural with Kazimir Malevich. It would be the greatest abstract mural ever painted…maybe.

riskretna

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1xRun: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it? The last?
Remi Rough: I bought a Matt Sewell piece for my wife which we still have. I buy a lot of art, which is mad because I imagine I should be trying to sell it more than buying it. I think supporting the industry you are a part of is a good thing. Now I have the most incredible collection of art with originals from Stormie Mills, Augustine Kofie, LX One, Marco Grassi, Tracey Emin, Wayne Chisnall, Davis Shillinglaw, Crash and Joker. Although a lot of the pieces were gifts or swaps. The perks of being an artist! The last piece I believe was a small sculpture that I bought off an amazing artist from Brighton called Sean Madden, I love it. It’s slightly Giacomattiesque, but the head has been replaced with plane wings… It’s mad!

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1xRun: What else do you have coming up for the rest of the summer?
Remi Rough: A possible fall trip to Detroit for some muralisation. Yet to be confirmed tho! But also planning on hitting Miami this December for some wall painting action. And lastly a summer marriage to the mother of my child and gorgeous lady of 11 years, followed by a honeymoon in the south of Italy!

1xRun: Where else can people find you?
Remi Rough: – Website –  BlogAgents of ChangeFacebookInstagram @remirough

-1xRun