1xRUN Thru Interview
Caramel Custard Flow by Dvate
1xRun: Tell us a little bit about this piece, is the original still for sale?
Dvate: The print is based of an original artwork that was produced a few years back for a group show at our old gallery PerSquareMetre. I was exploring degradation and layering and also painting on found objects. The original piece belongs to my wife and she wont give it up!
1xRun: Was this piece part of a recent theme, series or show that you had?
Dvate: No, this was just an exploration of my letter style.
1xRUN: What materials were used to create this piece with?
Dvate: The original piece was created using a combination of acrylic paint and spray enamel. The artwork is painted on an old print that belonged to my Mother. I really liked the texture and weathering of the timber on the back so that’s the side I chose to paint. The cheesy 50’s print is still on the other side.
1xRun: When was the piece created?
Dvate: The original painting was created back in 2009.
1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?
Dvate: At the time I was working with a lot of found objects and customizing my letter style to suit them. I have always used layering in my work to create depth and reference to the gritty street walls that were my original canvas.
1xRun: How long did the piece take to complete?
Dvate: I work on these styles of paintings over a week or two. The layering I use takes time to dry in between. My paintings are usually based off a rough sketch and then evolve throughout the process.
1xRun: What do you feel is unique about this piece?
Dvate: This is the first and one of the only artworks/sketches I have done in this vertical format. My work is usually based on a landscape format, in a traditional graffiti composition.
1xRun: Why should people buy this print?
Dvate: Because it’s awesome!
1xRun: Describe the piece in one gut reaction word.
Dvate: Raw.
1xRun: When did you first start making art?
Dvate: I first started making art around the age of 3. It wasn’t until I was about 17 that I thought of this as something I could be doing for a career. Since then I haven’t really looked back.
1xRun: What was your first piece?
Dvate: My first piece of serious art was created on the back of a local sports club facing the train line near the house I grew up in.
1xRun: What artists inspired you early on?
Dvate: Growing up I was influenced by local writers who painted walls and trains in my area. CR, TAB, CI, KSA, RDC, WCA crews.
1xRun: What artists inspire you now?
Dvate: There are too many inspiring artists around these days for me to mention. Not just Graffiti artists but all forms of art influence my work.
1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what?
Dvate: I listen to mostly Hip Hop music when I paint. I just get in the zone and block out my surroundings! Doing a lot of live painting in the past has made me very good at it.
1xRun: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why?
Dvate: I’m very lucky and have had the opportunity to paint with lots of my favorite artists over the years. I love just painting with motivated people who are trying to achieve similar things to me.
1xRun: If you could collaborate with any deceased artists who would it be and why?
Dvate: I would have loved the opportunity to paint a wall with Dare (TWS, Loveletters). He was a master of his craft and a big influence on my generation.
1xRun: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it?
Dvate: I have a stupid amount of artwork that I have collected over time. I think it’s really important to support other letter-based artists and try to give something back to the scene. I think the first piece I bought was a 4 color screen print by Daim. I still have it.
1xRun: What was the last piece of art that you bought?
Dvate: The last pieces of artwork I bought was from a show that my wife and I curate every 3 months called ‘Seasons of Change’. We bought 4 paintings by local artists Sage, Tres, OG23 & Bolts who are all from Flies Crew.
1xRun: Any big shows or events coming up that you’d like to share?
Dvate: Nothing special, just painting a lot of walls over the summer here in Melbourne. I will try to go back to Tahiti this coming May for the Graffiti festival. I’m definitely heading to Europe mid year to attend Roskilde Festival again and catch up with some mates. I will also have another solo show later in the year.
1xRun: Where else can people find you?
Dvate: Website – Instagram@dvate
-1xRUN