Sepe aka Sepeusz
The Interview
We are very excited to be able to hook up with our friend Sepe and talk to him about his exciting work. Sepe has a cleaver abstract/cubist way with his work but with a definite contemporary slant to it. When we first clamped eyes on his walls and canvases all of us at the RDC just couldn't get enough, here's why...
RDC: Hey Sepe great to meet you, tell us where you are from please?
Hi, I’m from Warsaw, Poland.
Sepe aka Sepeusz.
RDC: What sort of media do you use?
I’m trying to use wide spectrum of tools – spray paint, markers, pencil, acrylic, ink, stencils
sticky tapes, bitumen pulp even…It all depends on what sort of effect I’m actually trying to get and on what surface or scale I’m working on.
Hi, I’m from Warsaw, Poland.
Sepe aka Sepeusz.
RDC: What sort of media do you use?
I’m trying to use wide spectrum of tools – spray paint, markers, pencil, acrylic, ink, stencils
sticky tapes, bitumen pulp even…It all depends on what sort of effect I’m actually trying to get and on what surface or scale I’m working on.
Jazz in Free Time
Circulation
Sweet Dreams
RDC: Was tagging or illustrations your first introduction into graffiti?
On the beginning graffiti in Poland was related to the anarchist and political stencil movement. In late 70ties and 80ties it was the only thing that you could find painted on the streets – Nazi and anti-Nazi signs, political stencils and messages against communist authorities etc. Graffiti based on New York’s traditions appeared in Poland in the early 90ties – just after communist break out. One of the first hall of fame was situated just on my way to school, so I was “attacked” by those “strange images” everyday. I was 13 years old when I’ve painted my first stencil on the wall – a head of Donald Duck with crossed bones behind. Than, influenced by those “hard-to-read-letters” I’ve called myself SEPE and started to experiment with styles painting, going through all paths in graffiti – city bombing, tagging, trains and hall of fame painting.
On the beginning graffiti in Poland was related to the anarchist and political stencil movement. In late 70ties and 80ties it was the only thing that you could find painted on the streets – Nazi and anti-Nazi signs, political stencils and messages against communist authorities etc. Graffiti based on New York’s traditions appeared in Poland in the early 90ties – just after communist break out. One of the first hall of fame was situated just on my way to school, so I was “attacked” by those “strange images” everyday. I was 13 years old when I’ve painted my first stencil on the wall – a head of Donald Duck with crossed bones behind. Than, influenced by those “hard-to-read-letters” I’ve called myself SEPE and started to experiment with styles painting, going through all paths in graffiti – city bombing, tagging, trains and hall of fame painting.
Those were really crazy times for graffiti development in Poland – absolutely no professional shops with graffiti accessories, one skateboarding magazine with 2 pages of “western” graffiti every month, of course no Internet access nor any other way of information flow. That all resulted in very slow development but also brought us to have couple years of “wild east graffiti polygon” - authorities found graffiti as something completely new and wasn’t ready for it – no cameras in the city, no vandal squads(graffiti police), no penalties for painting, no train buffing etc.
RDC: You have an ace style, are you a self taught artist?
On the beginning I was a self-taught and went to art studies quite late – when I was 24 years old (graduated graphic design on Academy of fine arts). I’m satisfied with that combination because when I’ve started those studies I was already determined and focused in my interests. Studies improved my skills, opened my mind for various solutions, made me observe wider but
RDC: You have an ace style, are you a self taught artist?
On the beginning I was a self-taught and went to art studies quite late – when I was 24 years old (graduated graphic design on Academy of fine arts). I’m satisfied with that combination because when I’ve started those studies I was already determined and focused in my interests. Studies improved my skills, opened my mind for various solutions, made me observe wider but
didn’t completely washed my brain.
Mixed Media on Canvas (three pics below)
Follow the Rabbit
Feeding Time
Feeding Time
23.78
RDC: Can you describe your art for us Sepe... you have some great characters, where did your '(De) Constructor' (see pic below) idea come from for instance?
It’s always hard to answer that kind of question. I was always strongly influenced by figurative paintings and illustrations in general. I think that I’m strongly formed by some polish books illustrators from my childhood period like Boratynski, Szancer, Rosinski etc.
So when I quit writing letters I’ve focused on more less traditional way of making illustrations. As the time was passing by I started to experiment more with deformations and distortions of my characters, having it more grotesque, ironic, morbid even.
Than inspired by the studies (graphic design on Academy of Fine Arts) I started to mix that
narrative illustrations with modern, vector elements and abstract compositions. I’m searching for a proper balance of sharp, minimal hi-tech elements and pictorial characters based on traditional workshop; Interested in contrasts between those two different worlds.
Watertank
Don Kichote
RDC: Are the Polish police harsh on graffiti artists and where is your favourite place to paint?
To be honest I was painting in a hardcore way so long ago that I barely know the situation with police, investigations and so on. I’m sure It’s harder to paint hardcore right now than 10 years ago when I was doing it.
To be honest I was painting in a hardcore way so long ago that I barely know the situation with police, investigations and so on. I’m sure It’s harder to paint hardcore right now than 10 years ago when I was doing it.
My favourite places to paint are abandoned ones. I love to put my work in context of that kind of places, without asking for any permissions, feeling free just to paint. RDC: If you could change something what would it be?
I regret nothing. Working and keeping it in progress – that is how it all should run all the time.
RDC: Have you got any shows coming up?
Yes:
21th March I’m taking part in “Strictly Paper” group show in Schwalbe & Schwalbe
Gallery in Munich, Germany
Gallery in Munich, Germany
And than in the same gallery on 18th April we are making a duo show with Chazme
Titled: “Lost in the City”, presenting canvases made during the last winter time.
RDC: Life, like your work is looking great dude. We will keep a close visual on your new and up coming shows. Thank so much for the view ☋
Check his blog... HERE
And check in on his site... HERE
Schwalbe and Schwalbe Gallery... HERE
Glad you like it Urban Hearts, thank you:)
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