“Not everything that comes up is good. In my opinion, especially on many pieces of all the imitaters worldwide, you find too many effects, colors, clouds, highlights, stars here, outline colors there…”
We were glad that CanTwo took time to talk about his journey to Asia with us here at ILG. We also got some quite cool pictures from the trip and some smalltalk about his crews, New York, Los Angeles and much more. Check the CanTwo ilovegraffiti interview
We don’t go too much into detail, as we all know you a bit. You did many interviews describing your roots and giving reasons for being in the crews you are in. You are a part of the first classic German graffiti generation. Also hip hop means a lot to you compared to other beginners of the new generation. Does that still count? Is there still any connection between what you do and the former good working hip hop scene?
Of course. Before I started painting, I was a real b-boy. Thankfully back in those days the first connections were created, for example on the first hip hop jam in Lüdenscheid (1987). Today its still as important as ever, connections to the scene mean everything. They assure you an accomodation for free, including a good impression of the city’s scence. The only difference now is that everybody knows each other and you don’t need to present yourself. Furthermore, I do not only travel in Germany but also all over the world. I just returned from China and Korea. It was a little tour, my friend and crew mate ZEBSTER planned. We went for a graffiti event over there, we painted the jury wall together and I’m pretty sure, it’s a burner made by two old hip hop dudes who started painting together in 1983.
You have a very distinctive style that have been influenced from time to time, until today. Nevertheless, the recognition value is very high, no matter if you paint Can2 or SUK or HipHop. Who or what were you influenced by?
In the beginning, STYLE WARS influenced my style, everything you could see there. SEEN was also a big part of it, especially regarding his diversity. Moreover, there were DERO, DUSTER and some styles of DELTA (NY), DONDI, etc., just to name some of them. Over all the years, also European writers influenced my development, like BANDO, MODE, CAT22, SKENA, JASE or even ZEBSTER. I think, my own style is the result of all these influences. I still want to express it in many different ways and always try to remain true on myself.
Your choice of colors seems to be very important. How does Can2 prepare his color combinations?
I used to do it differently back in the days compared to today. On the one hand, you couldn’t choose between that many colors and on the other hand, there was the question of money or rather the ability to get hold of the cans. When finally Sparvar came on the market, the range of colors increased at least. Thanks to some jobs we also got some more cans. Most people don’t know, but I developped 20 new colors during my time at the Art Agency Oxygen in Frankfurt. Many of these colors are still a part of the Molotow color range, such as kiwi, violet, apple etc. Due to the 10 years long sponsoring by Montana, I’m just only spoilt for choices of how my next piece should look like. Sometimes, I ask the others to choose the colors and try to go for this challenge. In general, my basic is a background color. I think about which color could fit or could flow into this background. Actually, I have always been a fan of contrasts regarding outline, second line and background.
We didn’t know about the Oxygen story, but interesting. Let’s switch back to the 90’s, Dortmund, Frankfurt, München, Hamburg. You still use Can2 as your legal name, but are you open about the things that happened back then? How did you experience that time? A lot of burners were rolling at that time.
What did happen besides that? In the mid ninetees, I went by train very often as I worked in Frankfurt and going by car didn’t make sense. During that period I also took many pictures and in the area of Rhein-Main was alot of stuff rolling for sure. Some of those pictures I even provided ON THE RUN with, that launched the first ON THE RUN BLACK BOOK in 1997. At that time, not all pictures had been used and the edition was sold out quickly, but was never printed again. That’s why a making of of the first OTRBB with new and new old pictures will be released in 2010. I can’t tell more about that time, but it was a good time!
You could think the same about the international SUK Line Up…
The idea of my crew STICK UP KIDS has always been different. It’s about showing friendship and the personal contact instead of skills and fame. That’s also the reason why there are so many different characters in the crew. In my opinion, chemistry between the members is the fact that counts. You haven’t heard much from them recently and the website isn’t really up to date. That’s why in January, a new website will be set online and I decided to push my crew more than any other. Next to MAD C and HOMBRE, who mean a lot to me as artists and human beings, I also welcome JAY FLOW and ARTIME JOE in the SUK crew. I know ARTIME JOE from his last trip through Germany, two years ago. This year, I also travelled with him and his partner Jay of the JNJ crew or rather Seoulmates. The both of them, joined my China trip, for two weeks and supported me a lot. It’s incredible how amazing, great, open-minded, decent, funny, nice, gentle and even talented they are. I’m proud to say they are a part of my crew now. By far, they are definitly a part of the best I got to know in Asia. The only two crews I still write, is my own and the TMD crew from New Zealand. In my opinion, this is also a real crew whose members go for each other and are a kind of family that travels together, do BBQ’s etc…
What can we expect from SUK next year?
In the summer of 2010 we are planning our first big SUK gathering, that hopefully all members will join.
Some time ago, we reported on the copy right problems and the law suit you were involved in. It was about a Fubu Sneaker and also the bathing costumes of the Spanish swimming team. Could you tell us about the result of that story? Or is it still going on?
The only thing I can say is that both things are still in progress. In the beginning, the Spanish had been open to cooperate, now they refuse, that means I need to take the next steps.
How does Can2 earn his money? You’re father and married as we know from our Ruedione interview. How does an active graffiti writer keep a family? You still travel a lot, paint regularly and do so many other things.
To be honest, it’s not easy to manage it all and it asks for give-and-take in all fields. I think every freelancer can talk hours about that and the ups and downs regarding work. One of my side jobs is also design and illustration of flyers and posters for different labels and clients. Nevertheless, the fact is; since the birth of my son I do less and this is also good for me.
We wouldn’t have asked this question some years ago. Now, we do it, not regarding any actual circumstances and because you are capable enough to answer it. Not only because of your activities, but also because you had been working in the field of spray can production. All these new spray paints from Australia, Italy or Asia, what do you think about them and what is your conclusion? Years ago, the variety was small and quality not a question. We read a lot about the revolution of new spray cans and technology that lets the new generation become better and support them to work faster and more professional with the tool, after only a short time of learning. Whats your thoughts on all of this?
I already mentioned that the range of colors was quite limited in former times as well as the offer of brands. With regard to the development, the spraycan of today is definitly the better tool. However, if you look at the JNJ crew walls in Korea for example, you will be surprised. I also painted with those cans and despite of a low covering power, they make impressive walls possible, even without offering 200 different colors and high covering laquer. I’m sure, it’s not only all about the tool, a good artist is able to paint with everything. 
As you said, you have been to China and Korea this month. What was the reason for the trip?
There were two reasons for visiting China. On the one hand, there was a kind of show painting on the Chinese promenade in Wuhan. A German-Chinese festival took place and Akim who lives there, asked me and some other hip hop acts to come over. It was supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the ‘Goethe Institution’. In the course of the festival many German acts showed up; folklore, pop, rock… and we were responsible for the hip hop section. Furthermore, I took part in a graffiti competition which takes place in 8 Asian countries. Its final will be in Shanghai in February 2010. My following trip to Korea had not been planned before as I wanted to go to Melbourne in order to be jugde at the ‘Clash of Titans’ that was cancelled as we know. So, I decided to travel on with the JNJ crew together through Seoul and we took the train to Busan in the South. There, a little graffiti happening took place. Rollling gates were painted in the book seller’s area.
What’s your opinion about the scene over there? Persue told us it’s quite small compared to the number of the poeple living in the giant metropolis cities. What did you experience within that short time?
That’s right. The scene is still young there. In Korea you’re old school if you started in 1999, in China the scene is even younger. In Seoul live around 12 million people, 20 of them are active artists and maybe 50 are writers. With regard to the b-boying, it’s completely different. Nevertheless, I think, thanks to events like the ‘Wall Lords’, the scene will grow up qickly.
Tell us, what do Can2 think about the classic german graffiti scene and the street art movement? Do you watch the development?
Hip Hop consists of four same sized elements. One of them is graffiti and street art is just a part of it. That’s my point of view. Did I answer the question?
Sure..you are not often doing galleries or group exhibitions. Are you still planning or are you not interested at the moment?
Canvas is not my field of interest, that’s true. I did quite many canvas, but the most of them, I did for any jobs. From time to time, I consider to concentrate more on canvas, but I often think: I rather prefer painting a wall instead of sitting in my garage and painting on a piece of drapery. Anyway, who knows, maybe one day, it will change when days become shorter and colder and more rainy….
Last year, you went to New York, where things changed a lot during the last years, right? What’s your opinion about New York’s position in the world? I mean, its influence on Europe is obvious, but what’s up today and what do you think about American influences from the guys of the Seventh Letter right now? At the moment, they seem to be a big inspiration to many.
Unfortunately, New York has changed a lot and I got the impression, the world’s interest of pictures from New York became less. Despite of quite a huge number of jubilees of legendary crews and many good pictures and productions, the most pictures disappear because of the surge of publications on the internet and books. At the moment, everybody’s attention is on L.A. as it have been for years. No other city has ever attracted that much attention and defined the style like L.A. Neither in Germany, nor in Europe or in the rest of the world. That’s also maybe due to the people’s natural intention to experience with new things again and again. Some writers from L.A. succeded in creating a kind of in-style which is just trendy now. Others really created something new. However, there’s more hype than substance; typical for the city of dream factories…
….that’s true, make-up seems to be more important than style?
Yes, not everything that comes up is good. In my opinion, especially on many pieces of all the imitaters worldwide, you find too many effects, colors, clouds, highlights, stars here, outline colors there. You can compare this style hype to the 3D style hype that came up in the beginning of the 90’s. Without any doubt, DAIM did it to perfection. He really knew how to work with it, with the letters and the style. Almost all the other imitators just copied the effects, often wihout thinking about it or not knowing how to create their own letters. Like the case is today, if you take off colors and effects of many pieces, only some poor letters would be left. Inventors of good style are definitly REVOK and RIME, as well as some others around them.
Yes, good statement. Thank you also for the interview and we are looking forward to more burners from Mainz. Anything to add?
Love to Nat & Ty, big hello to all STICK UP KIDS worldwide, to all TMD guys, to the guys of the Montana writer team, ZEBSTER as well as to all lovers and haters.
CanTwo Website: Link
CanTwo MySpace: Link
SUK Crew Website: Link
TMD Crew Website: Link
Interview by: notme
Beautiful! thanks for the interesting post
The Man! King Fezzy Fez