“Most of the time, illegal graffiti gets removed quite fast in Zurich. In my work, I just did what otherwise the authorities would do. The pieces are created by different writes that I later buff.” Read the full interview with Thierry Furger from Switzerland about his latest show “Buffed Paintings”.
Please introduce yourself and your background.
I am living in Zurich as a graphic designer and artist. I am interested in graffiti since the end of the 80ties. Since that time I am observing a lot of writers and I am often still very surprised about what they create. I was also observing how different writers made the step into the gallery. Myself, I was very sceptical and it took me quite a while to show my concept to the public.
Whats the show “Buffed Paintings” about?
The aim of my work was to present the illegal graffiti. I wanted to give an homage to the writers who take risks and in this way keep the classic graffiti alive. I don’t like is the normal clean graffiti in the galleries, but the spontaneous, quick and dirty style. That’s what I wanted to present in the showroom. The idea was to show something new, something I myself had never seen before. I am quite happy that I could realise my own thing.
How and why did you choose to work with buffing?
Most of the time, illegal graffiti gets removed quite fast in Zurich. In my work, I just did what otherwise the authorities would do. The pieces are created by different writes that I later buff. My canvas symbolise the walls in the streets that I paint over with grey paint. I buff the metal boards in the way trains get cleaned. I find graffiti an amazing thing. But to transfer it into a showroom is not so easy. Than graffiti lives of the surrounding and the medium on which it is painted. It’s also that’s why I wanted to create something that raises questions and stimulate people to think about it. Where does the motivation come from to go out into the streets night after night despite the ephemeraltiy of the pieces? I don’t know any other art form where the artist deals with the caducity so easily.
How did the opening go?
The opening took place in a classic gallery. The atmosphere was quite relaxed. Of course the life performance of the Anti-Graffiti Team “Schöns Zürich” (Nice Zurich) was something special. Like this the visitors had the chance to see what’s under the grey paint – colourful pieces!
What have the reactions been to your buffed art?
The reactions of the guests were great, especially from people with a background in art. They understood the idea of my work. The metal boards that only show the rest of colours of the buff, attended the most attraction – probably because of their abstractness. Another point that makes my work kind of special is that most of the pieces can’t be read anymore. So the viewer really needs to make an effort to identify something. Than normally the observer is already satisfied when he was able to make out some letters.
Whats your own experience with buffing in your hometown Zurich besides this exhibition?
In the last years, buffing is realised very consequently in my city. Within days tags and pieces get buffed. Also pieces of 20 years, often faded, have been destroyed. These old pieces were part of the history of my city. But despite their destruction, such pieces live inside of us for a lifetime. That’s what I like about it!
What do you think about the buff in other cities and countries?
In a lot of big cities the situation is similar to the one in Zurich. In Barcelona for example they just buff with beige instead of grey. The entire “broken window strategy” of Rudolph Giuliani has been spread all over. There are studies that show that crimes happen more often in dirty environments (Link). Of course there are also exceptions as for example Italy where buffing hardly exists. Italian trains with bad buffing were another source of inspiration for me.
Do you have any role models in the art sector?
The first artists who I admire very much were the creators of pop-art. For me Keith Haring was the most important one. Still, 20 years later, his work is on level that can hardly be reached. He was one of the first great artists out in the streets. His works with chalk in the subway stations are phenomenal.
What I am of course going to visit is the expedition of Basquiat that is shown at the moment in the Fondation Beyler in Basel. By the way it is one of the most beautiful museums in Switzerland.
What are your plans for the near future?
I would like to give another show this year because a lot of new ideas arose during this last exhibition. Furthermore all the positive reaction motivates me a lot (Thank’s to Ruedione). What I also would love to do is a show only with buffed pieces of my favourite writers. From Seen to Roise…
Thanks for the interview!
http://www.buffedpaintings.com
http://www.ruedione.com/series/buffedpaintings/
