Hello My Name Is: Rage

Name: Bendito Rage (sometimes I also write Sprit or Lotus)
Crew: TAKE THIS, M1P, 104
City/Country: Vitoria (Spain)

When did you start writing?
Around 2000/2001

What’s graffiti for you?
My bigger hobby, which helps me to relax when I’m stressed, makes me feel good and gives me the opportunity to visit new places and meet awesome people anywhere i go.

Influences?
Classic graffiti, avant garde art, pop art, european comic illustrators, retrofuturism, David Bowie, Peter Max….

Tell us about your city, how is life and graffiti there?
I’m not the best for answering this question cause I really love my city. For me it is the perfect place for living, medium size (260.000 inhabitants) and full of spots for painting without many problems. Most of the residents see with good attitude graffiti on the streets. It has been European Green Capital in 2012 because is full of parks everywhere and last year was mentioned the Spanish Gastronomic Capital. More info needed for coming on holydays? 

What keeps you still writing? Is like a challenge for me because I’m always trying to improve my style, conquering new spots… But mainly because I feel really happy when i’m painting.

What first made you interested in graffiti and how did you end up on that track?
The hood where I grew up in was one of the first places where writers started to paint in my town in the early 90’s. Many times i saw them making big productions through my window and later I tried to understand what they wrote on that colorful letters. Sometimes I spoke to them (who nowadays are my friends) and ask shitty questions about caps, spraybrands, where to buy the cans… The perfect toy begginings! hahaha

What trends are you seeing now in the graffiti world that you don’t like?
I respect everything in graffiti because everyone can do what they want. But sometimes I don’t like at all when most of the outlines on a piece are cut back. I prefer watching the natural trace because I can feel the writers touch/ability/feelings on it.

What do you do when you’re not painting?
I guess that the usual things: practicing sports, being with my girl and friends, having some beers, watching films… oh! and sometimes I work a little bit too.

Is is important that people see your stuff and you get recognition?
Yes of course, because we make graffiti for being visible for other people, the more people that see my name the better. Then if they like or not is not the most important because that is very personal.

How would you describe your style?
Wildstyle. Mixing the classic with new elements.

Can you remember the first piece you did?
Hahaha, yes of course! I wrote “LTS” (Live to Skate), must say taht I spent my teens glued to a skateboard, and for making it more gangsta, I painted a pink Playboy logo next to it. We were the bad boys of the hood as you can imagine, Hahaha!

Future plans?
The best things come without a plan

Facebook: Benditorage
Instagram: @Bendito_rage