Hello My Name Is: Iwok

Name: Iwok
Crew: PMB & The Strangers
City/Country: Rodez, little town next to Toulouse.
When did you start graffiti? I started graffiti 15 years ago.

What’s graffiti for you?
Passion and color therapy, all persons need color in their life!

Influences?
My crew mate and some graffiti writerz around the world but it’s difficult to name only a few.

Tell us about your city, how is life and graffiti there?
Rodez is a little city, it’s difficult to meet lots of writers. Just my crew mate. But in Toulouse we have some graffiti writerz, old school, new school, and lot’s of spot for share walls.

What keeps you still writing?
Passion and a part of my life, I need graffiti!

What first made you interested in graffiti and how did you end up on that track?
It’s difficult, I think It’s when I met Rpes, Bar and Dsek at school (my family crew)! We were young and carefree. We were always in the street, but there were nothing to do in Rodez. We did some tags, and it’s quickly became a passion, like a drug!

What trends are you seeing now in the graffiti world that you don’t like?
With internet I was able to discover many interesting writers, but some shit to! Some people see graffiti like a commercial opportunity, and didn’t do that with passion. I’m not interested by 3D style or “ignorant” style, but I don’t judge the writer if he do that with passion!

What do you do when you’re not writing?
Enjoying my fam, my darling, my cat!!! And share some great moment with my friends.

How would you describe your style?
I think I have not found my style yet, I’m in perpetual evolution and I alwayz need to question myself. But if you want a definition I said “wild style with moderation”.

Can you remember the first piece you did?
No sorry, but I remember my first spot with my crew mate, a big factory in my city, lots of big wall!!! In this time we were free!!!

Future plans?
I’m creating some collections for futures personals expositions. My bro RPES lives in San Francisco and in 2018 I’ll present my work for the first time in US! I hope to have opportunities…

Do you adapt your pieces and tags to the spot/surface?
Yes of course! I like virgin spot for direct trace, and if it’s a big surface I do a big piece!

What do you think about the new generation of writers in your city?
I think with internet they do graffiti for followers not for himself. Just one or two writers in my city do that with passion.

What are the best and worst aspect of graffiti?
Sharing is the best aspect for me! All meetings are enriching! And I think the worst it’s when you do that just for fame and money!

Who do you painting for?
For myself, and sometimes for my family! Since 9 years ago, I’ve always dedicate my pieces for my darling VAN!

What writers have inspired you?
Lot’s of writers!!! My crew mate. And some big artist like Kemr, Taste, Akume, Brus, Love Letters…

Can you ever fell tired of graffiti? 
No never, Graffiti it’s a part of myself.

What do you hope people will think and feel when they see your stuff?
I hope people see the passion and my implication in my work!

FIVE FAVORITES
Spray Paint: 94
City: Montpellier
Markers/pens: alcohol pens and Posca
Surface: All surfaces
Cap: Hardore fat cap (orange)

Instagram: @iwok_1