Hello My Name Is: Luna

Name: Luna
Crew: OTS
City/Country: Santos, Brazil
When did you start writing? 2014

What’s graffiti for you?
Graffiti is the junction of all the places that I’ve seen, the inconveniences that happened while I was painting, friends that I’ve made, people who stop to praise or criticize me, and all the children (I call them ‘’my adopted children of the streets”) that have always helped me to paint and tell me their stories that inspire me and make me reflect and think more about many aspects of my life. Graffiti is a huge cultural exchange that gives me experiences and make me grow as a human, and this is something that will never go away!

Influences?
My friends with whom I paint, and all the places I usually go influence me in some way.

Tell us about your city, how is life and graffiti there?
I live in a beach town, small and a bit violent. The social contrast is absurd because there are a lot of people that live in mangroves (stilt houses,) or illegal occupation of areas on hills, slums, and many people on the streets. I believe there are many good artists hidden in these places they are inhibited to express themselves artistically, since they spend most of their time looking for a way to survive. The graffiti scene here is very slow: you might want to paint a wall or a door for months that no one will do. There are a few graffiti artists, but the guys do it very well!

What keeps you still writing?
The passion for the movement, and the fact of being able to bring art and culture especially to communities that the government turns a blind eye to.

What first made you interested in graffiti and how did you end up on that track?
It all started after I was going along with my friends who painted. I was able to know more about this movement and identify with it when I realized it was the middle of the week and I was in my school uniform, inside a 7 Ruby (train line,) seeking new cities to paint.

What trends are you seeing now in the graffiti world that you don’t like?
Some people take graffiti as a ranking, where who does more is better. I never agreed with that. Everyone who’s on the streets painting, vandal or legalized, belongs to the same movement and has something to contribute to this culture. Everyone whether they started yesterday or have been painting for years, in their own way, with their own style and rhythm, deserves respect.

What do you do when you’re not painting?
I make my plans for life; like when and where will be my next trip, and how do I get the money faster to make it happen soon.

How would you describe your style?
Under construction! I don’t hold myself in a style. I like to explore all shapes, colors, and textures!

Can you remember the first piece you did?
Yes, it was in an alley totally unexpected and freestyled!

Future plans?
Travel to Mexico, go live in Spain and then know all the other European countries, and then see Asia. And of course: paint in all these countries!

Do you adapt your pieces and tags to the spot/surface?
Yes. It’s so important for me to know my pieces fit so that I can paint on every surface that appears.

What do you think about the new generation of writers in your city?
I consider myself apart of the “new generation;” however there are others who are younger than me, and I like it very much when they for my help with something or when I walk and see their graffiti on the streets.

What are the best and worst aspects of graffiti?
The best aspects are the people who we meet in the world it makes me want to bring everyone to live near me. Everyone has a unique life experience, and graffiti provides the exchange of knowledge with no prejudices of race, religion, ethnicity, or national origin. On the negative side there are those who think they are better than others.

Who do you paint for?
For myself and for everyone who has the right of access to culture violated, especially the children of the community.

What writers have inspired you?
One of the first crews that I knew the guys of PND (Pixo Not Dead,) and the members of my crew inspire me lot. I am the youngest of the team so I’m always learning from them. São Paulo has a crew named OTM and I admire a lot, they are so capricious. I also like the @drainvrs @svbxt_ @_kaioviciotinta among and others.

Can you ever feel tired of graffiti?
No, I always want more and more.

What do you hope people will think and feel when they see your stuff?
I hope to encourage them to do what they love, regardless of what is, just as I do what I love!

FIVE FAVORITES
Spray Paint: Colorgin arte urbana
City: Santiago
Markers/pens/squeezers: Hubik
Surface: All
Cap: Cap Cyclone

Instagram: @otsluna