Art on the Streets: Get To Know Some of Beijing’s Graffiti Artists

A big city without graffiti and tagging is a boring place to be. While the art form does carry negative connotations due to its affiliation with gangs in some cities, that connect seems to be devoid in Beijing, with tags and art acting as a means for people to show their art to the public, breathing a bit of life into the capital as a consequence.

Beijing has its fair share of taggers, and even a few collectives, each with their own distinct style. What follows is a profile of a few of these artists, and how you can spot their work.

Name: 老明 Laoming
Affiliation: Keep The Smile (KTS)

When did you first get into street art?
I started getting on the street to do graffiti in 2009. I liked hip-hop culture in the earlier days. There were graffiti elements in the rap songs I listened to and the movies I watched. Since I major in sports and love to paint, I find graffiti to be particularly fitting for me.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
My inspiration comes from strange things I've seen in my life and thoughts I want to express.

What makes your graffiti your own and how can people spot it?
I have a strong personal style because I know I am making real graffiti art. I will select places that are easier to spot by others.

Name: 0528球 0528Qiu
Affiliation: None

When did you first get into street art?
I got into street art in the ‘90s.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I got into and continue to get inspiration for my art from skateboarding videos.

What makes your graffiti style your own and how can people spot your art?
My work is about creating mythological figures using oriental architecture as elements. The size and sharp contrast of colors in my work really stand out.

Do you have any artistic plans for the year ahead?
I want to keep making new art, to complete a new series, and to start to do some of my own peripheral artworks.

Name: 金娃 Jin Wah
Affiliation: None

When did you first get into street art?
Around 2013 or 2014 I was dancing in a club with my friends. I had had a little too much to drink, and I wanted to have a bit of fun, so I asked the bartender for a marker and began scribbling on the wall. The owner of the club was so angry that he contacted me and asked me to remove the graffiti. This was my first run in with graffiti and its relationship with music and street culture.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
My tag is pretty much my self-portrait now. Her name is Jin Wah. This image first came to me from a user’s avatar in Chrome, and I think it has something in common with me in that it’s playful. One day I added hair and a body to the smiley face, and the doodle eventually became what it is now.

What makes your graffiti style your own and how can people spot your art?
The biggest characteristic of my tag is that when you see it, you’ll find that every smiling face is different. I put it everywhere, and when people take photos of it, I can easily guess where they found it. It’s like a fun game.

Do you have any artistic plans for the year ahead?
This year I want to make a comic about my “Golden Baby,” which I’m already working on. It’s inspired by a supernatural experience I had before. I’m also making t-shirts, riso prints, and have some online projects in the works as well.

Name: 东北 Dongbei
Affiliation: KTS

When did you first get into street art?
I got in touch with graffiti after a phase of throwing stuff on other people’s fences in high school. I officially started writing on the street a few years after that.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I get my inspiration from all over the place, [especially from eclectic things] like latex, leather outfits, and things associated with pain and tears.

What makes your graffiti style your own and how can people spot your art?
My tag is ASKO, from the one and only hot sauce Tabasco. You can spot my tagging if you look for my spicy style, risky locations, and, sometimes, occult elements.

Name: 土豆 Tudou
Affiliation: None

When did you first get into street art?
I started painting on the street in 2016.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I get my inspiration from skateboard culture, talking with friends on the street, and while drinking in bars. I also draw inspiration from any kinds of adventures I go on.

What makes your graffiti style your own and how can people spot your art?
My tag is basically my style. My friends can all spot my work, and my graffiti can be found in all kinds of public places.

Do you have any artistic plans for the year ahead?
The more things I’m able to do and work I’m able to churn out, the more memories I’ll be able to make.

READ: State of the Arts: Five Exhibitions to See You Through the End of Winter

Images courtesy of the artists, lead image courtesy of Dongbei