LOREM IPSUM

In the beginning was the word and the word was Shoe. Or at least so goes the genesis of graffiti doyen Niels Shoe Meulman, who tagged all over Amsterdam in the early ’80s. With a knack and love for lettering, Meulman apprenticed under the Dutch graphic design master, Anthon Beeke and later formed his own agency, Caulfield & Tensing and Unruly. Since 2007, Meulman developed the art of Calligraffiti, the mélange of calligraphy and graffiti. In Singapore, after the Upside Down Tour, Meulman shared in his own words about the tour and his art.

You were on something called The Upside Down Tour. What is it about because we can’t seem to find much information about it anywhere.

Basically, I’m showcasing Calligraffiti in Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland. It’s wordplay: Upside Down, Australia, the Land Down Under.

Tell us about the exhibition.

I showcased my work and worked on big pieces of paper and linen with thick black ink that gives a three dimensionality to the 2-D nature of the paper. I need to be in a meditative mind state for my live paintings. It becomes natural after a while as you allow the words to flow through your hand. This applies to all forms of calligraphy.

Could you expound on this “meditative mind state”?

It’s not really meditation. It’s just an alternative state of mind that I get into that goes well with writing.

Like your piece where you write “un” over and over again?

In a way, the repetition doesn’t really say anything. It is just hypnotizing. That’s just one side of my art though. When I’m writing, there’s the meaning, the shape of the word that I consider. To me, the word is the image.

The repetition reminds us of tagging your name in the streets. Is it fair to say tagging is the graff artist’s way of being remembered?

Yes, what you say is correct. To be recognised. That’s the basic, most primitive form of human emotion. Because there are so many people on this planet, it’s getting harder to prove you’re unique. When you’re a teenager, you feel the need to express yourself: “I’m alive, I exist.” It’s very primal but it’s a beautiful thing because of its simplicity.

Of course, everybody who engages in graffiti grows out of it. I mean, there were a lot of artists from the streets, but the good ones evolve into something more personal so that it doesn’t look all the same. Having moved on from that mind-set, I was in graphic design, advertising and, for the last few years, concentrating on Calligraffiti.

Do you think there’s a disconnect between graffiti in your early years and Calligraffiti now?

There’s a certain romanticism in the illegality of graffiti but if I really want to focus on my work, I need to do it in a quiet environment, without needing to run from the cops. Gone are the days of working under the cover of night, looking about, seeing if the coast was clear. Then, again, it was from these episodes that I honed my technique to where I’m able to create under pressure. I can improvise easily. If the situation isn’t perfect, I can still make my art.

What’s Converse’s involvement in the Upside Down Tour?

Converse is supporting me, helping cover the cost for travel. I worked with them in Beijing and they like my art.

We assume you’re a Converse fan.

[laughs] Well, I used to wear the Chuck Taylors but now that I’m older, not much. But they do good stuff with those shoes. They have nice collaborations with different artists. I like what they are doing with the new stuff, but I still think that their white hi-cut canvas shoes are still their best model.

Any thoughts of collaborating with them?

Who knows? I wouldn’t mind. I’m currently collaborating with this shoe brand called United Nude and I won’t be opposed to doing something with Converse, too. I think, what Converse likes about my work is that it’s pretty basic, from the street. It comprises both the modern and the traditional.

The old and the new.

Yes, exactly.

Ever considered delving into other calligraphic scripts like Chinese or Sanskrit?

Hmmm. No. I think you must first know the language really well; then you can truly master the script. If you don’t understand what the writing conveys, then it’s impossible to do the calligraphy. I’m fascinated with looking at different languages on street signs and such, like Arabic and other languages; but to me, it’s like an alien language, you know?

Is there a particular word you love to write?

Of course, it would be “Shoe”.

We’ve returned to your tag.

I’ve come full circle with it. [laughs] “Shoe” doesn’t really mean the actual thing you wear on your foot; it’s just four letters combined to form an image in your mind. It’s instinctual to write your own name and long after it’s painted over, it lingers like an afterimage in your mind.

Interview courtesy of Converse. Images courtesy of Niels Shoe Meulman.