ARMY OF ONE

Sometimes the best way to subvert the system isn't a raised fist but rather, spray paint and canvas. Singapore's own urban artist, ANTZ, is part of that charge. Running with the design collective RSCLS, ANTZ has worked with international events and projects like NIKE, Adidas and Tiger Beer. Despite it all, he still returns to communicating his message in a mish-mash of contemporary urban styles sprinkled with traditional chinese visuals and influences. ANTZ's next ouevre is his involvement in FLABSLAB's Fang To Fur exhibition on June 8. We talk to ANTZ on what makes him tick.

How did you become involved in the urban art scene?

I was just a kid when I first started. I’ve idolised local heroes like ZERO and KILLERGERBIL, queued up for their autographs, showed them a couple of things that I had done. They would invite me to jam with them. Through that I picked up a couple more tricks in handling [spray] cans and being adept in the street medium, which was incredible, considering I am a graduate from a digital course.

Since then I’ve been making artworks better then the last one, both locally and exploring the overseas scene.

A lot of traditional Chinese motifs can be found in your work. Is that a big part of your identity?

Big? Try massive! I tap almost all of my style with Asian / oriental influences; from patterns to myths and legends. I base my practice of the art form on education to showcase how Asian art can be applied in an urban context; reminding people of their roots. For example, Sun Wukong (the Monkey King). I always paint that character and people's reaction to it are usually: "Oh, I used to watch that on TV when I was a kid!"

So what fuels your inspiration?

They range from music to art to favourite neighbours and crazy night out with friends. Each influences me artistically, from concepts to ideas; I still idolise artists for technical skills and execution of concepts like MEGGS (Australia); SYAN (Hong Kong); JAMIE HEWLETT (UK); BANKSY (UK) and many more.

Singapore is strict on vandals thus any public artwork has to go through plenty of red tape for approval. Does that inhibit your creativity? Can an artist find satisfaction when he or she is toeing the line?

I don’t really care. In fact, I see the restrictions as challenges; allowing the artist to produce more concepts to counter these measures. It’s how the artist conquers the environment and not the environment changing the artist. The environment inspires the artist. Don’t give up and push all the blame to the top. Think of a way. This is one of the reasons why I travel so much.

What led to the formation of Geeksigners and RSCLS?

Geeksigners (GKS) was formed nine years with Sean Yang (gks), Ben Qwek (mr B) and William Teo (Lucas Films). We decided to start a collective to do anything we want. To date, we handle accounts like Adidas and Mini Cooper.

I formed RSCLS with Zero and Clogtwo shortly after that. Propagating acts of artistic nonsense through open, uninhibited random collaborations and discourse. We got pretty sick of doing graffiti and instead aimed to push the art form to the next level, dealing more of street art and to play with concepts like 2D murals, art installations, toys and fashion.

Is there a place in the world you would like your work to be displayed?

I would really love to do something that can be only seen from space... if not, painting on planes is really fine for me. I don’t expect much. I’ll paint on whatever comes. [laughs].

Catch the works of ANTZ, Sheryo, Namimon, Clogtwo and Angry Woebots at Fang To Fur organised by FLABSLAB on June 8 at FLABSLAP, 1 Commonwealth Lane, #06-11, One Commonwealth.