Shelflife Artist Series: Veza
We finish off the year with our final collaboration for the artist tee series, featuring the formidable Veza from the EDK crew. Born and raised in JHB, Veza is known all over Johannesburg since he started painting back in 2004. Check out some of his banger photos below, and a catch up we had with him.
Where did you grow up?
I was born in Soweto, Baragwanath hospital to be exact and grew up in JHB aka Jsect aka Johazardousburg on the westside of the city.
I spent a lot of time as an adolescent in JHB city traveling to and from school(nursery,primary and then high school) hanging out with friends, exploring different sections of the city, working.
When did you start writing?
I painted my first proper piece which was still quite amateur I think somewhere in 04/05 maybe, prior that I was doing tags and throwies here and there trying to understand the graffiti ecosystem, who was in it, where to paint, how to paint, what to paint, what paint to use and where to the paint.
If there was one moment that really peaked your interest leading you into graffiti, what was it and when?
A good friend of mine from school was doing tags which I thought were really unique he also had this big marker im sure it was just one of those Artline100s haha but at the time that kind of blew my mind I would also see these huge pye tags and always wonder how they were done maybe with a small little roller? hahaha!
Who / what was your biggest inspiration starting?
The Local scene and International traditional scene inspired me.
Locally I was inspired by Gogga, Dread, the whole MSE CREW, DS crew, Cas crew, Mzok, Wealz, Wise, Dice, Jade, Transit killers, Void, Nme crew, Tva, DBS crew, Kws crew, Fuk crew, Fsu crew.
Old school NY writers like Iz The Wiz, Skeme, Kase2, Dez aka DJ kayslay, NY bombers like JA, Chino.
The combination of commuting through town and Yeoville, seeing party advertisements and flyers, Reality chromies, EM productions, MSE tags trying to decipher pieces really got my mind wondering.
Who / what is your biggest inspiration now?
Guys I paint with locally, international crews like IRAK, jbcb, BTM - I love how some have found their way into galleries while still doing traditional graffiti (tags and throwies). Yea the list could go on and on.
Has graffiti helped shape your future, if so what commercial work has lead to where you find yourself today?
I think graffiti has definitely shaped my future somehow in fact I think if I didn’t write I might not have the job I have or even be doing this tee.
Graffiti has introduced me to a bunch of different people from different walks of life, been arrested, gone to nicro. The style of my art and design have also been influenced by my graffiti roots.
I kind of have a love hate relationship with it sometimes wondering if I never got into it what would I be doing. At the end of the day I have to admit its something that I cant run away from its in me lol.
What was your specific inspiration for your SL Artist Tee?
Wanted to do something abit different to what I usually paint and use the SL as inspo for a Mercedes SL500. Also, I just wanted to keep it simple and something quite easy to wear. Touching on simplicity with the use of one colour, since I like a lot of black and white work.
Tell us something we don't know about you?
I can play a few classical instruments like the violin.
What the best piece of advice you can give other artists just starting along their journey?
Research and understand the fundamentals of graffiti. Work on your tags and develop your throws, cross your T’s and dot your I’s. Understand your why, paint loads while you still can and take flicks.
Shelflife Artist Tee 'Veza'
R499
S, M, L, XL, 2XL
Dropping Saturday 10 December in CPT, JHB and online.
Online at 7am, stores from 10am.