This month, we follow graffiti artist Rahmaan “STATIK” Barnes to see how EQ fits into his lifestyle!
Beginning 11.11.11, Rahmaan Statik’s “Creative Liberation” work will be on display at RGB Lounge in Chicago’s Wicker Park until 12.11.11. The Creative Liberation exhibition is a depiction of what happens when artist produce art for personal practice, with no intention of gaining personal commerce (yet every painting on display is to gain personal profits). This body of work challenges common ideas of social constructs, and stereo types. The motive behind this work is to inspire people to produce art that can save the world, challenge governments, and to liberate artistic oppressed people. The function of this solo exhibition is to promote the public taking control of there visual reality and to deregulate all zoning laws against any form of public art in public space. To have Creative Liberation is to end all censorship on all forms of art and return creative control back to the artist.
EQ gets up and personal with the artist to find out what he’s up to and where he’s going. Check it out!
EQ: What type of art do you do?
RSB: Graffiti influenced art with an urban twist. I produce art that influence people to change there world. My art Liberates people through a creative means.
EQ: Who are your influences?
RSB: The historic influences of my work are Alphonse Mucha, Caravaggio and Andy Warhol. Their uses of color, form and medium have proved a good reference for setting my personal standard. Likewise, my contempory influences, which include Mariko Mori, Brat Disney Cook and Zaha Hadid.
EQ: Describe something that not many people know about you.
RSB: I have produced over 220 wall murals in my career so far. When I am not creating, I am fighting for human and animal rights. Last, but not least, I am Chicago’s best kept secret in visual art!
EQ: What legacy would you like to leave in this world?
RSB: It is artist fighting for creative liberation, that creates trends in the art market. These artist create the true cultural identity of society. For example: Hip Hop is a sub culture, that was started by inner city kids having fun through creative means. This motive of inner city kids doing art for art sake, is what started the modern graffiti movement, Rap music, DJ/ Producer music, and break dancing. These forms of art worked as a creative outlet for inner city youth that would have been committing other substantial crimes.
People creating non market driven art sets trends and creates home grown culture. To produce art from internal perspective, for personal reasons. That can be presented to the world and still be seen as art, and changing the way we see art. To inspire people and set social trends through producing art. These social trends inspired by free art can often led common people to think free. As an artist, to influence people to thinking freely, and making art that saves the world is Artist freedom.
EQ: What are your current and future projects?
RSB: I currently work out of my studio in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago, where in addition to pieces created in oil, acrylic, graphite, pen & ink, pastels, mosaic tile, spray paint and digital media, I am developing an instructional video on large-scale aerosol pieces.
EQ: How did you hear about EQ?
RSB: I heard about EQ through RGB Lounge, an artist co-op in Chicago’s Wicker Park. I love the way they were able to have a backpack system which can adapt to your every day activity. It’s very functional and durable and great for travel! I would love to see more graffiti art on their skyn designs.
EQ: What were your influences on designing the 6 pieces for your EQ feature?
RSB: The collection of works celebrates the rich artistic history of Rahmaan Statik.
Find out more about Statik and his work on:
www.statikone.net
http://facebook.com/rahmaan.statik
All skyns below will be on sale on EQ’s website under Featured Artist!
