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Interview
:
with Zimali
1984. I've been doing many gallery by an artist who had once done graf-
shows since then along with freelan- fiti or an artist who learned how to
cing. My freelance work consisted of paint with a spray can but may have
painting denim jackets for singers never actually done graffiti. There
to wear on stage, such as Patty La- are very few who have broken that
belle, Anita Baker, New Kids on the barrier. Basquat and Haring do their
Block, Will Smith, Jazzy Jeff, The unique style and stand out from the
Boyz, backdrops for the TV show the crowd. Nowadays you have so
Steampipe Alley and a couple of TV many more artists becoming stars
commercials. I attended the Fashion in their field. This makes me believe
Institute of Technology in 1987 that the art of graffiti (or in my own
and in my first year I was awarded case painting a canvas using graffiti
a scholarship majoring in textile elements) is being accepted much
designing. In 1989 I was a part of more than ever before.
a graffiti programme sponsored
by Planned Parenthood. The pro- In 2004 I was introduced to the
gramme was called "m.a.g.i.c." 11 5ptz Graffiti Factory" through a
(More American graffiti in control). friend who was running the place.
It helped graffiti artists to channel I attended an event that was called
their negative energy into a positive "old-timers' day". On this day the
Zimad -- or Luis, his real stream. What we did was to sign a graffiti artist who I looked up to, the
name -- is one of the rising contract to stop defacing people's ones that were doing it ten years be-
stars in the international art property and use that energy to fore I started, were there painting
world. You can often see him paint canvases instead. In fact, I the whole back of the building, there
on TV in the United States was already doing this at that point had to be about sixty of them. I was
and elsewhere. His art is a in my career. In 1993 I decided to so taking aback by this event that
mix of graffiti associated take a break from art which lasted I've been going back every weekend
with different characters, five years. I made my comeback in ever since and now not only am I
and for those of you who like 1998 when I was involved in the first a resident artist there, but I also
major graffiti auction at Guernsey's
modern art, Zimad is defi-
nitely somebody to watch Auction House. This sparked what
closely. We had the opportu- had been missing in my life for the pre-
vious five years. I haven't stopped since.
nity of meeting him in New
York City to find out about
I feel the role of graffiti in society
his art, and to hear a little bit
has come a long way since its begin-
more about this rising star.
nings. Although it was the first ele-
ment of hip-hop, back in those days
it was misunderstood and looked
Q: Could you tell us a little bit down upon. It seems to have been
about yourself'?
the last element to be accepted and
that acceptance is still very modest.
My name is Luis "Zimad" Lamboy.
There are different types of so-called
I was born and raised in the South
graffiti art: there is the vandalism
Bronx area of New York City. I star- side which is still not accepted; and
ted my career as a graffiti artist at
then there is the artistic side which
the age of 14 in 1979. My first gallery
can be defined as aerosol art done
showing was at the Fashion Moda in
40 Culture
