PIXAÇAO INVADES NEW YORK: VIDEO AND INTERVIEW WITH GDS OSCURURU

We’ve gotten pretty used to seeing videos or images of pixaçao in Brazilian cities and it’s something we’ve assimilated as being one of the most normal things in the world. However, if you take this extreme form of graffiti out of its usual context, it makes us value more the dangerous aspect of this extremely interesting handstyle that is one of a kind in the world.

It just so happens that we can witness this for ourselves thanks to GDS from Oscururu crew’s activity recently. The reckless São Paulo writer based in New York is putting the pixaçao artform into practice in a completely decontextualized environment.
To illustrate the magnitude of his mission, GDS himself has sent us a video produced by 30day_unlimited in which he complements his ambitious acts with the perfect spray paint to do them: MADMAXXX.

Thanks to the support of MTN BRAZIL.

The result is some undoubtedly revolutionary bombing in a country where there’s an almost religious respect for private property, and you are exposing yourself to consequences that are difficult to foresee. It made us wonder about the different types of danger that a pixador could face in Sao Paulo or in New York. So, what could be better than asking the writer himself?

–What do you do in New York?

In the beginning I came to New York for an exhibition in an art gallery but afterwards I decided to stay for longer in order to do more pixos since it was a new place, with more possibilities and a greater worldwide visibility.

-What are the differences you find between NYC and SP graffiti?

The biggest difference is that pixaçao can dominate a space much more than what a writer can do in New York. Another important point is that in Sao Paulo you don’t paint over other names and for that reason pixadors are more interested in finding new spots.

“In Sao Paulo it’s much more dangerous because there’s not many spots to do pixaçao anymore and so, the spots that are left are really hard to get to and very dangerous“

-Doesn’t this type of really dangerous graffiti alarm pedestrians a lot?

Yes, it’s very dangerous and I’ve had a lot of problems with the police. But I don’t have any physical problems. Normally, when we’re climbing people on the street don’t notice because they don’t usually look up. At times when someone has noticed, I don’t know what they must have been thinking.

-Is this kind of bombing more dangerous in New York or in Sao Paulo?

In Sao Paulo it’s much more dangerous because there’s not many spots to do pixaçao anymore and so, the spots that are left are really hard to get to and very dangerous.
Here in New York there’s so much space, it’s quite easy for a pixador to paint.

-Do you think about the legal consequences for what you’re doing?

I think it’s dangerous in the sense that I’m the only one doing it, but at the same time I’m supervising the city in order to paint places where I won’t have problems in terms of investigation. But I’m always really scared. This is all new to me. I’m still trying to understand the laws here.

-Tell us a bit about the Oscururu Crew. What is its current status?

Currently I’m the only one writing it. There were writers from other eras, seeing as it was founded in 1990. I started in 1997.

“Pixaçao gives a new character to urban culture and it’s possible for new cities to have pixaçao. In any metropolis in the world there will be space for pixadors to paint“

-Do you think pixaçao makes sense outside of Brazil?

I think so. Pixaçao gives a new character to urban culture and it’s possible for new cities to have pixaçao. In any metropolis in the world there will be space for pixadors to paint.

-How did the MADMAXXX cans work for your mission?

MADMAXXX is super good, very impactful and very powerful. I can do really big letters with it. Crazy.

-What do you miss about Sao Paulo?

I miss my family but also the food and being able to drink beer in the street without any problems. I also miss my friends and going out to paint with someone since there’s no other pixadors here who I can meet up with. And graffiti writers have a totally different rhythm when writing.

-What do you like most about New York?

In general, the thing I like most is its architecture.

Images from Besidecolors.