During these past few days in Lima, I’ve seen your tag up in quite a few places. When did you first begin to get up?  I started tagging when I was 12 years old. At first I didn’t tag my name. I would just tag any words that I liked. I put up lots of names of bands on the walls in Lima.

Where were you living at the time? In the Miraflores district of the city. I still live there.

Have you any early “tagging” memories? If we knocked on someone’s door on Halloween and we didn’t get any candy, my friends and I tagged up the door.

Who were your inspirations at the time? Back then my favorite writers were: AWR Crew, Saber, Revok, Seen and Cope. I was also inspired by Twist.

Why did you decide to make public space your canvas?  Because it’s forbidden. I like the feeling of being an outlaw!  

Have you ever been caught?  When I was 17 or 18, I decided that the safest way not to get caught is to paint in daylight in a public space. That way the cops would assume I had permission. As I was getting a large piece finished on a big bridge, the cops pulled up. I told them that I had permission, and I gave them a fake name.

On the subject of names, you are part of a crew called “FUMAKAKA.” How did you guys come up with that name? We were playing around with words and sounds and thinking about how much smoking stinks – and we had it: FUMAKAKA.

Have you any favorite spots? I like abandoned buildings and neighborhoods in transition.

What about stickers?  I’ve seen your stickers around too. When did you get into stickers? A few years ago, my friends and I came up with the idea of selling assorted spray-can caps in individual plastic bags. We decided to include a sticker in each bag. We had 5,000 made, and they were a huge success. Everyone wanted a sticker. We started giving them away at concerts and skateboarding events and we started pasting them up.

Where do you paste them? Anywhere I can! On traffic signs, trash cans, windows, ATM’s. In public bathrooms, restaurants and bars and in buses.

Has your work also been in galleries? Yes, I’ve exhibited in Chile, Argentina and Bogota, Colombia. I’ve also participated in three gallery exhibits here in Peru.

Have you a “day job?” How do you support yourself? I work as an art director in a theater.  I paint murals and I get commissioned to do illustrations. 

Have you had any formal art education? I studied graphic design for four years at TOULOUSE LAUTREC here in Lima.

What do you see yourself doing in the future? Art, art and more art. Painting, drawing, illustrating…whatever!

Interviewed by LoisInWonderland