ISSUE 7 | INTERVIEW | EARLY 1995
Names?
Acton.
How old are you?
Not as young as I wanted to be.
When did you start?
I’ve been writing since 1990, but I started the serious damage around 1991.
Four, five years… What keeps you going?
The excitement, thrill… and it’s nice to see that one man is capable of creating this much good damage!
You’re in a crew called HRC… a short review?
Formed in 1990 and those days there were six.. no, seven writers down with the crew. But it was only bombing, tags and shit. When it got more serious in 1991, there were only two of us left: me and Rosk. Then we had this short period of SMF-crew, which included me, Rosk and Ten (Kors). That faded in early 1992 so Rosk and I continued together spreading the HRC, ‘til Dams joined the crew in summer ‘92. In that form HRC has stayed so far…
How many pieces have you done (by January ‘95)?
Hard to say, less than 400 so far. I suppose 350-380 is quite near the exact amount. I try to paint at least twice a week, so it’s 100 pieces per year, usually 10 or so over.
When piecing, which is more important: colors or lines?
It depends, when doing a silver or one color fill piece it’s definitely the lines. But when doing a piece with many colors it’s obvious that more attention is paid to the colors… even though if you have fucked up lines, good colors and fresh, well done fills can make the end result if not good, but at least tolerable.
But! Good colors + Good, sharp lines = a burner!
Have you had any trouble with the police?
Nothing serious, I’ve been chased a couple of times, but that’s it…
…but the cops probably have problems with us. I understand that they really tried to nail us during the autumn ‘92 – spring ‘93, ‘cause those days we were the only ones that painted on the line. The “graffiti police” even phoned Dams! But he had no solid evidence, he was just “testing the ice with a stick”… later (spring ‘93) we nearly got caught doing a one big wall, a bridge under in the line. Several people reported seeing us and gave identifying features of us to the police. We denied all of their accusations and told them that we were just looking at the pieces, and since we had only a few cans left and the pieces were ready we said that we found them beside the wall – the real graf-artists probably left the cans there! And since the police are well known for their wisdom, they let us go – even though they kept the cans.
Negative things in graf?
The worst thing that I know is winter. Another thing that’s negative is the police – they should be busting real criminals instead of harassing graffiti-writers! And the paints are too expensive. Otherwise I think graf is very positive.
Who do you think are the best writers?
Well, in the USA: Hex, definitely! I think he’s, if not the best, at least among the three best in the world.
The next two are European writers: Loomit and Bates. They’re so fuckin’ good! Real heroes!!!
Here in Finland..? I really like the characters by Raster, but otherwise I think CDC and especially Main are worth mentioning, they’re the best – true style originators!!!
Shout out’s/hi’s to?
All my best wishes to: the rest of the HRC – my partners in crime! My brother, Fat & DTS-crew, Fisk & SCS-crew, Kors, Maus, Ater, all the ex-members of HRC (you’re not forgotten!) and any other friends. I also like to send greetings to J. Tompuri of Espoo police dep. – a real “detective”. Keep up the “good” work!!!