For Rob Ford, graffiti has been a constant source of distress.  He re-introduced us to the downloadable app, SeeClickFix, for citizens to report graffiti in their neighborhoods. A city by-law was introduced that put the onus on property owners to pay for graffiti removal. Most recently, a city-staffed Graffiti Panel was instated to play judge, jury and executioner, determining which graffiti pieces are art (and allowed to remain), and which pieces would have to be removed at the property owner’s expense.

While some herald graffiti as aesthetic enhancement, others deem it urban blight. The only certainty is that efforts to quell it haven’t exactly put a dent in its proliferation.

Toronto Standard spoke with an evasive Toronto-based graffiti artist who has been plying his trade for years. He presents a curt albeit honest explanation as to why he does what he does – and how he has no intentions to stop –  much to the chagrin of elected officials and property owners alike.  He was adamant about not having his real name or writing alias used.

Why do you paint graffiti?

I started painting when I was in grade 9. I got into skating around then I was scribbling some stuff on paper during classes – some weird designs that made no sense. My skate crew around then all started doodling stuff. We would hang out in Tower records after skate sessions and look at magazines of skating, porn and graff. It was all very new to me.

There was no real reason for starting. Much like many kids at a young age, it was an outlet to put displaced energy. To say that there’s any particular reason behind why I started or why I do graffiti would be a lie. All the reasons that I have come up with over the years for doing graffiti have all just been justifications towards society for doing something illegal and trying too explain to  myself and others around me why I’m doing it.

In reality, I already know what I’m doing is wrong and it doesn’t really matter what anyone else thinks. I’m the one who has too deal with the consequences.  In the grand  scheme of things, its all an outlet. There’s a lot of stimulation that you get through the process of creating in areas that you’re not supposed to. You generate new ways of thinking and viewing the world.

Have you ever been caught?

I’ve been caught although its few and far between. I’ve dealt with the consequence and moved on. It’s a vicious cycle.  After a while its gets tiring and you wonder if you’re ever going to learn your lesson. Or you just become smart and move on or just go underground. Security guards and cops don’t mean shit to me. They are just pawns.  They just dictate what  route you’re gonna take and how you’re gonna go about doing what your going to –  do as long as you’re sober of course.

Do you worry about the paint fumes?

I would probably paint a lot more if it weren’t for the fumes and the death of the rusto spray paint can. Both things have led me to not wanna paint everyday. Especially with a lot more responsibilities in my life. I know people who have pissed their pants as a result of the fumes, have had intense nausea, shat their pants or just straight mumble and have mild communication or focusing issues.

Does your family know what you do?

My family knows, to what extent I keep to a minimum. What people don’t know won’t hurt them.

Are there any ethical considerations you subscribe to concerning graffiti? (i.e. not on people’s houses, cars, etc.)

We all have our ethics or at least I would hope. There’s definitely a wide range of things many of which you mentioned I would not paint on. Unfortunately there is always some time where you break your own ethics code. It’s very rare, but it happens. It’s anarchy for the most part, but I try to be ethical because I do care. But what’s fair game all depends on the individual.

What is the highest echelon of target?

That depends on what you’re into. I just like doing what I’ve never done before and keeping  things interesting from a personal standpoint. Trains are interesting because it’s just for me and my friends.  There’s no political agenda except for the commentary going on in my mind at the time and I don’t have to deal with the boys club of other graffiti writers seeing my work or going over it unless I want to. It’s my own personal collection. Because of this, documentation has become a bigger part of my process as of lately.

Do you consider tags an inferior form of graffiti?

Obviously, it’s pretty rewarding completing a technical piece. It’s very stimulating. But tags are the shit.  Especially good tags. Fuck, I love good tags, I really do man. It’s selfish and its something I don’t know if I will ever grow out of.

What’s your opinion of graffiti artists who begin to work in a mainstream art gallery milieu?

It’s their life, why the hell should I care what they do with their lives? It’s hard enough making it in this world after accumulating multiple charges and being told what you’re doing is wrong for the majority of your  life. As long as they’re not revealing or incriminating other individuals in the process, then it means nothing to me.

How has the scene in TO evolved/devolved?

Toronto has always had a quality graffiti scene until recently. The quality has fallen into the ground and the mayor has buffed anything worth looking at in the city. Except for alleyway pieces.  There will always be new generations and the buff is part of the game. Graffiti wasn’t meant to stay up forever, unfortunately. That’s what keeps it interesting, There will always be that one kid who’s got heart and style who will make things exciting on the streets for awhile…

Have you noticed any change in the amount of graffiti?

Rob Ford is doing a really ‘good’ job at eradicating graffiti. He’s creating new jobs by sending out city crews to clean the graffiti. During these tough economic times, he’s adding new positions in the labor force. The beauty of it all is, that because graffiti is a neverending cycle,  all these graffiti removal companies will always have a job.

I think most mayors in Toronto were just smarter and looked at ways to promote culture in the city, rather than dissolve it.

Unfortunately, the bigger picture is the look of our city. No effort is being put into actually making this city look any better. Getting rid of graffiti is a cop-out for actually getting something done. A city without a little grit or texture to help with its character is absurdly wrong. The appearance of making the city look better through wasting money on cleaning graffiti isn’t going too help bring up property value or add any value to the city’s infrastructure. Maybe we can think of ways to add to the cities infrastructure? 

What would be the only way to permanently eradicate graffiti?

There is no way to permanently eradicate graffiti. If anyone thinks that this is possible then there is something seriously wrong with them. Outsider culture will always exist. Look at demolition man…graffiti writers are sick, addicted crack addicts looking for the next hit from the pipe… unfortunately they are a lot smarter than crack addicts for the most part and probably won’t die in the process of doing what they are doing.

All that will happen is the more that a city eradicates graffiti, the shittier the quality of the work that will appear on the streets. Maybe the city will even realize that what was there beforehand was better in quality one day, but it will be too late by then. Eventually, graffiti artists will get tired of fighting the buff and just start doing graffiti in areas that are a bit more contained, away from the eyesight of the public. It’s not like graffiti is gonna stop. People are just gonna branch out and find other places to do it which will make the city seem cleaner to some  and more colourful to others. All people will get too see are lots and lots of tags. Those who are adventurous will get to see something more interesting.

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Tiffy Thompson is a writer and illustrator for the Toronto Standard. Follow her on Twitter at @tiffyjthompson.