photos and art by hop louie
Interview: Hop Louie / Back in May 2005, Hop Louie submitted some of his street art to our community section and we've been fans of his ever since. I'm posting our discussion over the last month to hopefully inspire us all a bit more and shed light on a great artist and his beliefs.
Q: Your profile?
A: I'm twenty six and live in Stockholm, Sweden. At the moment I'm studying but usually I'm unemployed.
web link: hoplouie.com
A: I'm twenty six and live in Stockholm, Sweden. At the moment I'm studying but usually I'm unemployed.
web link: hoplouie.com
Q: What's your average day like?
A: On my average day I wake up too late, go to school, massproduce some stuff to put on walls, put the stuff up on walls, meet my girl and friends, cook and eat vegetarian food, try to come up with new ways of communicating with the society and then I go to bed.
I also work politically with my comrades towards a world free of capitalism, authorithy, sexism, fascism and imperialism and all this other shit that is pissing me off.
I stopped watching TV a couple of years ago and found that it gives me more time to do what I want.
A: On my average day I wake up too late, go to school, massproduce some stuff to put on walls, put the stuff up on walls, meet my girl and friends, cook and eat vegetarian food, try to come up with new ways of communicating with the society and then I go to bed.
I also work politically with my comrades towards a world free of capitalism, authorithy, sexism, fascism and imperialism and all this other shit that is pissing me off.
I stopped watching TV a couple of years ago and found that it gives me more time to do what I want.
Q: So what's your favorite way of putting things up on walls? Wheat paste? Stickers? Stencils? Other? Decscribe your process...
A: I like wheatpasting a lot because I find it relaxing to walk around in a city with my bucket and my brush. I usually do it during the day because I think I have the right to put stuff on walls. Even though the swedes have a non healthy respect for laws and other peoples property they don't seem to mind so much when they see me in action, maybe because most of them think it's commercial stuff I'm putting up. I do stencils too, but I do them during the night.
I also do stencils on tile which I cement up on walls which gives me the opportunity to spend more time on one piece, with backgrounds and stuff. People who see me cement the tile up usually get confused and walk away, instead of panic and call the cops which they would do if they would see me with a spraycan in my hand.
A: I like wheatpasting a lot because I find it relaxing to walk around in a city with my bucket and my brush. I usually do it during the day because I think I have the right to put stuff on walls. Even though the swedes have a non healthy respect for laws and other peoples property they don't seem to mind so much when they see me in action, maybe because most of them think it's commercial stuff I'm putting up. I do stencils too, but I do them during the night.
I also do stencils on tile which I cement up on walls which gives me the opportunity to spend more time on one piece, with backgrounds and stuff. People who see me cement the tile up usually get confused and walk away, instead of panic and call the cops which they would do if they would see me with a spraycan in my hand.
Q: I love the idea of cementing tiles on walls and imagine they stay up much longer than any paste-up would.
What is it that your work communicates? What are some specific messages you are trying to share with your fellow citizens?
A: Well, I guess I want people to think more for themselves. And as I mentioned earlier, I'm not a great fan of capitalism and so on and that probably shows too. In the beginning I didn't think of my stuff as street art, it was propaganda I made but people tore it down much faster than if the message was more hidden so I starded hiding it, and it became more arty.
What is it that your work communicates? What are some specific messages you are trying to share with your fellow citizens?
A: Well, I guess I want people to think more for themselves. And as I mentioned earlier, I'm not a great fan of capitalism and so on and that probably shows too. In the beginning I didn't think of my stuff as street art, it was propaganda I made but people tore it down much faster than if the message was more hidden so I starded hiding it, and it became more arty.
Q: What you call it is not important. It's how many you stimulate that is or simply the effort to push content not driven by greed or money.
Your ethics and dedication speak volumes and I'd love for you to share any words with our readers that might inspire or encourage them to pursue their own message.
A: Ok my last words of wisdom. As I see it, the cities belong to the people who live in them, and therefore the people who live in them have the right to decor the cities as they wish. And destroy what destroys us.
Your ethics and dedication speak volumes and I'd love for you to share any words with our readers that might inspire or encourage them to pursue their own message.
A: Ok my last words of wisdom. As I see it, the cities belong to the people who live in them, and therefore the people who live in them have the right to decor the cities as they wish. And destroy what destroys us.
Comments
Jimmy comments /
I really like your work a lot. The cop with long legs is amazing, and the tile work is inspiring.
Mucho respecto!!!
John comments /
I like your work very much. The policeman and the tiled piece are excellent. I like your idea of cementing up tiles with your work on them, I may try it myself. Thank you for the inspiration!
kemesone comments /
That's that dope shit bitchez!
coolture comments /
i had the oportunity of hosting hop louie in my place in barcelona when he and his girlfriend came to spain.
he really is what it seems, i enjoyed a lot painting with him and he got a high quality as a human being.
am a hop louie's fan since then
jean genet comments /
inspirational...
keep gettin' up!!!
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