Acton
HELSINKI, Finland
Art is my full time work
Meeting of Styles Copenhagen 2021
Acton, from Helsinki, Finland. 46 years of age. Representing crews HRC, TMF & Raw Deal.
When did you start painting and how did you get into it?
Tagging in 1989, painting in 1990. I decided to follow the lead of my crew mates.
Describe your style
Rather basic lettering with colour schemes that have always been easy to approach. I’ve never been into complex wildstyle but have focused on the technical side of my paintings instead. I concentrate mostly on stylewriting, although every now and then I like to throw in a few cartoon-like characters. But yeah, it's mostly letters. Following the Scandinavian flavour from the 90's with a little mixture of 1980's NYC style.
What are your inspirations?
Heavy metal... and to some extent arts in general, especially well executed graffiti.
What is special about your home city and it's art scene?
Despite Helsinki being rather small city when compared to other European capitals, we do have a long and steady history with very active and talented writers. What's probably moulded Helsinki writers the most is that we've been roughened by both shitty painting conditions as well as the zero tolerance policy that lasted for ten years.
What is your favourite painting location so far and what makes this your favourite?
There always was something magical about Sydhavnen hall of fame, Copenhagen. I visited there first time in 2006, and unfortunately I didn't paint there then. But I'm happy I managed to do that nine years later, before the place got torn down. Well, I do have a soft spot for Copenhagen in general, so when combining my favourite city with my favourite artform, that's sheer perfection right there.
Describe a perfect painting day
Well, this is easy: Meeting of Styles events or the likes, with loads of killer artists, good music, good weather, plenty of paint and time to use 'em... and couple of cold brews a day.
What does graffiti/street art mean to you?
Well, I can only talk about graffiti, and it means everything to me. At first it was friends, brotherhood, loyalty, looking after each other, fucking shit up together. Later on it transformed into competing with yourself and evolving as an artist.
Are you more into solo artworks or into collaborative productions?
At this very moment I'm more into solo artworks. But that's mostly due to my current life situation, balancing with work and family of five plus two dogs. So it's less hassle and/or broken promises when just painting by yourself.
Who are your favourite artist(s) to collaborate with so far?
Damn, this is gonna be a list of my crew mates only, haha. Gotta drop a few names here: Deos, Round and Psyke. Working on a concept walls with these lads has always been like a walk in the park, easy and seamless, and you always know the outcome will be killer! I'm lucky enough to be in a three crews, all filled with professional writers, so basically working together with any of them does work like a charm. And admit that I do miss painting collaborations with Upik (Hungary) and Bowes (Germany) as well, those guys also know how to rock the walls properly.
What do you think about Meeting of Styles and painting jams in general?
I think they're a perfect way to meet like minded people and share ideas, to hook up with people abroad.
How do you see the rise of street art and new tendencies like big scale muralismo?
Well, I do like well executed street art but since it has very little to nothing to do with graffiti I don't pay that much attention to it. The history, styles and usually even techniques tend to be different from each other.
Name the aspects you dislike about graffiti/street art
Without pointing fingers let's just say that certain type of negative people that revolve around this kind of phenomena. And naturally the health factor of the trade. Yeah, I'm referring to toxins of spraypaints. The more older you get, the more you have to (and should!) pay attention to proper protective gear. Sure, the paints have become less toxic compared to what they were 30-40 years ago, but they're still filled up with chemicals that have no business of being inside a human body.
Name the aspects you love about graffiti/street art
In addition to it being very rewarding artform, there are bunch of cool people doing it and I’m lucky enough to know quite a few of ‘em. I also love the aspect that even if I begun my journey with graffiti thirty one years ago, it's still easy to enjoy, even adore, styles and skills of other graffiti artists. Even if most of ‘em are the same old school writers I followed in the early 90’s like Bates, Rens, Can2 or VIM crew. But what’s even more cooler is that there is a legion of talented younger artists around the globe who keep pushing the limits of graffiti forward.
In your opinion, what is the most exciting thing happening these years in graffiti or street art?
To me it's definitely seeing graffiti grow, spread and evolve around the world! What I also love is seeing it has made its way into "traditional" art world in my parts of the world and is recognised as an official artform among others, after being ridiculed and fought against for many years.
Does your personal situation affect your way of painting?
Yes, quite a lot: it limits a lot the time I'm able to spend on my art. I am a father of three so I have my hands full of daily chores. Even if my head is filled with ideas and my heart yearns for painting adventures, I have to face, accept and learn to embrace the realities and responsibilities life throws in my way.
If you could compare your style with music, what would it sound like?
“That’s the way I wanna rock’n roll” by AC/DC. Or any other song by them would do. I’ve done my stuff for so long, being always true to my roots, so people usually get what they expect to get from me. As it is with AC/DC. You know, art that's relative easy to approach, basic yet well executed stuff, with only a minor of extras here and there, always something you'd recognise pretty much the moment you see (hear) it. I mean I'm 46 years old, I can't reinvent the wheel anymore, I'm just happy to be able to keep it rolling forward.
