Argentinian Graffiti/Street Artist JAZ is quite the character. I would imagine you would have to be when your art consists of half man/half monsters fighting each other in beheaded brawls.
I first met JAZ while filming the Graffiti Fine Art Documentary. His work has always stood out to me because of his unique technique. While staying true to the spray can, JAZ has managed to create a watercolor style application of the spray paint with the help of a solvent (paint thinner). After applying the spray in a traditional way onto a wall, JAZ pours solvent on a paint brush and then begins to paint the wall. The solvent then breaks down the paint and essentially turns the whole wall into a watercolor piece.
It’s interesting to see the process as the definite lines often associated with spray paint wash away. It becomes much more about the brush strokes and general fusion of color. It is almost a contradiction of what the spray can has come to represent but at the same time, JAZ would feel unconnected to the street if he used any other paint to achieve his desired look.
During our conversations JAZ told me that when he started 15 years ago in Buenos Aires he never imagined it would take him all over the world. We’ve both benefited greatly from the rise of Street Art in mainstream culture. It is nice to know that this mainstream ascendency is helping artists not only see the world but also impact it and inspire others.
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