MontanaCans LOOKBOOK 2021

MONTANA CANS
Before you started exploring the augmented reality
aspect of your work, what was your focus when creating
graffiti or murals?
BOND TRULUV
Well, I guess it’s safe to say that my focus changed every
so often, finding so much inspiration from so many
different sources. Looking back now, there are really a
lot of different styles and approaches in my work.
You have already mentioned a few in your intro. There
were and still are times when I felt really confused
about which path, or style, to follow. Waging economic,
practical, personal, and even political aspects against
each other. When you look at the popular and in other
ways successful artists that emerged from the sea
of writers, it seems that they all have this one signature
style that they are known for and according to which
parameters they work. Like a brand or consumer product,
it almost seemed to me that most them have a
certain type of “corporate identity”. Naturally, I thought
that’s the recipe for success and was constantly
confused about myself not being able to build up this
solid body of coherent work. Nowadays I think that
this ability to change and play with new influences is a
strength and I try to embrace and welcome new and
unusual ideas. The world we live in is too diverse for singular
inspiration. Of course, the longer you work in a
certain set of restraints, certain routines come with it.
And that’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it sure can
be limiting at times.
↑ Start at the beginning,
no matter how
far you delve into
making art digitally,
nothing substitutes
a strong foundation
in drawing by hand.
I’m a self-taught person, not
working in the industry or
anything and I pretty much
do everything myself.
MC
At what point in your career did the AR work start to enter
your painting work? Was there any specific moment
to this starting?
BT
One night about three years ago I had a couple of beers
with some nerd friends of mine and we were deep in
a discussion about technology stuff when the AR topic
popped up. Pretty much the very next day I built my first
AR app with Unity3D, and the help of a YouTube tutorial.
MC
Your affiliation to traveling must deeply inform your artwork,
how do you practically manage this combination
of analog and digital work? Is it as simple as bringing
along a laptop with your cans, or do you need other
special requirements?
BT
Unfortunately, the technical aspect of the more complex
AR pieces is super time consuming and challenging.
I’m a self-taught person, not working in the industry or
anything and I pretty much do everything myself. So,
most of the time, putting together the AR animations and
whole infrastructure as well as conceiving and editing
the whole show is more work than the actual painting of
it. Also, the troubleshooting and researching for the
best techniques takes its time. There is rarely a case when
technology or software just work like that. Usually
there are random errors and a blue screen that come
with the piece.
MC
Has the development of digital work become more
important to you than painting with cans?
BT
For me, the interesting and important part is the combination.
There are way better digital artists out there
and there are better graffiti writers and spray paint artists
out there. But blending the different approaches to
create something new and unique is what’s raising my
curiosity.
48 Artist in focus / Interview bond truluv