Montana LOOKBOOK #08 / 2023

↑ “COMPASION”. Reminding
us to be
compassionate.
↓ A postcard for
home. For most, an
image of a place they
would rather not be at.
That said, I do like to try and stay away from that
sometimes as it can become quite toxic and destructive.
The whole aspect of today’s concept on words I
paint stems from my incarceration in prison in the UK in
2012. I was sentenced to 19 months in prison of which I
spent a third of that time behind bars. It was during that
time that I managed to read and learn a lot about
freedom and decided to redirect some of my interests
into wanting to convey a message that went beyond
writing for a graffiti scene.
MC
During your experiences and the capturing of the
photos in your projects like the “Artists in violent
contexts” button on your website, was meeting up with
other writers the same as connecting in any other
country? Or is there a whole different procedure when
in a violent city?
I was sentenced to 19 months in
prison of which I spent a third of
that time behind bars.
PA
It was just like meeting graffiti writers that I would have
the opportunity to meet in less violent countries. In fact,
graffiti was the opening door. Had I introduced myself
as a journalist or a photographer, I reckon I would not
have been able to approach the people in the same way.
As a matter of fact, I was recently in Iraq to expand on
this particular project you refer to and wanted to
interview urban artists. Introducing myself as a graffiti
writer as opposed to a documentary photographer
helped with the access and trust 100 percent, I think.
68 Artist in focus/Interview Pablo Allison