hello oh this is awkward I’m not a very good public speaker I’ve kind of spent
good public speaker I’ve kind of spent
good public speaker I’ve kind of spent most of my career and most of my life
most of my career and most of my life
most of my career and most of my life hiding behind some kind of like
hiding behind some kind of like
hiding behind some kind of like masquerade
masquerade
masquerade my name is not Ben iron my name’s Ben
my name is not Ben iron my name’s Ben
my name is not Ben iron my name’s Ben whatever so I’ve always been like hidden
whatever so I’ve always been like hidden
whatever so I’ve always been like hidden behind this thing so for me to stand up
behind this thing so for me to stand up
behind this thing so for me to stand up in front of you guys now and go during
in front of you guys now and go during
in front of you guys now and go during his talk was a little bit weird so we’re
his talk was a little bit weird so we’re
his talk was a little bit weird so we’re gonna talk about graffiti vandalism
gonna talk about graffiti vandalism
gonna talk about graffiti vandalism turning into fine art so I was full team
turning into fine art so I was full team
turning into fine art so I was full team and I was down the Kings Road I went in
and I was down the Kings Road I went in
and I was down the Kings Road I went in WH Smurfs and I saw this book and it’s
WH Smurfs and I saw this book and it’s
WH Smurfs and I saw this book and it’s called subway AR and it was the first
called subway AR and it was the first
called subway AR and it was the first thing I ever stolen in my life it was a
thing I ever stolen in my life it was a
thing I ever stolen in my life it was a book on by these two people mark Cooper
book on by these two people mark Cooper
book on by these two people mark Cooper and Henry tale front and this book
and Henry tale front and this book
and Henry tale front and this book literally became my Bible by literally
literally became my Bible by literally
literally became my Bible by literally worship worship it for years and I
worship worship it for years and I
worship worship it for years and I looked at these paintings of trains in
looked at these paintings of trains in
looked at these paintings of trains in New York and I was like I’m going to do
New York and I was like I’m going to do
New York and I was like I’m going to do that I kind of dedicated the next 20
that I kind of dedicated the next 20
that I kind of dedicated the next 20 years of my life to doing that I got
years of my life to doing that I got
years of my life to doing that I got arrested loads and tagged the hell out
arrested loads and tagged the hell out
arrested loads and tagged the hell out of London destroyed London Underground
of London destroyed London Underground
of London destroyed London Underground destroyed British Rail trains painted
destroyed British Rail trains painted
destroyed British Rail trains painted every Beastie Boy album named as a
every Beastie Boy album named as a
every Beastie Boy album named as a top-to-bottom whole car on British Rail
top-to-bottom whole car on British Rail
top-to-bottom whole car on British Rail carriages I was like a little kid yeah
carriages I was like a little kid yeah
carriages I was like a little kid yeah but the one thing I did have was an
but the one thing I did have was an
but the one thing I did have was an unbelievable Drive and an unbelievable
unbelievable Drive and an unbelievable
unbelievable Drive and an unbelievable passion for this thing that I couldn’t
passion for this thing that I couldn’t
passion for this thing that I couldn’t really understand when I got into
really understand when I got into
really understand when I got into graffiti I saw this book I kind of
graffiti I saw this book I kind of
graffiti I saw this book I kind of looked at this and I was like this is
looked at this and I was like this is
looked at this and I was like this is the most amazing art form in the world
the most amazing art form in the world
the most amazing art form in the world it’s literally gonna change everything
it’s literally gonna change everything
it’s literally gonna change everything and then 20 years later I was like this
and then 20 years later I was like this
and then 20 years later I was like this is literally so boring it hasn’t changed
is literally so boring it hasn’t changed
is literally so boring it hasn’t changed anything everything it promised it was
anything everything it promised it was
anything everything it promised it was going to do it hasn’t done and I’ve lost
going to do it hasn’t done and I’ve lost
going to do it hasn’t done and I’ve lost interest in it and at that time
interest in it and at that time
interest in it and at that time I’d met this kid called Banksy and his
I’d met this kid called Banksy and his
I’d met this kid called Banksy and his kid called Shepard Fairey and a few
kid called Shepard Fairey and a few
kid called Shepard Fairey and a few other people I was like know what you’re
other people I was like know what you’re
other people I was like know what you’re kind of doing graffiti but seems a
kind of doing graffiti but seems a
kind of doing graffiti but seems a little bit more intelligent it was at
little bit more intelligent it was at
little bit more intelligent it was at the same time that I’ve been arrested so
the same time that I’ve been arrested so
the same time that I’ve been arrested so many times that the next time I got
many times that the next time I got
many times that the next time I got arrested they were going to send me to
arrested they were going to send me to
arrested they were going to send me to prison so I was looking for a way that I
prison so I was looking for a way that I
prison so I was looking for a way that I could continue doing illegal graffiti
could continue doing illegal graffiti
could continue doing illegal graffiti arts whatever but not get arrested and I
arts whatever but not get arrested and I
arts whatever but not get arrested and I saw street art as a way for me to do
saw street art as a way for me to do
saw street art as a way for me to do that so a year was but that’s when I
that so a year was but that’s when I
that so a year was but that’s when I first started painting these big random
first started painting these big random
first started painting these big random letters on shutters and I kind of had a
letters on shutters and I kind of had a
letters on shutters and I kind of had a graffiti mentality and so I think I did
graffiti mentality and so I think I did
graffiti mentality and so I think I did like 60 shutters in like the course
like 60 shutters in like the course
like 60 shutters in like the course about three months all over East London
about three months all over East London
about three months all over East London and I didn’t tag them I didn’t want my
and I didn’t tag them I didn’t want my
and I didn’t tag them I didn’t want my name on them like nobody knew that was
name on them like nobody knew that was
name on them like nobody knew that was me that’s doing it nobody knew that what
me that’s doing it nobody knew that what
me that’s doing it nobody knew that what it was like half of them were illegal
it was like half of them were illegal
it was like half of them were illegal some of them are commissioned I paid for
some of them are commissioned I paid for
some of them are commissioned I paid for everything and over the course of like I
everything and over the course of like I
everything and over the course of like I know two or three months 60 random weird
know two or three months 60 random weird
know two or three months 60 random weird letters really nicely painted appeared
letters really nicely painted appeared
letters really nicely painted appeared on like shop shutters all over East
on like shop shutters all over East
on like shop shutters all over East London everyone was like where’s this
London everyone was like where’s this
London everyone was like where’s this and it kind of got people talking I was
and it kind of got people talking I was
and it kind of got people talking I was like this is way more interesting than
like this is way more interesting than
like this is way more interesting than graffiti no one cares about graffiti
graffiti no one cares about graffiti
graffiti no one cares about graffiti graffiti is about graffiti for graffiti
graffiti is about graffiti for graffiti
graffiti is about graffiti for graffiti writers to annoy graffiti wires but this
writers to annoy graffiti wires but this
writers to annoy graffiti wires but this is like you know by doing this I’m
is like you know by doing this I’m
is like you know by doing this I’m actually kind of connecting with people
actually kind of connecting with people
actually kind of connecting with people I’m I’m kind of making like crappy
I’m I’m kind of making like crappy
I’m I’m kind of making like crappy neighborhoods and crappy streets look
neighborhoods and crappy streets look
neighborhoods and crappy streets look better so all of a sudden I went from
better so all of a sudden I went from
better so all of a sudden I went from being one of the most destructive
being one of the most destructive
being one of the most destructive horrible graffiti writers in London to
horrible graffiti writers in London to
horrible graffiti writers in London to now I’m actually making neighborhoods
now I’m actually making neighborhoods
now I’m actually making neighborhoods look better and that that was kind of
look better and that that was kind of
look better and that that was kind of like a turning point for me I was like
like a turning point for me I was like
like a turning point for me I was like oh I don’t want to destroy things
oh I don’t want to destroy things
oh I don’t want to destroy things you know you know I’m an artist I have a
you know you know I’m an artist I have a
you know you know I’m an artist I have a talent I have a scale
talent I have a scale
talent I have a scale and I have a passion and that’s like one
and I have a passion and that’s like one
and I have a passion and that’s like one of the most important things so I
of the most important things so I
of the most important things so I started making things nicer rather than
started making things nicer rather than
started making things nicer rather than more horrible and yeah like I said I’ve
more horrible and yeah like I said I’ve
more horrible and yeah like I said I’ve hooked up these people started working
hooked up these people started working
hooked up these people started working Banksy me and Banksy war on mountain
Banksy me and Banksy war on mountain
Banksy me and Banksy war on mountain bikes we had some studios together and
bikes we had some studios together and
bikes we had some studios together and we’d run around with like stencils and
we’d run around with like stencils and
we’d run around with like stencils and do like little rats here and do that and
do like little rats here and do that and
do like little rats here and do that and slowly kind of like what was graffiti
slowly kind of like what was graffiti
slowly kind of like what was graffiti turned into kind of like like some kind
turned into kind of like like some kind
turned into kind of like like some kind of like happy graffiti or non-aggressive
of like happy graffiti or non-aggressive
of like happy graffiti or non-aggressive confiteor non-destructive graffiti and
confiteor non-destructive graffiti and
confiteor non-destructive graffiti and yeah it slowly turned into this kind of
yeah it slowly turned into this kind of
yeah it slowly turned into this kind of art movement that is now kind of street
art movement that is now kind of street
art movement that is now kind of street art we would run around London and like
art we would run around London and like
art we would run around London and like paint stuff and stick up stencils and
paint stuff and stick up stencils and
paint stuff and stick up stencils and there wasn’t a forum it’s a sale or kind
there wasn’t a forum it’s a sale or kind
there wasn’t a forum it’s a sale or kind of promote what we were doing like there
of promote what we were doing like there
of promote what we were doing like there wasn’t one gallery in London or the weld
wasn’t one gallery in London or the weld
wasn’t one gallery in London or the weld that would touch what we were doing so
that would touch what we were doing so
that would touch what we were doing so we kind of did it ourselves
we kind of did it ourselves
we kind of did it ourselves and it’s like I’ve always been inspired
and it’s like I’ve always been inspired
and it’s like I’ve always been inspired and motivated by like Vivienne Westwood
and motivated by like Vivienne Westwood
and motivated by like Vivienne Westwood the punk movement is like why wait for
the punk movement is like why wait for
the punk movement is like why wait for somebody to come along and go we love
somebody to come along and go we love
somebody to come along and go we love you
you
you do-it-yourself literally the whole DIY
do-it-yourself literally the whole DIY
do-it-yourself literally the whole DIY movement so you know the punk movement
movement so you know the punk movement
movement so you know the punk movement and I think street art did that so well
and I think street art did that so well
and I think street art did that so well you know we started our own galleries we
you know we started our own galleries we
you know we started our own galleries we started our own screen printing company
started our own screen printing company
started our own screen printing company called pigeon walls like I’d never
called pigeon walls like I’d never
called pigeon walls like I’d never screen printing in my life kind of did
screen printing in my life kind of did
screen printing in my life kind of did another job I’m like oh we want to
another job I’m like oh we want to
another job I’m like oh we want to screen print stuff I was like I was
screen print stuff I was like I was
screen print stuff I was like I was going things and I’d never sprinkling of
going things and I’d never sprinkling of
going things and I’d never sprinkling of anything in my life and I did like all
anything in my life and I did like all
anything in my life and I did like all the banks he staff Jamie who they’re
the banks he staff Jamie who they’re
the banks he staff Jamie who they’re Stanley Donwood
Stanley Donwood
Stanley Donwood and yet we turned it into a little
and yet we turned it into a little
and yet we turned it into a little industry because if we didn’t do it
industry because if we didn’t do it
industry because if we didn’t do it nobody else was going to do it
nobody else was going to do it
nobody else was going to do it after that like galleries kind of got
after that like galleries kind of got
after that like galleries kind of got interested you know gallery saw the
interested you know gallery saw the
interested you know gallery saw the opportunity to make money out of what we
opportunity to make money out of what we
opportunity to make money out of what we do and yeah now there’s like you know
do and yeah now there’s like you know
do and yeah now there’s like you know I’m in like the VNA Museum like la MOCA
I’m in like the VNA Museum like la MOCA
I’m in like the VNA Museum like la MOCA SF MOCA
SF MOCA
SF MOCA so yeah I don’t know it’s been a very
so yeah I don’t know it’s been a very
so yeah I don’t know it’s been a very strange kind of I never imagined that I
strange kind of I never imagined that I
strange kind of I never imagined that I would have a painting in the White House
would have a painting in the White House
would have a painting in the White House I never imagined that – my graffiti
I never imagined that – my graffiti
I never imagined that – my graffiti friends would be one nominated and won
friends would be one nominated and won
friends would be one nominated and won won an Oscar and like none of us went to
won an Oscar and like none of us went to
won an Oscar and like none of us went to art school we were all like kids that
art school we were all like kids that
art school we were all like kids that had like a passion to do sank I went to
had like a passion to do sank I went to
had like a passion to do sank I went to parylene a little while ago and you know
parylene a little while ago and you know
parylene a little while ago and you know I kind of love CR and most of my friends
I kind of love CR and most of my friends
I kind of love CR and most of my friends do it and I think a lot of my friends
do it and I think a lot of my friends
do it and I think a lot of my friends are amazing talented but you go to a
are amazing talented but you go to a
are amazing talented but you go to a place like Berlin and it’s just like
place like Berlin and it’s just like
place like Berlin and it’s just like this is literally visual pollution
this is literally visual pollution
this is literally visual pollution there’s so much rubbish I would make if
there’s so much rubbish I would make if
there’s so much rubbish I would make if I could I would make it I would take
I could I would make it I would take
I could I would make it I would take away walls that people are allowed to
away walls that people are allowed to
away walls that people are allowed to paint I would make it harder for you to
paint I would make it harder for you to
paint I would make it harder for you to get spray paint
get spray paint
get spray paint I would impose more draconian rules on
I would impose more draconian rules on
I would impose more draconian rules on policing and that would filter out the
policing and that would filter out the
policing and that would filter out the people that actually wanted to do it or
people that actually wanted to do it or
people that actually wanted to do it or had to do it and the people that did it
had to do it and the people that did it
had to do it and the people that did it because they wanted to get a girlfriend
it’s like friends have might have been
it’s like friends have might have been to prison so many times for graffiti
to prison so many times for graffiti
to prison so many times for graffiti right I grew up doing graffiti painting
right I grew up doing graffiti painting
right I grew up doing graffiti painting trains and much they have to edit this
trains and much they have to edit this
trains and much they have to edit this out I jumped over a fence the other
out I jumped over a fence the other
out I jumped over a fence the other nights and painted the try and I’m like
nights and painted the try and I’m like
nights and painted the try and I’m like oh what am i doing that’s like I’m
oh what am i doing that’s like I’m
oh what am i doing that’s like I’m friends of mine painted trains been to
friends of mine painted trains been to
friends of mine painted trains been to prison and still paint trains I like
prison and still paint trains I like
prison and still paint trains I like that like whether you’d like it whether
that like whether you’d like it whether
that like whether you’d like it whether you hate it whether it’s worth any money
you hate it whether it’s worth any money
you hate it whether it’s worth any money that those actions are like the purest
that those actions are like the purest
that those actions are like the purest the purest art ever like Damien Hirst
the purest art ever like Damien Hirst
the purest art ever like Damien Hirst going change the color of that spots
going change the color of that spots
going change the color of that spots well if that’s not art well that’s what
well if that’s not art well that’s what
well if that’s not art well that’s what people think is up like the drive and
people think is up like the drive and
people think is up like the drive and the passion to jump over France risk
the passion to jump over France risk
the passion to jump over France risk going to prison to write your name on
going to prison to write your name on
going to prison to write your name on the side of a train but no one’s ever
the side of a train but no one’s ever
the side of a train but no one’s ever going to say and everybody hates IVA
going to say and everybody hates IVA
going to say and everybody hates IVA it’s over that’s pure art or you’re an
it’s over that’s pure art or you’re an
it’s over that’s pure art or you’re an idiot anyway thank you so much my name’s
idiot anyway thank you so much my name’s
idiot anyway thank you so much my name’s Ben
Ben
Ben [Applause]
”
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