Living Proof Radio

Full episode & video, available on our Patreon. In the early 2000s, New York’s economic landscape created a world in which one could survive off of little. Artists, skaters, graffiti writers, poets & musicians inhabited the city, organically creating style & culture in a way that permeated into the life of the neighborhood. Common streets became legendary as the 14 block radius of downtown New York housed a thriving underground scene flourishing in a carefree time of unhindered creativity. At this time Alain Levitt was hanging out in the Lower East Side on a daily basis with a small film camera on his person. Spending the early 2000s living amongst the people, Alain shot the downtown New York Scene during an era that laid the foundations for events & people that went on to deeply influence the world of skate, graffiti, art & culture. His debut book 'NYC: 2000-2005' is a collection of these photos.http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyorkhttp://livingproofnewyork.com

Full episode available on Patreon. DBRAD is an artist & graffiti writer who is part of the renowned THR crew. He speaks on perceptions of masculinity, mental health, life philosophy, what it means to be human, New York’s graffiti scene & more. http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyorkhttp://livingproofnewyork.com

Full episode available on our Patreon. SMOE is a graffiti writer whose aggressive approach to street bombing garnered attention in recent years throughout New York City. Representing the LNE, H2K & 6BC graffiti crews, SMOE’s approach ranges from tagging passenger filled buses on main avenues to large rollers & technical pieces. http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyorkhttp://livingproofnewyork

Ryan Mettz is a painter, photographer, skateboarder, tattoo artist and videographer.  Most known for his distinct approach to traditional tattoos and paintings inspired by New York City life. We speak on New York City Graffiti, making art & finding balance in day to day living. Full Streets Talking* episode available on our Patreon. http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyorkhttp://livingproofnewyork.com

Full episode available on our Patreon. Marina Inoue is a tattoo artist living & working out of London, England; with an upbringing rooted in writing graffiti within New York’s scene. She speaks on her experience in the male-dominated culture of graffiti, cultural dynamics, racking, life philosophy & more. Ian de Beer & Marina Inoue in conversation.http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyorkhttp://livingproofnewyork.com

ALOY is a legendary graffiti writer native to Los Angeles with a career spanning decades. Representing the great MSK crew, known for exemplifying a bold, legible & large letter structure; creating a high degree of visibility off the freeways & billboards he frequents. http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyorkhttp://livingproofnewyork.com

Full episode on Patreon. Dylan Kraus is an artist who explores the sublime aspects of the world, both grand and minute. Inspired by the dynamic energy of New York City, his work embodies a contemplative quest for wonder and equilibrium. He currently lives and works in Berlin.http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyorkhttp://livingproofnewyork.com

GKAE SKREW MSK is an internationally acclaimed graffiti writer whose name is synonymous with the title of ‘king’ from New York to Los Angeles. Getting down in MSK during the summer of 1992 when the crew was still an offshoot of AWR, GKAE approached graffiti with relentless will-power matched by few. He explains his reason for painting was to rid himself of depression, to impose against the status quo that property is more valuable than life, to achieve a primal feeling of self-worth. Over a period of 30 years he came to represent the legendary MSK crew, face time in LA county prison over vandalism charges; experiencing loss & gain whilst creating a legacy that inspires writers world-wide. http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyorkhttp://livingproofnewyork.com

Full episode available on Patreon. Bea Levy is a Manhattan based sometimes-writer, sometimes-musician, full time lover of the built world.http://livingproofnewyork.comhttp://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork

Full episode on our Patreon. KRUSH is a graffiti writer from the city of Pittsburgh. Beginning graffiti in 1993 at 13 years of age, KRUSH lived a life in and out of street life that culminated in a mindset shift at 25 years old. Having experienced both loss and gain, KRUSH prefers to focus on the positive celebration of the good in life.http://livingproofnewyork.comhttp://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork

Full episode available on Patreon. Born in 1986 in Milan, Italy, Francesco lives & works in Brooklyn, New York. Established in the contemporary art world & showing internationally, his practice is just as likely to manifest as a drawing, a painting, or a sculpture, often blurring the distinction between these forms. Drawing from a unique variety of found images, he seems to create an archive in which there is no hierarchy between contemporary events & historical facts. Deiana actively uses landscape, portraiture & iconography in an effort to conjure the detached & unsettling feeling of our fractured contemporary world. His top 5 handstyles are Petro, Specy, Brite, Skuf, & Twist.http://livingproofnewyork.comhttp://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork

CES is an iconic New York graffiti writer. His wild and aggressive approach to style writing has gained him immense fame, and following worldwide. Today his dedication and discipline rewards him to live from his art . Having earned the right to reach this level of longevity through a lifetime of graffiti writing. http://livingproofnewyorkhttp://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork

Full episode on Patreon. CHITO is a Seattle born, Mexico-based artist whose work has its roots planted in CHITO’s early activity within the realm of graffiti writing. Transcending the singular-approach associated with graffiti for a more multi-faceted style, CHITO’s work ranges from paintings on luxury items, technical outerwear, ceramics, porcelain home goods, ad infinitum. From graffiti to working alongside high fashion houses, CHITO’s work never strays far from the cultural roots of self. HIs self-taught trademark style can be seen globally from New York to Japan. CHITO in conversation with Ian de Beer.  http://livingproofnewyork.comhttp://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork

Full episode available on our Patreon. PEAK VIC is a New York City graffiti writer whose active campaign began in 1977. A founding member of VIC; a graffiti crew whose name stems from robbing writers in train yards, surrounding them & taking all their paint. When the trains went out, PEAK began hitting streets, trucks & ensuing roller-missions with REVS. Widely known for his graffiti-wars, PEAK speaks on beef, life, painting with REVS, trains, influence & more. http://livingproofnewyork.comhttp://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork

Alfonso Gonzalez Jr. is a painter whose work is both documentation & expressive of the transient nature that exists within Los Angeles. Through the appreciation of weathered surfaces, remnants of Los Angeles & the communities behind it, Alfonso’s paintings evoke feelings of wonder & contemplation as to where changing city scapes will culminate. His early inspiration comes from his father’s sign painting practice. He lives & works making paintings in East Los Angeles. http://livingproofnewyork.comhttp://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork

Full episode available on our Patreon. MYTH & Ian de Beer in conversation. They speak on the state of Seattle, freight train graffiti, a decades long consistent approach, hustling & more.http://livingproofnewyork.comhttp://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork

Full episode on our Patreon. VIZIE is a fine artist & highly esteemed graffiti writer originally from Houston Texas who is the brother of the world renowned late great NEKST. This episode of Streets Talking* features VIZIE in conversation with Ian de Beer speaking on the law suit with fashion brand Guess, fine art, the life of NEKST, painting & more.  http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyorkhttp://livingproofnewyork.com

RAMS is a graffiti writer from New Zealand, representing the world famous MSK crew. Upon hitting American soil RAMS quickly gained a state of notoriety through an aggressive campaign involving rappelling to high profile heaven spots. This episode of Streets Talking* features RAMS in conversation with XSM. http://livingproofnewyork.comhttp://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork

Streets Talking* with Clayton Patterson; full episode now available on our Patreon. Clayton Patterson is an artist well known for documenting the Lower East Side of New York. From riots at Tompkins Square Park to the 90’s hardcore punk scene embedded at CBGB’s. Clayton is interviewed by Ian de Beer on New York City history, preserving Clayton's legacy, art & life. http://livingproofnewyork.comhttp://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork

Full episode available on our Patreon. Tommy Rebel is a graffiti writer from the 1990s era of New York City. After the Vandal Squad raided his home & filed suit against him in court for allegedly hitting trains with the names of police officers, Tommy took a step away from graffiti. Over the years he documented New York's street, train, tunnel & freight graffiti scene to an extent that easily crushes the photo collections of most. He is a connoisseur of Ralph Lauren's Polo collection, sneaker history & greater New York city underground culture.http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyorkhttp://livingproofnewyork.com