With a name like Creepy, you’d expect an artist to deliver a sinister palette of macabre and twisted visions, one full of unhinged ill-intent. Yet Perth street artist Creepy delivers a style that is anything but. In fact, his work has a certain gangly charm, a naive humility, albeit one rendered through characters who are seemingly derived from a new urban folklore. An urban folklore Creepy himself is writing… or rather, drawing.
Creepy has exhibited extensively throughout Perth and New South Wales. He’s on the cusp of international recognition with a show in Brooklyn on the horizon. And it won’t be long before the world falls in love with his covetable – and incredibly quirky yet commercial – style. Whether it be in the form of spray painted, epic-sized, mythical bearded men, his strange stickers – which at times featured winged jocks, his prints – a range of which are available for sale on his website, or even amazing paste ups, one thing remains constant: Creepy’s work is totally endearing. He took a moment to chat with Perth Street Art about his work.
Define street art.
Street art can be whatever you want it to be, could be a broken bottle or discarded chair, just get away from your TV and open your eyes.
What’s your earliest street art memory?
Melbourne around 00/01 seeing stencils of famous people’s faces… which I actually hated.
Where does your name come from?
A friend walked into my house and looked at this painting I had done and shook his head in confusion and said ‘that’s creepy’. It seemed like it was meant to be…also I like contrasting ideas, having the name creepy but my work isn’t that creepy. It could be way more disturbing.
Are you affiliated with any specific crew or are you a ‘free agent’?
I guess a ‘free agent’ but I have had a few shows with the PaperHands Collective (PHC) in Melbs.
What materials do you use and what would you say are some of your favourite techniques? How do you define your overall style?
I like using all types of materials and techniques, from handmade wooden boxes to simple paper illustrations. as long as I feel I’m pushing myself. I really like weathered, textured things right now… you know with an Eastern European sort of vibe.
Flying underpants, men with the most unruly beards, leaf shaped creatures and humanoid clouds – can you describe your characters?
I guess my characters are my representation of something I experienced or felt or a story someone told me. Usually in an abstract way. They make sense to me.
How would you describe the current Perth street art scene?
I think the Perth art scene is good, it’s small but there are some really amazing artists in Perth.
Who are some of your favourite street artists and/or artists? Do you collect the work of others?
Yeah I collect others’ work, I try and trade as much as I can with Australian artists… my favourite Australian artists at the moment in Perth are Sean Morris (www.illsean.com), Kid Zoom (www.kid-zoom.com) and Ayer. In Melbs I like Nior (www.niorart.com), Jae Copp (www.soopkichn.com) and Nails (www.nails.net.au).
What’s coming up?
I’m in a group show in Brooklyn in February ’09 and am planning a show with Nior and Jae Copp sometime during ’09.
For a look at Creepy’s work, log online and go to www.creepy.headtank.com.
