Abnormal Design have taken street art and made a commercial venture from it. Comprised of Dave and Drew, this duo’s work adorns such locations as Harry’s Bar, Joondalup Train Station, Kenwick Link for the Perth Transit Authority and also more recently Claremont’s Bayview Terrace. They do an array of jobs from private to government works, even teaching young street artists through their involvement with local councils.
How long has Abnormal Design been running for?
Dave: It’s probably been 13 years now. I went overseas and noticed that people could do mural art and things that catered to customers. So I thought why not start something like this in Perth. I met some guys in New York and Europe who were doing something similar.
What’s the biggest thing you’ve had to overcome?
Drew: The stigma attached to the spray can, that’s one thing we’ve had to deal with a lot. They see that it instantly seems to cheapen the art form. We also work quiet fast so I think a lot of people hold that against us.
So what’s the attitude from people toward aerosol work?
Drew: It’s really positive.
Dave: When you do it well.
Drew: It’s something they really enjoy, but they don’t know how to connect with people who are doing it so much. And that’s what we do, getting involved with councils and the like we figure is the best way to get through to the youth in the area. And that’s what we’re about: teaching the kids in the area. So we’re not only doing murals but we’re teaching as well.
What was the street art scene like growing up?
Dave: Really good. There used to be some really amazing pieces along the line and that’s what got me into it. I remember using my dad’s camera to take photos when I was just a little tacker. I wanted to know so I got Subway Art, this book, and was just blown away.
Drew: We started street art in the Richard Court era. Pre-Richard Court street art was all about the art form and was based on the New York form that Perth street artists had seen. Any graffiti that was done was high quality.
Dave: Then Richard Court buffed all the walls red, green and grey and they just wiped out history, which kids today don’t know anything about.
Drew: You had a lot of artists doing high quality stuff. They started getting rid of that thinking it was bad and in doing so created a whole other problem. The graffiti artists gave up, the taggers came in and then it turned to scratching glass and tagging walls.
Dave: They didn’t have anything to look up to.
For more information visit www.abnormaldesign.com.au
