Great Bates
1. Thank you for taking the time to do this interview with us, please could you introduce yourself? Where you are from, what you write, how long have you been in the game, any crews you write for?
I like styles, thats what I’m into, letters that moves, bend, dances! I try not to repeat myself, everything from bubble, straight, blocks, round edges, semi and Wild Styles.
2. We would love to know what originally inspired you to get into Graffiti, how you came up with the name Bates, how would you describe your style, and what continues to inspire your work today?
I first started dancing Electric Boogie, I believe my first introduction to graffiti or writing, was from a Bravo teenage magazine having a few pages, step by step how to dance, my eyes catches the background pieces, I believe it was Rock Steady Crew, probably Doze in 1984, that really caught my attention, and I started to draw outlines on paper! I had a few different names from 1984-1986 but saw a Tv series called "V" for victory, science fiction show, one of the characters in there was named Bates, so I thought it was a pretty cool name, so I write it down on paper, I really liked the letters, did a few outlines with it, at that time I wrote Simz, so first attempt was a BateSimz, rest is history....
My style depends on the mood or situation that day, wall can be tall and squeezed, long stretched, panel no bottom, round edges, or want to burn, doing simple or wild style! I try have an outline for each occasion..like to come prepared!
3. From your instagram it’s clear to see you like to travel and get involved in work abroad! Could you give us insight into some events and projects you like to head out for and anything you have coming up in the future?
Traveling is a luxury and feels like living! The world out there is so much bigger than your own city, alot of people are stuck, and dont mind whats going on in the rest of the world, they tend to stay in their comfort zone, doing the same over and over again! I love to travel, see new places, meet new people! Different cultures, amazing food...get out there and experience IRL.
There are many places I want to see and go paint in, like: Argentina, Chile, Puerto Rico, Philippines, Vietnam, India, South Africa and many more.
Waiting for paint jams, invites with a budget to fly me in, or exhibitions, festivals, live-performance.
- Streets of Leicester, United Kingdom 2017.
- “Wet Night” in Tokyo, Japan 1996.
4. Could you tell us a little about your relationship with graffiti and how it has impacted your life?
Its a way of life, with its ups and downs, but I love to be creative and express myself, a felling I never get tired of! Also want to be better...which takes hard work and dedication.
5. We also wandered if you have any crazy situations that graffiti has lead you into, good or bad?
You live and you learn! Take the good with the bad, its part of the journey! Which we all learn from, I just love to paint, lets see what the future holds for me..
