ALISTAIR WILSON (AKA ATILA)
Who has had the biggest influence on your journey as an artist, and what did they teach you?
Mode 2, Known, Astek, Insa, Rough and Drape (RIP) all played a significant role in my journey as an artist. It was these guys who blew me away with styles, colour schemes and compositions and showed me things I had never seen before. These were the artists whose work had the biggest impact on me without a doubt. It’s an amazing feeling to have met nearly all of them and to have painted with some of them.
Belin from Spain and Connor Harrington from Ireland became hugely inspirational too later on when I started painting work in the studio.
How did you first discover street art, and can you remember the moment you knew it was something you wanted to pursue?
Growing up in South London my eyes were always fixated on what I would see on both the streets and the tracksides. As a very visual learner anyway I was always so excited to try and study these big, bold and bright pieces of work that I would only get a few seconds to see at a time.
There was a huge ‘Vivid Imaginations’ piece painted in Waterloo around 1999 by Drape and his V.I.S crew which absolutely blew my mind. That was probably a moment when I realised I wanted to try and create work that left an impact.
What makes the street art community different from any other creative community you've experienced?
The fact that it is so vast is what makes it so appealing. Even within one subculture, there are countless subcultures. You can find your tribe within a tribe. Everyone has different creative goals, and within the graffiti and street art community you will always find people who align with your vision, values and ideals.
What has to come together for you to create your best work - whether it's a place, a feeling, the people around you, or something else?
In the last few years particularly I’ve found that the spontaneous and quicker painting sessions have allowed me to produce work that I am happiest with. I’ve done some big walls that required planning which I liked, but the rawness and energy of quicker pieces I’ve painted have given me more satisfaction. The timing and energy has to be right, and these days I don’t allow myself to overthink or plan, and just allow my art to flow.
What's a piece you've created that means more to you than anyone else might realise?
Where my studio was in Peckham south east London there was a van that I was allowed to paint. The last time I painted it ( around 3 years ago ) was one of these spontaneous sessions. I’d decided to experiment with a funky portrait design I had and just went for it. I really got into it and finished it relatively quickly, and I’m glad to say that it is still running around the streets of south London today. I have seen it a few times and often get messages from people who have seen it out and about on their travels. There was a certain essence that I was able to capture that day and I’m proud for it to be rolling around the streets for people to see.
What do you hope people feel when they stand in front of your work?
If I can evoke even a small part of the excitement and wonder that I still feel when looking at beautiful works of art - especially the sense of awe I experienced as a child discovering Graffiti and street art for the first time, then I feel I’ve succeeded. To be able to pass on some of the joy, inspiration and curiosity that art has given me over the years is a great feeling!
If you could leave one message on a wall for the world to see, what would it say?
Create for yourself and nobody else! That way you get the purest version of your work.