Who has had the biggest influence on your journey as an artist, and what did they teach you?

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There are so many in the street-art-scene that have inspired me but historically Maggie Hambling CBE is one. She gifted some of her large scale works to my dad as an added thank-you for designing one of her studios back in the mid 80's. I used to stare at her paintings growing up, beginning to comprehend that art could be abstract, controversial, impressionistic and open to interpretation to the eye of the beholder. My father was a massive influence. Watching him draw and design buildings on large drafting tables plus I had access to all his stencil gizmos, drawing materials and endless amounts of paper, which I took full advantage of.  

 

How did you first discover street art, and can you remember the moment you knew it was something you wanted to pursue?

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Growing up in South-East London, I was absolutely fascinated by these wild names and splashes of semi-organised fury & energy, mainly trackside going to and from School every day, wondering who these elusive people were and how they managed to pull these off these feats in the middle of the night, stirring my imagination. I started tagging from around 10 years old and never really stopped. During my early teens, these underground magazines started floating about with stunning examples of tags, characters, dubs and pieces that blew my mind. This naturally incorporated 'Street Art' as years went by but my first love was graffiti and the rest organically followed.     

 

What makes the street art community different from any other creative community you've experienced?

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It's such a unique and colourful culture in general but it's direct association with street culture, music especially and the entire social aspect of it all. People don't seem to realise it's the oldest and most practiced art form in the world. It can connect everyone, regardless of your background, ethnicity status or skill. Unlike traditional studio art, it thrives on radical inclusivity, direct social commentary, and an ethos of mutual support among "outsider" artists who collaborate to reclaim urban spaces.

 

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?

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Leake Street in general for me. It has been a melting pot for many of my experiments and ideas over the years. It's great on your own early in the morning or late at night, but also such a buzz when lots of incredible people from all walks of life are sharing the space together, swapping ideas, paint, stories and emotions behind their work. It's a very inspiring place that can bring out the best in an artist as well as the chance to meet some of the best in the world and connect with others, leading to all kinds of projects.   

 

What's a piece you've created that means more to you than anyone else might realise?

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Over the last few years, during periods of recovery from trauma, alcohol and drug addiction, I found painting as an excellent form of focus and therapy, leading into playful and symbolic referencing and terminology with the philosophy of recovery and what it means to me personally. Many have no idea, but certain members of the public in recovery do occasionally come up to me or contact me online realising the references, leading to enlightening and powerful discussions. One particular piece recently led someone to avoid relapse and reach out, which shows the real 'higher power' of my art's potential, and this meant the world to me.     

 

What do you hope people feel when they stand in front of your work?

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I hope they feel uplifted and inspired. I hope they think about the process and delve into why it was done and for what purpose, which then hopefully gives them a sense of their own purpose and drive to do the next right thing.   

 

If you could leave one message on a wall for the world to see, what would it say?

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In a nutshell it would be a message of love. Of hope, tolerance, acceptance, and fortitude. That everything will work out in the end one way or another. To keep going step-by-step, day-by-day in a better direction with noble intentions and a willingness to challenge yourself. How it is much better to find the hard way in than choose the easy way out. Essentially to keep your chin up and crack on!  

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https://www.instagram.com/peterproppa/

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