The human condition is not a prison; it is a foundation upon which we can build.

Upon reflecting on the state of world affairs – the violence, poverty, disease, suffering and injustice that plague our species – I found myself at a loss for hope.  Searching for some semblance of a reason to be optimistic about humanity, I arrived, albeit prematurely, at a conclusion.  Though we possess the ability to evolve technologically, we lack the propensity to advance socially, politically, and perhaps even morally as a species.   I became deeply grieved at the state of despair that arose from my reasoning.  I began to believe that the human condition itself is essentially a prison.

However, to accept this conclusion is to acquiesce to human weaknesses.  My own yearning to reach above and beyond the state of a troubled humanity is evidence in itself that hope exists.

We all have hopes and dreams.

Undoubtedly, humans are often self-injurious; however, we also possess extraordinary resilience, intelligence, and versatility.  To dwell on human weaknesses, to become overwhelmed by the inimical stasis that exists as a result of our grandiose errors, and to thus lose hope in humanity is a philosophical injustice.  There is a glorious array of qualities, such as kindness, compassion, empathy, and love that are quintessential to our humanity.

As a graffiti writer, I believe that I have inherited a uniquely valuable tradition within the visual history of the human species – the writing on the wall.  From the cave paintings at Lascaux to the hieroglyphics of ancient Egypt, and to the Graffiti Hall of Fame in Harlem, humans have always left behind an artistic or at least symbolic visual record of their existence.  I believe that graffiti writers have been endowed with the charge to carry on the visual storytelling that has been passed down for generations.  I am a part of this movement.  It is not enough to simply write my name on a wall, as if to exclaim the importance of merely my own temporary existence; I must create conscientiously and purposefully, always bearing the movement in mind.

My work is the manifestation of a deep desire for all of us to rise above our current state of affairs, beyond our conflicts and exceeding our limited viewpoints – to transcend, at the very least visually,  the boundaries of the human condition. I believe that it is crucial to recognize and record our achievements and simultaneously to celebrate our potential visually through art.  Conversely, it is incumbent upon us all, especially artsts, to also recognize our self imposed limitations – prejudice, injustice, violence, and hate – the detriments to our cultures, civilizations and to our universal progress.  We must first acknowledge these faults wherever and however they are manifested if we are to eradicate them from our condition

I seek to represent visually the hope and the quest of humanity to evolve and grow as a species.  I seek a rationale for that hope, and moreover for confidence within the human condition.  I seek to demonstrate that there is reason to believe that virtue is intrinsic to our nature; I believe goodness is within our grasp, and love is one of our greatest intuitive strengths. It is the pursuit of virtue, of goodness, of love, that gives our existence true purpose.   If we can strive to fulfill our potential as humans, then it is truly within our reach to ascend above and beyond the human condition. That is why I paint, why I rhyme, and why I create.

That is why I write on the wall.