Tilt - Malus, 2010

Tilt / Unknown

Urban Art, Graffiti

June 24, 2014

World-renowned French graffiti artist Tilt is known for his signature bubbly, colorful artworks. One of his most iconic images: Marilyn Monroe, and Red Lipstick, were created using various media, including silkscreen, sculpture, and painting. Wherever he travels, it has been his long-lasting tradition to leave a mark, which is now in more than 50 countries, including Hong Kong, Mexico, Japan, the USA, New Zealand, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, and numerous countries around Europe. The initial conventional pop art tradition of bubbles has, over the years, evolved into a more primal, deconstructive, and raw approach to graffiti. The original style is still there but well hidden and juxtaposed as the artist began experimenting with different street writing styles.

Tilt - Bleu Pétrole (Petroleum Blue), 2014
Tilt - Bleu Pétrole (Petroleum Blue), 2014. Lithograph 5 colors printed with Marinoni machines and hand cut; Paper White BFK Rives 270g; 72 x 72 cm

The Origin and Evolution of the Artist

Tilt was born in Toulouse, France, in 1973. The artist was first introduced to graffiti while skateboarding on the streets of his hometown, and at only 15, he put his first tag on the skateboard ramp. Tilt draws inspiration from his travels, encountering works by different artists. Also, he sees art in the erasure of the graffiti, especially if it has been poorly done and there are leftover marks and faded colors. In a way, he is an archeologist digging up the past. Tilt said:

It reveals like strata (in archaeology) that can be torn out. As if the public could tear apart a wall and discover the different layers of layers of all the past graffiti artists on this wall: chrome, vaporous lettering, etc.

Tilt - Red Lipstick 5, 2014
Tilt - Red Lipstick 5, 2014. Oil on canvas; 150 x 150 cm

Graffiti Fetishist

Tilt is a self-proclaimed "graffiti fetishist." For the artist, the excitement lies in creating complicated lettering and characters while using only a primitive bubbly style. The earliest works, such as the iconic Red Lipstick (2014), were constructed entirely of bubble letters (the essence of graffiti), working perfectly together to give the illusion of 3D imagery. In his art, the colors and lines are always strong, yet there is always a curvaceous quality present which hints at the artist's passion for beautiful females.

Wishing to communicate the fun of the medium and the ever accompanying danger of drawing on the streets, the artist uses a throw-up style in most of his works. It is perfect for fast execution in one or two colors. His graffitis tells a story of the entire process of creating them, including the high risk, the sneaking, and running from the police. A well-done work should contain and communicate all the positive and negative aspects of tagging.

Tilt - Back to Boring 47, 2014
Tilt - Back to Boring 47, 2014. Mixed media on canvas; 50 x 50 cm

Tilt's Artworks

Over the years, Tilt has worked on the ongoing series Flags. It is his wish to leave a bubbly mark in the country's colors in every place he visits. In his indoor installation titled Panic Room, he faces the audience with his "schizophrenic sides." The rooms, bathrooms, and gallery spaces are cleanly cut in half, one side pristine clean and white, and the other full of dirty dripping elements of graffiti. The artist has published three books featuring his work: Fetish Bubble Girls, Egodrips, and PhotoGraffiTiltism.

Tilt lives and works in Toulouse, France.

Featured image: Tilt - Malus, 2010. Acrylic and spray on canvas; 160 x 140 cm. Copyright of the artist

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