It's on your block of flats or it's on your fence. The graffers managed to make us aware that they are there, and they are doing their job. Doesn't matter if it's in Brussels or Sofia or if it's about the drawings from the Berlin Wall, all the cities have some color now.

  Smok, almost 20 years old, Bucharest

Tell me about your beginning as a "graffer".
I started drawing since I was a kid. I remember painting my bike when I was 13th, and during this, I started drawing on my block of flats. Some neighbors yelled at me, but that rush made me think that this could be interesting.

Do you study arts or something related?
I am currently in my first year studying Architecture. In my family everybody paints, so this is kinda regular.

When did you start doing some real graffiti work?
I started with some stencils, then some writings, I've evolved and did my first cartoons drawing and also started to vandalize some concrete fences. I was 13th, and I've also started giving some tags on trucks and trams.

Are there any contests for the graffers?
There are some legal contests, where sponsors are coming to promote their products, so it's OK. You know, graffiti is a pretty expensive hobby: a good can is around 5 euros, and for a good drawing you need at least three.

You were saying about some "legal” contests. Did you had some troubles with the police?
Once, they got me when I was drawing on my block, but they let me go, and it was this other time when a policeman ran after me, but I lost him. I have some friends that were beaten very hard when they tried to draw on some new rail cars.


        
Sofia, Bulgaria

     
Brussels and Bruges, Belgium

  

Bucharest, Romania

     
Berlin, Germany