I recently spoke with Bolton about The Graffiti Artist, released on DVD today with special features such as interviews with writer/director Bolton and actor Bansie-Snellman.

AfterElton.com: You’ve been quoted as saying that your film, The Graffiti Artist, is about “isolation and loneliness.” One of the more effective tools in the film that communicates this is the minimal use of dialogue.
James Bolton: I like films that are very visual. I think there’s a trend, these days, to make films that are overly talky. In making a film about isolation and loneliness, which is very much this kid’s story, I really wanted to get in to his head and experience what he was experiencing. This documentary style leant itself to the idea. I really wanted to make a film that also celebrated the work and it was a challenge that I set out for myself to create an interesting story visually, as well. All of these things supported this theme of loneliness by having few characters in the film, as well.

AE: You mentioned the work itself and the film focuses on the graffiti subculture, which always feel to me like it’s just steps away from the gaining the honor of being considered outsider art. Do you think that the graffiti subculture has achieved outsider art museum status or is still struggling for that recognition?
JB: I think it’s definitely becoming validated as a real art form. Certainly, it’s very controversial, it’s illegal. The film is very much about the fine points of personal ethics and morality and how those are inspired when you live outside the mainstream. Stealing in a supermarket and showing in a gallery are obsessions of people who live outside the norm and threaten the norm by advocating anarchy.

At the same time, these are people who are reacting against capitalism and they are also people who don’t necessarily have access to the tools and paints to do work on canvas and this is what they do. I certainly think it is a viable art-form and I think that more and more people are seeing it that way.

AE: It’s really like the world is their canvas.
JB: That’s right.

AE: It’s interesting that you mentioned that it is illegal, because while Nick is always on the lookout for a place to tag, he’s also constantly looking over his shoulder.
JB: Right. It’s fuel for your creativity. He has a very short period of time to create his work. A lot of visual artists don’t necessarily have to consider that. Certainly, some do. But it’s an element of his (Nick’s) work.

AE: The film also presents the skateboard subculture and I was wondering if you have a feeling of a gay presence with that community?
JB: Yes, I do. There’s a gay presence in the graffiti subculture and in the skateboarding subculture. It’s a subculture that generally sees itself as fiercely heterosexual. I think that the truth is that there is a gay contingent within the subculture and some are brave enough to be themselves and be out. I’ve met some out graffiti artists that are very well known. There are also a number that aren’t (out) for a variety of personal reasons.

Things are changing and I think there is a number of these young punk kids and skateboarders and they aren’t afraid to live their lives and explore sexuality and be open about and that’s really great to see.

Page 1 / 2 - Next