I love artists that can be creative in diverse
areas while maintaining their integrity. People like David Byrne and Dennis
Hopper cross disciplinary and genre lines with such regularity and do it so well
you almost want to hate them. Well, Brooklyn-based artist ELIK is as adept at
throw-ups as refiguring hanging tin signs and hijacking entire billboards. We
caught up with him last week…

Age: twenty-something
Hometown:
Worcester, Massachusettes
Where do you now live:NYC
How long
have you been creating street art: on and off for about three years

/>What did you do last night:  I put up some bills and stickers in the
window at New Museum for the I NY launch party, bought a sweatshirt, went out
and did some wheatpasting, and I got drunk and never made it home.

/>What is your favorite thing to eat for dinner: Right now I’m craving
sushi.

Who is your favorite fictional character: I’ve always
kind of liked Underdog.

What do you currently have in your
pockets: keys, a uni, spare change, my wallet, some stickers, and a
sharpie

If you were given “more time,” what would you do with
it: I would paint more and spend more time with my girlfriend. Who do you
love: my family,friends,  my girlfriend and I’ve recently been trying to love
myself more

Wooster: How did you get started in creating art for the
street?
Ever since was a little kid and I saw Subway Art and Spraycan
Art I’ve been fascinated by graffiti.  I’ve always fucked around with graffiti,
mostly doing pieces on paper and catching marker tags.  It wasn’t until
recently that I started to take it a bit more seriously.

Wooster:
What other street artists do you most admire and why?
There are too
many to name.  I like people who are original and are dedicated and consistent:
Revs, Oze 108, UFO, Free 5, Twist, VFR, Sento, Setup, Rate,  Stay High, Os
Gemeos, and Espo are all solid writers.  As for the more street art stuff I
think KGBE, Monster Project, Faile and Bast are all doing interesting things. 
I’m also into a lot of people who do streaks:  Buz Blurr, The Rambler, and Solo
Artist are nice.

Wooster: What’s your favorite city, neighborhood,
or block, to post and/or to see street art?
Nothing really compares to
NYC.  I don’t really have a favorite neighborhood or block to put shit up in. 
Unexpected in-your-face spots are nice.

Wooster: What inspires
you now?
I’m inspired by all kinds of things I see everyday, old
signage, burned out and abandoned cars, trash, nice handstyles, reading,
collaborating with friends, meeting new people, riding my bike around different
neighborhoods,etc.

Wooster: What are you currently working on? 
Can you give us a sneak peek?
Among other things I’m currently working
on a series of street signs to be bolted to poles around the city.  I’m also
collaborating with KGBE on some signs.  I recently put out href="mailto:subversionmagazine@hotmail.com">Subversion,  which is a zine of
strictly illegal graffiti/street art (primarily NYC).  You can currently pick
up the first issue at New Museum, Autumn Skateshop and Reed Space (and more
places soon).  I’m also about to start working on a four-part book series with
some old school heads.