INTRODUCING GRAFFITI ARTIST HERVÉ MESC

In 1983 in Clermont-Ferrand, in France, a young man was born by the name of Hervé Mesc. As with many youths of the time, at 15 years of age he would be dazzled by graffiti and the art making tool the spray can. And as his work evolved in somewhat compartmentalised blocks, so does the time in which he is making it. But graffiti as much as it is a passion and commitment, it is also not just a means to an end. After some years of practice and experimentation, Mesc begins to abstract his work till he reaches a point in 2013 where he introduces a new series of work called “Violence”.The simple idea is to capture motion and to freeze it. And with cans like the Montana BLACK and Montana GOLD cans, the spray can itself is the perfect tool for the job.

2014 see’s Mesc create the “Abstract Representation series. This time he tries to create a link between photography and painting. The link is capturing places he feels devoid of charm. Like abandoned buildings, ghetto’s and shopping center etc.. 2015 turns the focus to color, with the “Attraction by Color” series. Mesc this time looks into his idea that the eye is instinctively attracted by color even when color is barely present. The next two phases he names “Mist” and “Project Window”. Mist taking place in 2017, with a focus on vaporized halo’s of paint on various surfaces. The gradients of color are an invitations to appeasement and serenity.

Artwork

Where as the 2018 series Project Window uses these gradients on walls to create minimal 3D optical illusions. Again this phase brings Mesc back to the humble spray can. In each phase, a seemingly clear compartment forms. And Mesc seems to conquer each step like a ladder to the top. But to the top of what? Let’s keep our eye on his work and see where the ladder goes. Until then, enjoy some of the steps until now.