Large cities in Europe have managed to manifest their art through its walls and its streets have been transformed into windows of expression. We had already seen that the Berlin Wall became precisely a striking work of art for those who opposed this massive incarceration. However, the street art or post-graffiti of the ’90s has evolved and almost 30 years after the first murals, stencils, posters or stickers, in Lima, it has become a boom that has invaded the streets of several districts.
Fiasco is one of the representatives of this movement that with a great spirit of providing light, color, and a kind of call for attention to our popular culture and its spirit of claiming it thanks to the painting and the speed with which its murals are made, remains anonymous to publicize its history and its point of view on street art in Peru.
Who is Fiasco? Why do many urban artists often use these types of names?
I am an urban artist and illustrator. I always draw and I painted my first wall about 5 years ago and from there it became addictive. The tag is a pseudonym that we use in principle to maintain anonymity.
Bansky has done his thing again and the whole world has paid attention to his message about the «homeless» at Christmas and about violence as he has represented it in a manger. In Peru, how does this art come about? Does Fiasco seek to convey a particular message or is it just fun?
I think that at first, it was as you say, just for fun, for doing what I like, but over time you realize about the impact that something that is within the reach of many people can have. There is always a message, either directly or indirectly, even if it is not the intention, you end up causing some kind of reaction to the one who sees it.
It is a bit complicated to keep this art visible forever, do you think art is better ephemeral? Do you maintain a sentimental attachment to your works?
Yes, it is ephemeral, a wall can stay there for years as well as the next day it is gone and is part of painting on the street. I don’t get too attached to my works. Over time I learned to let them go, and once I finish I always think I can improve them. Yes, I love some walls, but when they disappear I understand that it is part of the process and I can always paint another.
When did you notice that your passion was to draw? Can everyone draw or is it necessary to have a special gift?
We all know how to draw, it is something that we naturally do since we are children, it is a pure expression, but that as we grow we stop doing it and leave it for years. On the other hand, the drawing is about practice, if you don’t draw, you forget how to do it. But if you draw a lot you get better, then I think we can all do it but we unlearn. I simply have not stopped drawing since I was a child, I have always been passionate, and I don’t think I have any special gift, I have only studied a lot to improve by doing what I most like.
You have an approximate of 12.4 thousand followers only on Instagram, did you think you would have this reception at some time? When did you realize that you were holding something big?
Not really. When I started drawing, there were not even social networks. I think that the first time they paid me for a drawing, I realized that there were people who valued my work and I decided to practice more to do a better job every time and that I keep doing. I focus on improving my work and everything else falls by its own weight.
Peru is in fashion and the appropriation of our culture in your art reaches the youngest, do you want to dedicate a message for future Peruvian artists?
Yes, first of all, they know that more doors are opened every day here in Peru for art in general. It is no longer as difficult as before, and on the other hand, dedication, work and effort win over talent, so persevering and practicing a lot will make you improve in your work and the rest comes on its own.
To those who consider this form of expression as vandalism, how could you refute them?
I value my time too much so I don’t waste it trying to explain to someone who doesn’t want to understand. My work speaks for me.
Should art be marketed? Does it become banalized over time or is it transformed? (about the banana stuck in a wall that cost 120 thousand dollars.)
I think it transforms itself. I would love to be able to paint all the time for myself, but I also have to work to have an income, so over time I managed to merge the two things, and now I paint and get paid for it. It’s what I’m passionate about, but it’s also my job. Although there I read a phrase that said: «get a job you like and you won’t have to work anymore».
Finally, can you live on art in Peru?
Yes, it is not as easy as in other countries, but it can be done. Everything has a process, but if you manage to stand out being authentic, there is room for everyone, more and more brands, and natural people also consume art, so yes, if you can.
Thank you very much for your time and for your art.
Follow Fiasco and his work at https://www.instagram.com/fiasco_art/