French painter Fafi's work is the perfect blend of graffiti and fine
art. She is known for her images of sexy and liberated girls
painted on walls worldwide as well as an ever-expanding foray into toys
and a clothing line of shirts and handbags. Her first book 'Girls Rock'
was published earlier this year.
You mention on your website that you
were initially nervous of turning your smaller drawings into large
paintings. What first made you choose to enlarge your work on outdoor
sites rather than going the traditional route of, say, exhibiting your
work in a gallery or opening a shop?
I wasn't interested in exhibiting in galleries at first at all. I only
wanted to paint on the walls, escape from my parents, and just be a
rebel teenager! I was fascinated by the graffiti world, I was figuring
out guys who were doing that, it was a complete mystery and so I was
attracted. I wanted to be part of it. Then I grew up (or got old) and
at first, exhibiting was a way to get money while I was doing what I
loved: painting. I wanted to take time to express myself, to use
the quiet time at home to have more poetry in what I was doing, I found
the right atmosphere for that in preparation for exhibitions.
The phrase ‘graffiti’ is pretty much absent on your site, is this because of the certain ‘vandalism’ stigma attached to it?
The walls I paint are most of the time unauthorized I just paint it
during daytime, usually on Sundays. This way everybody thinks "she's
painting there during the day, so she is certainly having the right to
do it".
So, even if it doesn't look like a vandal activity, it is. I just don't
use this word because some graffiti writers may think I am not into it
because I use brushes and paint girlie stuff. I don't want to get into
the debate. I just thank those who consider me as their equal.
Ever been caught in the act?
At first, when you are not used to places, walls, and the way it works.
But now, it's very rare. Anyway, I pay attention because I am not
supposed to paint for another one year because of probation.
Since the start of your wall paintings
in 1994 you’ve adopted a specifically different style each year, from
Porno Style to Fashion Girls. Was this a conscious decision or a
natural progression?
It was a natural progression, but when I came after these years of
painting, I played with giving these moments a name like a conclusion.
Do you have a favourite year- and if so, why?
I've always loved the things I do at the moment, or the last ones. My
favourite years are the ones where I was painting easily in my
hometown. Now, I've moved from Toulouse, it's not a graffiti city
anymore.
Your art revolves around images of women - would you consider yourself a feminist icon?
Feminists hate me! They think I don't represent a good image of women.
But I think my paintings and especially the places where they stand are
like a manifesto for us. After all, I paint often alone, at night, a
feminine image in a very aggressive environment. Anyway, I don't have
problems with men, never asked for parity, if girls wanna be in, move
your ass!
I loved the Hmilo character (small
cute Heffalump-style creatures designed by Fafi to be ridden by the
‘Fafinettes’. Suffer from depression but are happy to brush the
Fafinettes hair with their teeth!) How did this come about and are you
planning to do anything with the character?
I was a little bit fed up always doing sexy girls, I wanted to have
more poetry, I wanted to express something different than just being
cute. Hmilo was born in a train, Bitrak is another creature, I guess a
lot are to come now. I want to create a full, complete world where my
Fafinettes would only be one of the characters.
If there had to be a soundtrack to your art, what/ who would it be?
DJ Mehdi's music: rich, intense and deep.
You’ve been around the world painting, have you been to the UK?
The first time I came in the UK, I painted on the subway, a long time
ago. Last year, I came with three friends for a bachelor party, while
my friends where getting drunk with Champagne, I stuck a big artwork on
paper for my friend who was going to be married.
Look out for Fafi’s forthcoming projects which include; a second toy
project with NTF released at the end of July, stationery and a
collection of little bags "Fafi girls" sold in Europe in all
department stores.
www.fafi.net