Name: Peter Mitropoulos
Year: 2017
Hometown: Athens, Greece
Major: Mechanical Engineering
1. How did you get involved in street art?
I first got involved in street art when I was 12 years old. I had just made a new friend who was two years above me, and he was apparently somewhat involved in the graffiti scene. He told me that he had started doing graffiti not too long ago, and I remember always seeing him sketching during the one class we had together at school. I immediately took an interest and started sketching, both on my own and with my new friend. He introduced me to graffiti terms such as a “piece,” a “bomb” and a “throw–up,” all of which have completely different meanings in the graffiti scene. I kept on sketching and practicing until, eventually, I bought my first spray paint and made my first real graffiti piece. It goes without saying that it was utterly horrible, but I was 13 years old at the time with absolutely no experience. Gradually I became better and better as I kept on practicing, spending hours making new designs and pieces and taking advice from others who were much more experienced than I was. I made many new friends and got to know almost everyone in the Athens graffiti scene by the time I was 15.
2. Graffiti is part art, part criminal activity—have you ever been arrested? What’s the closest you’ve come?
It is definitely true that there is a criminal aspect to graffiti and, for a lot of taggers (graffiti artists), myself included, that adrenaline rush makes the art even more addictive. I fully consider myself retired from illegal graffiti, commonly known as “bombing,” but I have had quite a few memorable experiences. By the time I was 15 I had formed a group of five or six friends that I would typically go paint with. We would paint trucks, highways, tunnels, rooftops...pretty much anywhere that was very visible to the public. While I have never actually been arrested, I’ve gotten chased dozens of times. While painting an illegal piece, we always had an escape plan and an escape route and often times we would have a friend come along whose job was solely to watch for cops. We never went out unprepared, and would always aim to finish the piece within 10–15 minutes. I have many memories of running from cops, jumping over fences, hiding in ditches, etc. Honestly, those were some of the most hilarious and memorable moments I had as a young teenager. I would say that every time the police spot you and start chasing after you is a really close call, but the worst part of it is leaving your piece unfinished!
3. What do you think about Castle’s graffiti party?
Castle’s graffiti party is one of the biggest parties of the year and is definitely a blast. The “graffiti” that is displayed during the party is more just arbitrary scribbles using spray paint than it is actual graffiti art, but the underlying concept of the party is certainly unique. I thought I would help out this year by making my own piece for the party. It turned out to be pretty cool and added a bit more of an actual graffiti vibe, I feel.
4. Graffiti is the most public art form—is there something you’re trying to say to a large group of people with your work?
When I first started doing graffiti, I did it mostly because it was fun, risky, nerve–wracking and unpredictable. While all of these things still do hold true today, even though I no longer paint illegally, I understand how naive I was in my earlier years. Graffiti is about creative expression, taking what you have on your mind and converting it into a form of art. I generally do not consider myself to be a creative guy but, when I start sketching and painting, my mind suddenly fills with ideas and my hand starts moving. I stopped doing illegal graffiti and started painting legally because I realized that I wanted to take my time. I wanted to create beautiful pieces and take as long as I needed to perfect them. Rather than being considered a vandal, I wanted people to appreciate my work. I can’t speak for the whole graffiti community, as many different artists attempt to convey different messages through their art, but for me it is a hobby and a passion just like anything else. It is something I enjoy to do and grew up doing.
5. Given that we’re in Philadelphia, would you consider painting a mural? I’d be down to model...
Here in Philadelphia I have had the chance to paint a couple of quick pieces, but nothing extraordinary. The more I think about graffiti, the more I miss doing it! So yeah, I would certainly consider painting a mural—especially if you’re in it!
