Writing's on the wall in graffiti artists' own warehouse space
Behind a metal grille on the sixth floor of an industrial warehouse in Chai Wan lies a plywood skate ramp. A worn-in leather couch occupies the space in front of a large window that overlooks dredgers in the port.
On the white-washed walls, blasts of colour, composition and form confront the senses. They are works of art that have come from the nozzle of a spray paint can.
Welcome to Six Keyz, named after the half-dozen men who rent the 800-sq-ft space and have the keys to access it. The space was born out of a mutual love for skateboarding, art and music - passions that have been woven together to create 'a place where we can all hang out, but where we can express our art too', says Drift, one of the project's instigators.
The skate ramp, the centerpiece of the room, was intended as an art installation, built by Drift and neighbouring artist Simon Birch. Drift and his friends wanted the luxury of being able to skate inside. 'Since the ramp's construction a little over two months ago, Six Keyz has evolved [rapidly],' says Drift.
The result of their efforts can be seen in today's exhibition, titled Burn, by New York graffiti artists Pen1 and Drift. The men decline to reveal their real name or identities because of the sometimes subversive and illegal nature of their work (public graffiti is still forbidden by law in Hong Kong). 'It's also nice to be known for the work you do, not for who you are,' says Pen1.
They first met about seven years ago through mutual friends who shared an interest in graffiti and were involved in the New York scene together. At similar times but for different reasons, both men ended up living and working in Hong Kong.
Pen1 returned to Hong Kong a month ago from Melbourne where he is now based and is pleased with the collaboration. 'I like that we can go into that room with two bare walls and create two pieces that go in different directions,' he says. 'In the graffiti sense, to 'burn' something is to not hold back. You paint with such intensity that you're essentially showcasing how far it can go.'
