Ensoe Interview

What do you write? Where are you from? What crews do you rep?

Ensoe: I write Ensoe, Born and raised in East Vancouver.. I rep NWK and BHG

How’d you get the name Ensoe?

Ensoe: Honestly, it was just word play and letter flow. I use to write neos, until i found out there was already 2 different neos’ from Canada so I flipped the letters around to create something more original and it just clicked. Now its become as relevant as my real name, and I’m often referred to as Ensoe, from family and friends.

How long have you been doing graffiti for?

Ensoe: Since 1999. Ive always been involved in one art form or another, and I use to get into a lot of trouble in my youth, Graffiti took my passion for art and criminal tendencies, and kept me painting walls and trains instead of stealing cars and selling drugs.

What got you into doing graffiti?

Ensoe: TOTAL ED..haha, Its wasnt until I went to that school (Total ed) that I really learned to appreciate graffiti. I met several current and well known artist who inspired me, the staff was encouraging and amazing as well I fucking hated school. If it wasn’t for total ed I would have never graduated…We used to have full blown pieces on our lockers an shit. It was dope., and it started to sway my art in the direction of letters and characters.

How often do you get out painting?

Ensoe: Almost everyday..Im always painting something…Short breaks are healthy and encourage growth in your art..But its important to keep busy.

When was the last time you were out painting?

Ensoe: 2 days ago..It was poring rain, and I decided to hit this little patio spot thats undercover.. I’d been scoping it for a couple weeks and got sick of looking at it, so i hit it.

You’ve done a bit of traveling with your graffiti. Where all have you gone?

Ensoe: I’ve painted in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal, Quebec city, Victoria, New York, Los Angeles, Sandiego, Omaha. Seattle, Tacoma and more… I’ve done my fair share in North America. I’ve met a lot of amazing people from traveling.

Where else would you like to visit?

Ensoe: I’ve been dying to get out to Asia, Europe and eventually Austrailia..its killin’ me
I wanna see the world!

How long has NWK been around? Who’s all in NWK?

Ensoe: I created NWK in 2003 when I found myself looking for something more.. Ive never been a follower, I prefer to lead and create my own legacy. NWK is a crew committed to graffiti and quality…passion and a general love and pride for your art work..yes we like to fuck shit up and vandalize, but we do it with style…
It consists of myself, DEMOS, WEBS, SUEME, FESTER, ASESR, WAYS, DUTCH, DIFER, OWEN, GUTS, HOSER.

How would you describe the Vancouver graffiti scene?

Ensoe: Hilarious…Its bullshit. The city buffs everything. There’s no freedom of expression..The city looks like shit right now…It use to be smashed with quality graffiti. Now its just fire extinguisher tags and hollows.. Don’t get me wrong There’s a lot of good writers from Vancouver, but we got little Hollywood syndrome and everyone thinks there special or better than the next man.There isn’t much acceptance in this city.. and a lot of shit talk..a lot of jealousy.. To this day, after all the slack and hate and insult’s Ive caught on the internet, not one person has ever said any of that shit to my face.
…Mark my words. The internet’s created a voice for cowards and its sad..

Who or what are your influences for doing graffiti?

Ensoe: Myself and the ability to produce what I can. And the ability to inspire other people.
I feel I have the potential to push it further..Its my culture and art form and I take it seriously.
Too many people are lazy with this shit, and try to say they do it, just because they enjoy it….That’s weak…Nothing wrong with having fun doing graffiti, but….If you’re a shitty cook and you do it because you enjoy cooking, I don’t wanna eat at your restaurant, ya dig? Have some pride. Watch hells kitchen and learn some discipline.

What do you prefer piecing walls, bombing or freights?

Ensoe: All of it…Personally I think my skills have always been geared towards piecing..But freights and bombing is just so stress relieving and fun. Its all relative. You cant excel in one without the other..

Do you have any chase stories you’d like to share with us?

Ensoe: Shit….Too many. Me CHEZ GL RSN and NESTA Lords crew went to paint the water tower in Vallejo California..If your not familiar with that spot its the wall that Chez painted the 40 foot tall mac dre on.. We started a dope production and half way through I’m sitting down eating the biggest burrito I’ve ever had in my life from a taco truck…A ghetto bird flies right over our heads and starts to circle the water tower ( I always wonder what that 40 foot mac dre looked like to those cops from the chopper) The fucking thing comes down about 20 feet above us, We run, crawl under the fence surrounding the reservoir and bolt down this steep ass forested hill, chucking our caps and gloves like they were crack rocks. I watched Nesta do 2 barrel rolls on his head and land on his feet and keep running. we split up and the chopper got confused. I hide in a bush with Chez for a minute while he circled around, and as soon as its back was towards us, I ran out of the bush with dog walkers watching us in amazement, dipped down the road, hopped in the whip and got on the highway…we had to leave our bags at the scene. To my amazement, a friend sent me a link online to a cover story for the times herald in Vallejo a week or 2 later with a photo of my wall with Chez on the front page and a interview with the cops, about how the vandals disappeared quickly and without a trace and all that was left was a back pack and a STILL WARM half eaten burrito!! hahahaha

Is there a particular freight you prefer to paint?

Ensoe: Not really… I like boxcars, flat ones are sweet..but nobody wants to paint the same kind over and over… I love reefers because we never get them out here, But in the midwest, kids I’ve met see so many reefers that they would pass up a ARMN for a railbox!!!

How many freights would you say you’ve painted?

Ensoe: Not as many as the next man, but easily 300-400

Who’s graffiti have you been feeling lately?

Ensoe: Locally- Kaput, Tars, Sueme, Hoser. Worldwide- Chez, Natrl, Clown, Bates, Ces, Hews. Sew, always a fan of Revok, Rime, Pose and Augor for pushing boundaries. Kwest, Bacon, Rony, Teck, Fatso I’m sure there’s more. I’m inspired by anyone that put effort into there work.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen or experienced while out painting?

Ensoe: Lots of junkies out here.. Ive seen crack whores getting screwed, guys shooting up heroin, chasing me with needles..weird shit like that.

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

Ensoe: More everything….And better. I’m my own worst critic believe me, and lately ive hated my shit and just wanted to get better. Back to the drawing board.

Do you have any last words for the Senses Lost readers?

Ensoe: Graffiti exists because of modern society.. And instead of nurturing and accepting this art form the world tries to oppress it. I consider my self a voice for our culture, and we need others to step up and take this movement further..In the words of saber one “Graffiti is the biggest art movement in human history, and it cant be ignored”

 

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