With their blazing stencils, grim stickers, bold paint and fiercely colourful graffiti, Colombian street art collective Excusado Printsystem has been a name on the scene since 2005. For the last three years, this Bogota-based gang of four - going under their gruffy pseudonyms of Stinkfish, Ratson, Deadbird and Saintcat - have gathered sprayers for several Desfase events to create collaborative artistic interventions throughout the city. Pingmag spoke to this collective extraordinaire.
Written by Aroldo Cardoso Jr.
Detail of a sticker collaboration between Excusado Vs. Propagansta at Casa Vecina. From Excusado’s Mexico trip.
First, who are the people in Excusado Printsystem?
Excusado is made up of four graphic designers: Stinkfish, Ratson, Deadbird and Saintcat are our pseudonyms. We all got to know each other in university, and spent time together playing soccer, drinking beers, walking around the streets…
And when did it all begin?
Excusado started in 2005, basically as a response to the type of graphic design we studied.
And you are still primarily based in Bogota…
We’ve been invited to paint, hold workshops and conferences in other Colombian cities, such as Medellin, Cali, Manizales, Cartagena, Pereira and Barranquilla.
Last year, we took part in an artistic residence program in Oaxaca and Mexico City by TEG, the Taller de Experimentación Gráfica [well documented on Flickr]. We participated in an event in Trimarchi, in Mar del Plata, Argentina and we’ve also had the chance to submit material for shows in Spain, the U.S. and Cuba.
You’re getting pretty international! So, why did you create this Colombian street art collective in the first place?
To have fun. To do what we wanted, when we wanted, where we wanted. It may seem hard to believe, but we strongly believe in work as fun and fun as work. We have never been comfortable with the idea of having a boss, a set schedule, this sort of working lifestyle.
As our group work has progressed, one idea and one intention has led to another. When we started originally to work in the streets, we were concerned with public space: we worried about how we could insert our work into such an interesting, immense and ever-changing – though sometimes unjustly regulated by a selected few – space.
Your website states that you’re also a prayer group. What do you mean with that?
Since we started, we have always had a sarcastic sense of humour based on fiction. We like to play with our identities, our true profession, our true activities. We like to create some confusion around what we do. The prayer group is an example of that.
Nice! Also, you seem to use various techniques – not only sprays, but also paint and stencils. What’s your preferred tool?
In the beginning, we used only stencils. Then we became interested in other techniques, like making other kinds of textures, other sizes and, in general, mixing things up. Now we don’t have a preferred tool or technique and like to experiment with what we have on hand: brushes, sprays, stencils, board paper, chalk, projections, stickers…
You also organize Desfase, an event where street artists from all over meet and collaborate. How did it start?
Desfase originated from knowing all these people in different Colombian cities who were also a part of a growing local street art movement. We were aware that, in Colombia, there was no space for us to get together, exchange experiences and show our work.
The first Desfase was held in a museum in 2005. The second was in a cultural centre in 2006 and the last one was in the streets in 2007.
Though graffiti has been moving into closed art spaces, you have chosen to take the last Desfase into an open space: the streets. Why?
From the beginning, Desfase has been considered a changeable event, where each show could be different and not connected to a specific place or a happening. In this way, Desfase can be seen and understood in many ways, like what happens in the streets. We made some strong alliances in Bogota’s Santa Fe neighborhood and it instantly seemed like an interesting place to hold the Desfase in [watch a short YouTube feature on the group for more].
What makes the Santa Fe quarter ideal for that?
Santa Fe is an old, marginal neighbourhood in downtown Bogota, plagued with problems such as prostitution, stealing, drug dealing and child abuse. Throughout 2007 we worked to reclaim this space: a place where we could offer an element of diversity to the neighbourhood and share another reality with its inhabitants for a few days.
Were there any challenges for the grafiteros from all over the world down in Santa Fe?
Yes, many! Some of them had never visited Santa Fe and had never had the opportunity to paint in spaces of this kind. With a medium like graffiti being converted into an art form of fashion and the industry, these days it is not that common to find a group of thirty or forty people painting in abandoned streets. These streets aren’t frequented by the “commercial centre” public - these streets have a public made up of the people who live there.
How did you get all these street artists together?
That’s what makes Desfase interesting: the gathering of people with different intentions, images, techniques and lastly languages all using the streets as a common space. Our challenge is to offer interesting and sufficient spaces for them, to inspire work and dialogue. Both the friendliness that the streets generate and the interest that many urban artists have in meeting and visiting other places helps us achieve this. Additionally, we rely on the institutional and private support from those that have believed in our project.
Good to hear that! Did the street artists have an easy time with the police then?
The Desfase in Santa Fe was very carefully orchestrated. We held meetings beforehand with the locals, high school students, the police, of course, the City Hall - and it all came together in a peaceful way. Santa Fe gave us access to many of its spaces. In the beginning, we only had the permission to paint on a few walls, but, in the end, we were able to use many more…
How tough are the controls on graffiti in Colombia in general?
Over here, street art is not such a big phenomenon. Even though the city has lots of free spaces for graffiti and advertising, there is no rigorous control on this art form and its diverse manifestations. In this way, the street art scene is very peaceful.
Another fine result of Excusado’s Mexico trip: “kid reunion” at Oaxaca’s Gallery Manuel Garcia. More on Flickr.
That’s great to hear! But still, do the police take sprayers in?
This rarely happens. We have created a peaceful street art environment: in abandoned spaces, we can paint freely – even during the day. As a result, most graffiti and street artists do it this way.
However, if they take you in, many things can happen. Sometimes you can talk to them, explain what you’re doing and nothing bad happens – they let you go and finish what you were doing. At other times, they may detain you for a few hours and take note of your ID. And, in the worst-case scenario, they’ll take you to a Permanent Justice Unit (UPJ) for twenty-four hours.
Though Colombia has a rough reputation in this regard, this all sounds quite calm indeed! Do you have any strategies for dealing with such misunderstandings while working?
Really, the best thing to do is to talk to them - or with anyone who has a problem with us - and explain to them what we do.
From the second Desfase instalment: Stinkfish’s…
Very peaceful! Lastly, what are your plans for the future?
Right now, we are working on ideas and preparations for the fourth edition of Desfase. We’re also continuing to distribute and promote our first book that was launched last November. And we are thinking about what we’re going to do in a springtime urban art event in Spain, brainstorming for the seventh edition of our fanzine - and painting in the streets as much as we can!
Thank you, guys of Excusado Printsystem! See more of their sharp art on their old site, on Desfase, on Flickr about their Mexico trip or Saintcat and Stinkfish’s sites - and also watch a short YouTube feature on Excusado.
Bon apetit!
29 Comments
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As of December 31, 2008, PingMag and sister site PingMag MAKE are both on extended hiatus, and will not be updated for the foreseeable future. We are eternally grateful for your fantastic support over the years.
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None found
So so so so colorful and vibrant!!!
Thnaks for bringing the world some color..
Posted by: munchy on March 3rd, 2008 at 11:55 pm
powerful!
thanx;)
Posted by: kazakov-d on March 4th, 2008 at 2:21 am
absolutely inspiring and beautiful. you’re making Bogotá a better placer.
Posted by: andresgualdron on March 4th, 2008 at 3:20 am
simply amazing.
Posted by: chicwiththamborine on March 4th, 2008 at 3:28 am
wicked stuff.
one of the best in some time!
Posted by: Chris Halsted on March 4th, 2008 at 8:23 am
[...] last week, I am pretty amazed by good street art, and I just want to highlight the cool blog post PingMag is having in their front page when this is written. It is about street art in Columbia, with focus [...]
Posted by: Is Your Child A Tagger? at Simple Common Sense on March 4th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Such beautiful color use!
Missimg those murals in Groningen BTW.
Posted by: Rudianto on March 5th, 2008 at 2:16 am
Muy bonito trabajo. Inspiracional.
Posted by: Omar Garfio on March 5th, 2008 at 3:52 am
Really cool and full of positive energy!
Posted by: sylvia on March 5th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Re-parchudo…… VIVA EL PARCHE de TABOGO
Muy bacano, se pasaron!!!!!
Posted by: Andres Felipe tobar ramirez on March 5th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Dude, these graphics are gorgeous! Thanks pingmag for providing knowledge about other street art culture over the latin america beside São Paulo. The Stinkyfish is my favorite, so eye-catchy!
Posted by: Marcello Aguiar on March 5th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
totally fantastic!
Posted by: dialbo 2 cd key on March 5th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
[...] través de esa fuente de saber y cultura llamada pingmag, descubrimos un colectivo colombiano de arte callejero. Excusado mezcla grafitties, stencils y [...]
Posted by: Barcelona’s Chiringuito » Archivo del weblog » Excusado Print Sistem on March 5th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
the bigone!
Posted by: Pep on March 6th, 2008 at 12:43 am
Es muy agradable ver noticias de mi pais en una pagina como esta. Sin embargo, es triste ver como el stencil, de ser una práctica contracultural con una fuerte crítica cultural y política, paso a ser solo un producto de márketing sin ninguna trascendencia. Muy lindo, pero muy vacio.
Posted by: Pulpo designer on March 7th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Congrats on the article!
Loved it,
Roger
Posted by: Roger on March 17th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Congrats on the article!
Loved it,
Roger1
Posted by: Roger1 on March 17th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
beautifully eyecatching
Posted by: Haya on April 15th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Que Puteria! Just so you know this is one element that compose Colombia’s Cultural edge. For all of you, we have the biggest and most important theater festival around the world. El Festival Iberoamericano de Bogotá. The NExt one is in 2010. Come and visit, rock with us and groove with sweet beautiful women.. You´ll love it..
Posted by: Caulker on April 25th, 2008 at 12:35 am
simplemente genial
Posted by: maler on May 8th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
amazin…love all the technics, the tetures and the colors!!!…great job!!
Posted by: pilipili on May 30th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
….tienen algun contrato para salir en la envoltura de algun paquete o mejor a un en la etiqute de alguna marce de ropa a la moda?…graficamnete muy atractivo y chusco
Posted by: tomorrows shit on August 24th, 2008 at 10:38 am
….tienen algun contrato para salir en la envoltura de algun paquete o mejor aun en la etiqute de alguna marce de ropa a la moda?…graficamnete muy atractivo y chusco
Posted by: tomorrows shit on August 24th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Un ciudadano más que está cansado de ver los matachos de este rebeldito. Creo que ya lo confundo con la publicidad de Coca-Cola.Y creo que su discurso de de-construcción de exteriores es una muletilla inepta y sobre todo mesquina dentro de la realidad colombiana.
Posted by: anti-transpirante apestoso on August 25th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Love the way Bogota always manages to impress me with strokes of passion and culture. This is what Bogota should be all about : )
Posted by: CRISTIAN ORTIZ on September 26th, 2008 at 12:11 am
ahi se muestra el talento colombiano
y la berraquera de un colombiano
Posted by: Anonymous on October 11th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Powerful Graphics!
Posted by: Flavio on October 19th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Great art work, keep it coming!
Posted by: Wrought Iron Furniture on July 31st, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Absolutely stunning!
Posted by: Carolina I. Reyes on November 11th, 2009 at 6:25 am