The official Montana Colors store in Rio de Janeiro is a specialized point-of-sale that is boosting the Carioca graffiti scene. It is situated in the Tijuca neighborhood, right in the heart of Rio in a well connected area with easy access from the rest of the urban setting.

Apart from the entire range of Montana Colors products, at the Montana Colors shop Rio de Janeiro you ‘ll also be able find a comprehensive catalog of products related with the graffiti world and a wide selection of international brands and accessories. They always maintain a strict criteria of selection and quality.

* Galería Vitrine da Tijuca. Rua Conde de Bonfim, 346. Subsolo – Loja 107 (Tijuca – Rio de Janeiro). Tel: 0055 (21) 2234 2741

“SURE is from the best city in South Africa, Cape Town! Born and  raised in Cape Town and painting graffiti more actively than your  average since 2006 with a lot more to come! Streets highways and  trains have never been the same. Representing 40Hk crew, and the  infamous drinking crew TRD. In such a small scene, with so much  security, policing and gangsterism its important to have people push  as hard as Sure to keep things moving in an every day struggle to  stay up!” Toe007-40hk

Please tell us your name and how long you’ve been painting?

I write Sure, 40hk, and been writing since 2006.

Tell us about the scene in your country/ city.

The scene in our city is small but growing. I feel that one of the main problems we have is that writers find the easiest way of getting up is through the internet. So instead of going out and painting fresh spots, they paint played out walls and just post the pics the to net. That being said there are a few guys coming up who have been steadily bombing and pushing others to step it up.

What scares you when going out painting?

As a writer in Cape Town though the main problems we face when going out is the immense amount of private security. Apart from the police and metro police we have about 8 or 9 private armed security companies who are active in all areas of the city. Crime is a major problem in our city so people are extremely vigilant of whats going on. Not to mention the dodgy people to seem to hangout on most street corners.

What are your goals?

No long term goals really. Would really like to travel but right now I just gotta finish college.

How do you manage to balance graffiti life with a ‘normal’ life?

I think i should make that one of my goals… haha. its mostly just slugging through the day on minimal sleep and drinking far to much coffee…

Can you tell us the worst things that happened to you while painting?

The most recent thing that comes to mind is security jumping out of train we were busy with and trying to stab one of the guys I was painting with. Myself and Toe managed to get away but did get pelted with train stones in the process.

And the funniest?

One of the funniest and most disturbing things I’ve seen was while Jers and Aley were down. We were checking out a layup during the day and we walked past a homeless guy. We were about 3m past him and we turned around and he had taken out his dick and started wanking! He knew we were there and didn’t give a fuck! So naturally Jers takes out his camera and starts filming the guy. That was pretty fucked up.

What do you think about graffiti in the rest of the world?

There are so many levels to that question, but overall I feel that the level of graffiti both in quality and concept is being pushed and taken well past what I thought was possible.

Influences…

I’m influenced mostly by shapes and bold letterforms, but I know that to some level I’m influenced by everything, be it the stuff I love and I am inspired by or the stuff and people that I fucking hate.

Shout outs!

Thanks to you guys for the interview and to everyone doing something in Cape Town, Toe Cros Disk Raze Pastel Wer Lozr, also the 40hk crew, TRDz, and those crazy motherfuckers Jers and Aley for making me feel like a tourist in my own city.

Recently Immortal Technique, Poison Pen and Dj Static where over at ‘López Records’, one of the main distributers for Montana Colors Australia in Sydney. Might sound a bit familiar now because a few months ago Kurupt was also there. Almost 300 people were there standing in line trying to get an autograph. We also got the same nod from Immortal Technique over here at MTN. Thanks to everyone for all you support!

Here are the photos (by Jeosm) from the exhibition last Sunday which was held to celebrate one year since the launch of the Madrid Revolution book.

23 graffiti writers from different generations, many of which haven’t appeared for more than 15 years, faced up to the wall on a surprisingly sunny winter’s day.

Pocho was the only one missing because, as we were told afterwards, “he was painting a wholecar the night before”. It’s a good excuse, right? Especially since after more than 25 years in the game, he still causes trouble with the best of them.

It was a day to remember.

If you mix the old Warner cartoons, the psychedelic ’70s, some magic substance, and paint, the result would be a journey through the world of Alice in Wonderland, a drop without breaks into a universe condensed within the four Montana Gallery walls.

‘Animalocalypsis Now’, created by J.Loca and Eledu, hooks us with its perfume and draws us into its acid dream.

The night promised the usual; a jam-packed venue, rock, beer, and a crowd that stayed till the very last drop of alcohol was drank.