Interview: Sickboy

Sickboy is an influential British graffiti artist who creates powerful symbols and truly surreal pictures (learn more about Sickboy here). Best known for his iconic Temple, and the line ‘Save the Youth’ that he uses frequently, Sickboy has also worked with several prominent street artists from Europe. He recently held a new show in London called ‘Heaven and Earth’, between November 4 to November 6. We caught up with the elusive artist and found out more about what his new show was all about, as well as some interesting insights on his latest work and future plans.

NH7: International street artists are not very well-known in India as yet but interest in the art form is growing. How would you describe your art to our readers?
Sickboy: It’s an interesting question. I think on the surface the visual appeal of the Temple icon can morph in between applications.  But more importantly, it’s the door to where I’m currently at in all I do. So you need to not stand there staring. It’s better to knock the door and step inside.

In one interview you said, “It’s not that I’m trying to ‘save the youth’. It’s just a line from a Northern Soul tune…” Who are other artists whose music you are inspired by, and do they appear in your work?
It’s true that I am a collector of authentic black American soul and disco from the ’60s and ’70s, and occasionally it inspires pieces I’m working on. It’s the soundtrack to my studio and the soulful essence resonates with me.

Sickboy working on piece for 'Heaven and Earth'

Your life as a street artist started out 15 years ago in Manchester and you got noticed a lot later on in Bristol and London. What advice do you have for the budding graffiti artists out there who just started their careers?
Keep a clean house.

The Temple and ‘Save The Youth’ are symbols that are synonymous with Sickboy. Did they have a part to play in the ‘Heaven & Earth’ show, and will they feature in future Sickboy creations?
Both of the above are like extensions to my signature and continue to have relevance to my work. They were included in the show, just not in a way you’ve seen them before.

Hieronymus Bosch is master of macabre symbolism and surrealistic re-imaginings and his identity was a mystery to most people. Do you see parallels in his work and your work? Or is his work just inspiration for what you had in mind for this particular installation?
A couple of months ago, I had dinner with a lady who makes stained glass windows for churches. I showed her some of my work on my phone and she described the work as whimsical. I think it’s fair to say that’s how I would loosely describe Hieronymus Bosch. I think he was well ahead of his time, centuries before Dali with more meaning. Something of a medieval cult here (in Bosch’s work) that is a mysterious inspiration to me.

A model holding Sickboy's most recognized symbol 'The Temple'

‘Confess’ is one of your planned installations in which anybody from anywhere in the world can send you a confession to ease their conscience. What do you intend to do with these confessions? With so many years of experience in expressing themes through art, do you think you can take on a challenge as diverse and difficult as this?
They are to be displayed as a live stream from my website unedited by myself and in a central installation at the show. I have expressed myself through my painting and I’d like people to be part of the show as well.

Street Art can be seen as a personal evolution of expression. How far along this evolution do you think you have come? Is ‘Heaven & Earth’ a sign of things to come for Sickboy or is it a one-off show?
I am always looking to evolve my creative voice and consolidate it in an all-encompassing exhibition. ‘Heaven and Earth’ was the finalisation of a two-year journey and I’m already itching to start something new. Fortunately, my black book is full of ideas and I have a studio full of paint.

Have you decided where you will go next? Is a visit to India something you foresee as a possibility in the near-future?
I am very interested in the prospect of visiting India with a view to starting a project. I just need to get the funding in place.

Sickboy tagging the door while expertly balancing on a bike.