born at the early eighties

compressive -->artists -->lunar 75

I picked up a spray can to write the name ‘Lunar’ for the very first time at the tender age of 14. It was 1989, and I had just finished elementary school. Along with my best friend 2Fast, we started painting our first pieces. Back then, he was the initiator, and I was just shadowing him and filling in outlines, as he was already attending a high school for art and design. We were in the main, painting the names of our favourite rap groups such as Public Enemy, NWA and Das EFX. Only wack cans were available in Zagreb at that time, most with female caps, so it was hard to achieve fine lines. In April 1992, we started the first official Croatian graffiti crew, YCP (Yo Clan Posse). It wasn't until 1993 that I felt ready to drop my first piece. I came up with a red, silver and white fill in with a black outline and shadows. I placed this early ‘Lunar’ piece in centre of Zagreb. My first painting trip outside of country was in 1994 to Ljubljana, at Club Nexus. Umek was its resident DJ at that time, providing the perfect musical backdrop for our work. I travelled along with 2Fast, Target, Pancho, Tense, Ziga, Swan, Badcat and Stupni. The first official Croatian graffiti event took place in the summer of 1995. It was organised by Sener, and supported by Base along with his crew, NWS. The event, entitled Hit the Wall, was held in Osijek, a city situated in the eastern corner of Croatia. YCP went there as a six-strong army. Raptor, Speed, Target, Lonac, Reel Phast and I travelled by bus. There we hooked up with NWS, and decided to work together. It resulted in a friendship that still continues to this day. We frequently visit each other, painting in both cities. In 1996, we travelled to Munich. In January of that year, Speed, Crone and I went there simply to paint some silver pieces and walk the entire city in search of good walls, and to take as many photographs as we could. Impressed by what we saw, especially by Loomit's hall of fame at the old airport in Riem, we went there again a few months later to attend the Living Larger jam. We met so many friendly people and painted a huge wall with writers from both Germany and Switzerland. It inspired me to establish an infrastructure in Croatia: a network of dedicated people who shared the same dedication and work ethic as myself. Due to the lack of communication amongst writers on both internally and externally, the need to develop the scene and to put Croatia on the world map was crucial. Jams were the logical way to achieve this, so I took part in organising several bigger events all across the country, and along with my fellow crewmates, started visiting events around Europe, in search of connections with fellow writers from whom I could learn and develop as an artist. Together we left our mark on numerous cities and along the way, established a network of connections and friendships. We witnessed the positive side of graffiti and indeed the hip-hop movement in its entirety. I felt strongly that we should continue this back home. Indeed, all YCP members strive to be the perfect hosts for graff writers who visit our shores. I became involved in graphic design back in 1992, when 2Fast began his first full-time job at a local studio. I had been assisting him with various projects, and we had been asked by some of our friends from the hip-hop community to design their logos. We worked with a whole host of crews including Blackout, led by local DJ/promoter/manager, Phat Phillie. It was not until the ‘00s that I started working as a graphic designer. I had decided that it was time to take life a little more seriously and start earning my own living. At first, it was difficult grappling with the fact that graffiti and graphic design had so little in common. However, throughout this period I never lost my passion for graffiti. In fact, I began painting more than ever, learning along the way the importance of time management - and of cherishing my free time. Then slowly the scene in a number of neighbouring countries started to develop. I became curious, and for a number of years travelled intensely to various cities, meeting people and of course, leaving the odd mark in Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Bulgaria and the FYR of Macedonia. For the past four years, I have been organising the Zagreb leg of an international graffiti event entitled Meeting of Styles, along with my boy Stupni. Manuel Gerrulis, an enthusiastic old school writer who hails from the German city of Wiesbaden, started the event. In the late ‘90s, local authorities tore down the local hall of fame, and so he decided to spread the event worldwide. I was honoured when he invited me to hold an event in Zagreb. I see it as a humble effort to do something for the next generation of graffiti artists: those who are willing to dedicate some of their time - some less, some more - to the Croatian graffiti scene. It looks to inspire them with a variety of styles: to teach them to respect the movement, and to learn about the differences between people and the importance of tolerance. I feel strongly that it is necessary that they represent our city well; that they feel passionately about what they do, and understand that it is only after years of hard work, can you feel truly content. Today I'm a happily married man. My wife Nina, a make-up artist, is not only by biggest supporter - but my fiercest critic. I work a regular nine-to-five (yes, nine-to-five) job at an up-and-coming graphic design studio in the centre of Zagreb. Boring? No, and I most definitely haven't lost my appetite or desire to learn and grow. I also undertake a lot of freelance work, not just involving graffiti, but also illustrations and graphic design projects. In fact, I have had an opportunity to work with a number of Croatia's leading advertising agencies. I could never imagine myself doing same job all my life. It would be like eating same food everyday or listening to the same type of music day in, day out. So, during the week, I work in a clean, bright, modern office space, and I spend my weekends hidden away in numerous dark, dirty back allies, painting intense graffiti pieces. The direct contrast not only fuels my passion for my art, but keeps me sane. Besides, I feel like giving a little something back to the Croatian and indeed, neighbouring graffiti scenes; a thank you I suppose, for making me the man and artist that I have become.