ART WRECKERS
ART WRECKERS - ART EXHIBITIONS
In our "art wreckers" section we will interview different artists who operate within the bmx scene and street culture, in addition to providing a space for them to meet the artist, they will also have the opportunity to collaborate monetarily and give donations to the artist so that he can continue creating exceptional works of art.
INTERVIEW WITH @SEXTINTION_SAPO (SOUTH KOREA)
We all know the Korean artist @sextinction_sapo for his illustrations and so representative characters that make us feel identified with our day to day being bmx riders but
1-Who is the guy behind this great art, what is the name of this great artist who has filled bmx with art?
My name is Sapo.
Actually, it's not my real name, but a few years ago, when my artist friend started calling me sapo, everyone around me started calling me sapo and it became my activity name.
In fact, sapo means sandpaper in Korea.
I recently learned that sapo means toad in other languages hahaha
IF YOU LIKE THE ART OF @SEXTINCTION_SAPO YOU CAN SUPPORT IT WITH A DONATION
2- Normally Korea is known for having a highly productive and disciplined society but with serious problems in the mental health of society, which made "sapo" choose art and bmx as a weapon to choose freedom and transmit to people a free lifestyle through cartoons and illustrations is so expressive, what was the trigger for your art to be a way of expressing a different life?
We all do but I love bmx very much too.
In my opinion, most Koreans are unable to find a field that they love and devote their passion to for life because of social conventional wisdom and growth omnipotence.
Some creations whose messages are too clear to these people can often interfere with an individual's experience when accepted.
Especially in Korea, there are many people who are afraid when there is no answer. It's also that people don't when they have to think and feel for themselves.
It varies from case to case, but this also gives people another conventional wisdom and burden.
In fact, I didn't mean to inspire them. It's just that the theme of my work has become my favorite field, and it's natural for me as we ride a bmx or film.
There are no huge lessons or messages in my creations and it's ambiguous to express them in language, but I think people like it because I love certain fields and naturally express my sense of empathy.
IF YOU LIKE THE ART OF @SEXTINCTION_SAPO YOU CAN SUPPORT IT WITH A DONATION
3- We have been watching your progress as an artist for years, at some point did you think that your art would inspire and make so many people feel identified, because despite the fact that not everyone follows you, your illustrations go viral in an impressive way, you expected to reach this point ?
I didn't expect it. I don't know if I'm popular right now
But I think the people who like my work are, as I mentioned, because it's natural.
I didn't plan it out by force, but I tried to make it natural like writing a diary about what I felt and thought of at the time.
I think there are people who like it because they show the most personal emotions they felt while riding bmx without a filter.
I remembered the emotions that everyone on the Bmx would have felt and made it into a work with my own interpretation.
I think this kind of work style suits me well and also fits the theme of bmx street.
Thank you to everyone who liked and sympathized with my work
IF YOU LIKE THE ART OF @SEXTINCTION_SAPO YOU CAN SUPPORT IT WITH A DONATION
4- What are your artistic references to create this iconic and unique style of illustration? Did you expect to create innovative digital art?
There's no art reference, but I think the things I've been doing and seeing come out naturally
The biggest inspiration is completely @serotonin_seoul
This group, led by Kwang-kyu and Ji-hoon, is friends who ride bmx and shoot together every weekend.
There are Kwang-kyu studying art aesthetics and dance for bmx, Ji-hoon, who rides back with crazy rehabilitation after two acl injuries, Gyu-min, who searches Google Maps only for pictures and eventually finds spot locations, and some other friends who put passion and love for bmx in different ways.
It's really hard to put this passion into things that don't make money while living in Korean society.
Their passion for bmx is crazy.
Totally a source of my inspiration.
Thank you for saying that my digital work is innovative, but as I mentioned earlier, it's just a natural result.
IF YOU LIKE THE ART OF @SEXTINCTION_SAPO YOU CAN SUPPORT IT WITH A DONATION
FOR COLLABORATIONS YOU CAN COUNT @SEXTINCTION_SAPO VIA INSTAGRAM
5- Finally, what would you tell people about your beautiful country, I want you to invite people to see Korea not only as a technological powerhouse but also as a nation with great artists.
As you mentioned earlier, it is a country with many mental and social problems, but new art and messages are coming out from all over the alley.
They are trying to communicate with people in various ways. But many artists are treated as non-mainstream, and they have very little support.
This is the same as the perception and treatment of bmx that most Koreans have.
However, this is one of the reasons why we can be free from the negative competition underlying Korean society and the obsession that there should be answers.
There are so many new attempts and diversity.
There are endless things that many artists, including Bmx, can inspire each other.
And Korea is relatively safe at night compared to other countries.
That's how much the night culture is developed.
If you ride bmx, love art, only during the day
If you are not satisfied with riding, you will love the summer night in Korea.
THIS WAS ART WRECKERS AND IN THIS FIRST EDITION WE WERE ABLE TO MEET ONE OF THE BEST EXponents OF SOUTH KOREA ART, IN THE BMX SCENE, BEING A LEADING LEAD AS AN ANIMATOR IN SHREDD BIKES' VIDEOS FOR VANS THE CIRCLE. IF YOU LIKE THE ART OF SEXTINCTION SAPONO, DO NOT HESITATE TO HELP HIM WITH A DONATION SO THAT HE CONTINUES GIVING US GREAT WORKS OF ART.