Beijing gets new colors
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The ABS graffiti crew put on the final touches on a new piece covering a wall at the southern gate of the 798 Art Zone in northeastern Beijing on March 21. Photos by Wei Xiaohao / China Daily |
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Chen Chuang, an ABS crew member, jumps out of a window after working on a piece. |
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Top: Xu Yan, a member of the ABS graffiti crew, adds some color to the new piece in Beijing. Above: Chen makes changes to a draft on his computer. |
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Top: Wang Weixuan, also a member of the ABS graffiti crew, checks drafts for future projects at the team's store in Beijing. Above: Chen Chuang, a member of the team, takes a break in front of the new project. |
They are young, energetic and creative, and even a bit wild. Sharing the same passion, the group of Beijing-based graffiti artists created a team known as ABS, which stands for active, brilliant and significant.
The four young men - Ye Shu, 29, Chen Chuang, 27, Xu Yan, 25, and Wang Weixuan, 26 - opened a shop selling graffiti-related products in the capital last year, which was the first of its kind in China.
"We love the art of graffiti and formed our team in 2008. Our initial goal was simple: to show this creative art form to people and have fun," said Ye, who has been a graffiti artist for nine years.
Ye said that their objectives were upgraded after they developed a deeper understanding of their art.
"We want the public to understand the underlying significance of this art, and so we began to create themed paintings to convey a kind of 'positive energy' to the public, so that they can understand and accept this art," he said.
In 2011, the ABS team won the first prize at the Wall Lords competition, and the second prize at last year's event. The competition is Asia's only graffiti event.
Ye hopes that more young people join the graffiti movement and incorporate more Chinese elements in the art form, which originated in the United States.
weixiaohao@chinadaily.com.cn
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