MontanaCans LOOKBOOK 2023 Issue #8
It's that time again to welcome the release of the Montana Cans Lookbook 2023 edition #8. There is no rewind button on life, making it all the more important to reflect on the year that was, and the things that happened during that period. The Montana-Cans Lookbook does just that and reflects on some of the highlights from the year prior. A moment to reflect on those things that may not have received as much shine as they deserved while being "in the moment".
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← Hopelessness and
← Hopelessness and prayers for rain. ↓ The raised perspective of an immigrant on top of a freight train. 70 Artist in focus/Interview Pablo Allison
← “VALIENTES” (brave). In Pablo Allison's eyes, bravery is an essential part of the imigrant makeup. MC How did you and other writers get access to cans in violent or civil unrest-affected areas? on the side of the freight in Culiacan, Sinaloa. We had been travelling for many weeks and all the migrants (men, women, and kids predominantly) were exhausted. We had been scared off a few times by alleged criminals along the way. In Irapuato we had been warned that a group of Narcos were positioned ready to shoot at the train we were travelling on and in Culiacan, Sinaloa apparently some criminals were also plotting to hurt the people. The quick panel was made with the help of a few migrants and people were very happy. They shouted and supported it. The painted train was the one we kept riding for another stint of the journey until we reached the next stop. PA I think that the graffiti culture is so developed today that small companies create their own cans for the same graffiti community. In Jordan and Iraq, I mainly painted with crappy cans but some good paint is available at quite inaccessible prices. The Middle East region is a very interesting one for history but also for graffiti. I think that hardly any western graffiti has reached it yet. I certainly did not see any known writers in Iraq and the few things I did see were made by local artists with slightly naive techniques which I sort took an affinity to. I am sure some graffiti writers have visited Iraq and dropped something but I did not see anything really. MC Do they choose cans and caps with a similar mindset to other more graffiti-friendly countries? MC Is there somewhere or something on your graffiti wish list that you have not yet painted and want to? And if you could, what would you paint on it? I certainly did not see any known writers in Iraq and the few things I did see were made by local artists with slightly naive techniques which I sort took an affinity to. PA I don’t really have any specific spots in mind that I can think of right away but I would love to paint a large wall in Baghdad such as the ones I have been painting in recent years. I feel that city needs some color added and given its history I would love to plaster some ideas of inspiration to people in general alongside other artists from Baghdad. However, I feel that there are a lot of constraints and barriers that need to be jumped and bureaucracy is a hard one to tackle there. The political atmosphere is tense and I don’t know how easily it would be to crack something in the shape of a largescale wall with the appropriate support needed to not get in trouble and face some harsh legal situation. ↑ “MIGRANTES VA- LIENTES” (Brave Migrants). This time adorning the glass panes of a trackside sound barrier. → Allison’s work is playful and nonaggressive making it seem right at home on this shop window. Artist in focus/Interview Pablo Allison 71
