MONTANA CANS Before you started exploring the augmented reality aspect of your work, what was your focus when creating graffiti or murals? BOND TRULUV Well, I guess it’s safe to say that my focus changed every so often, finding so much inspiration from so many different sources. Looking back now, there are really a lot of different styles and approaches in my work. You have already mentioned a few in your intro. There were and still are times when I felt really confused about which path, or style, to follow. Waging economic, practical, personal, and even political aspects against each other. When you look at the popular and in other ways successful artists that emerged from the sea of writers, it seems that they all have this one signature style that they are known for and according to which parameters they work. Like a brand or consumer product, it almost seemed to me that most them have a certain type of “corporate identity”. Naturally, I thought that’s the recipe for success and was constantly confused about myself not being able to build up this solid body of coherent work. Nowadays I think that this ability to change and play with new influences is a strength and I try to embrace and welcome new and unusual ideas. The world we live in is too diverse for singular inspiration. Of course, the longer you work in a certain set of restraints, certain routines come with it. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it sure can be limiting at times. ↑ Start at the beginning, no matter how far you delve into making art digitally, nothing substitutes a strong foundation in drawing by hand. I’m a self-taught person, not working in the industry or anything and I pretty much do everything myself. MC At what point in your career did the AR work start to enter your painting work? Was there any specific moment to this starting? BT One night about three years ago I had a couple of beers with some nerd friends of mine and we were deep in a discussion about technology stuff when the AR topic popped up. Pretty much the very next day I built my first AR app with Unity3D, and the help of a YouTube tutorial. MC Your affiliation to traveling must deeply inform your artwork, how do you practically manage this combination of analog and digital work? Is it as simple as bringing along a laptop with your cans, or do you need other special requirements? BT Unfortunately, the technical aspect of the more complex AR pieces is super time consuming and challenging. I’m a self-taught person, not working in the industry or anything and I pretty much do everything myself. So, most of the time, putting together the AR animations and whole infrastructure as well as conceiving and editing the whole show is more work than the actual painting of it. Also, the troubleshooting and researching for the best techniques takes its time. There is rarely a case when technology or software just work like that. Usually there are random errors and a blue screen that come with the piece. MC Has the development of digital work become more important to you than painting with cans? BT For me, the interesting and important part is the combination. There are way better digital artists out there and there are better graffiti writers and spray paint artists out there. But blending the different approaches to create something new and unique is what’s raising my curiosity. 48 Artist in focus / Interview bond truluv
↑ From the hi-fi digital world to cardboard and wood lo-fi. BOND knows how to use any material to help him create. ↑ Everything is there to inspire, for BOND, the real world is an invitation to conceive ideas. ↓ Anything is possible, even Bart Simpson finds his way into a BOND TRULUV concept in epic proportions. The development of the digital aspects of my pieces surely take more time, though. But I enjoy the painting part a bit more. So, they always compliment and balance each other. MC Seeing you create in the studio is as if it is as natural to you as painting a wall. Do you prefer small studio work over working large scale? BT Honestly, I don’t like studio work too much. I like to move and climb and explore. Also working inside the studio with solvents, ventilation is always an issue, especially when it’s cold outside. And I love spray paint for its handling, even for very small pieces. It dries faster and covers so much better than any water-based acrylic. I am constantly astonished how far spray paint technology has evolved. MC Do you prefer incorporating the AR element into smaller or larger scale works? BT For me it’s the same. Artist in focus / Interview bond truluv 49
