Montana LOOKBOOK #08 / 2023

MC You grew up in

MC You grew up in Barcelona, a destination for many graffiti practitioners with some edgy characteristics. Are there any things you do now that you can attribute to having grown up there? To me, heroes are people who help the world to be a much better place, this is not the case if you are just a graffiti writer. LAIA Yes, I think that Barcelona has always had a very avant-garde style thanks to being located “at the gates of Europe”. As well as receiving thousands of graffiti writer guests from all over the world. I’ve been doing almost the same since I started painting, I like to keep it that way. I’ve always used the same types of forms and elements, and all this comes from those golden times in the city. A time when every day when we woke up, there were new pieces done by people from all over the globe. They brought with them their different styles and new lots of new information. All of that was an inspiration to me. MC Do you have a favorite local graffiti hero? LAIA In my opinion, there are no heroes in graffiti, only crazy people who are capable of doing anything. To me, heroes are people who help the world to be a much better place, this is not the case if you are just a graffiti writer. If you save puppies in bad conditions, heal them, take care of them, love them and look for a happy family, you are a hero to me. But if you paint 20 trains in one night jumping 30 walls that were all 50 meters high, you are either crazy, courageous, or both. MC How does Barcelona vary from other Spanish or even European cities in your experience? LAIA Barcelona has the sea, mountains, good weather, great architecture, history, diversity, and a thousand things to visit and do. It’s a cool city with new things happening every day. The people are generally open-minded and each area is different. Everybody has plans all the time and as for graffiti, it’s a crazy city. It’s kind of like some kind of amusement park for graffiti writers. However, this is not so good for you if you are a local like us. Outsiders often paint things in an “easy” manner which makes spots hot and is sometimes stressful if you arrive after them. But I love it. I know it’s an amazing city, and for that reason, everyone wants to visit! LAIA switching it up a bit. When the rails lead to the freights. 22 Black Artist Edition/Interview Laia

← Rail duty. LAIA hits the line in simple, elegant style. MC We can imagine that you have been asked many questions about being a female writer in a male-dominated game. And possibly having those questions asked by males. What’s your position on this? What questions do you think are important that female writers should be asked? LAIA Some female writers have inspired me a lot. It has not been because of their painting technique, their letters, or their colors, but by their strength, their desire, their impetus, and their trajectory. It’s strange. Sometimes I think I don’t want to answer questions about “the woman in graffiti” because in this way we will never have equality. I want to be treated as if I am a writer, regardless of whether I am male or female. My answer has always been something along the lines of, “to paint you need to use your hands, both women and men have those”. But other times I feel it is necessary to explain to the world the reality of how this works if you are a female writer and what many women have had to go through. For example, many people believe that everything is much easier and that there are more opportunities if you are female. But mostly, it is the opposite. It is an extensive issue. On the other hand, I like to talk about these kinds of things because they are necessary. But there are also women writers giving bad examples within the graffiti community and taking advantage of their female figures. Something that embarrasses the others that are trying to be taken seriously without consideration of gender. I think now is the time to work very hard on this, for all parties. MC Are there any female writers of note that were particularly inspiring or influential to you? LAIA Some female writers have inspired me a lot. It has not been because of their painting technique, their letters, or their colors, but by their strength, their desire, their impetus, and their trajectory. I am more inspired by people and their personalities than what they paint. Because sometimes I like what they create, and sometimes I don’t. But they all inspire me equally. MC Your artwork often seems light-hearted, colorful, spontaneous, and with a feeling of positivity. Is this an accurate interpretation or do act take it very seriously with lots of preparation and forethought for each piece? LAIA There is no preparation, it’s freestyle. It is how it comes out of my head. I like cheerful colors and positive elements. I live surrounded by them: vintage toys, comics (Hanna-Barbera, Disney, etc.), and all kinds of cheerful freaks. So my brain already thinks in this Black Artist Edition/Interview Laia 23