CRYPTIK | STREET ART SF INTERVIEW

Cryptik's street art hopes to inspire higher levels of consciousness and awareness within the people who come into its presence. The pieces are meant to provoke one to reflect upon and understand our place in the universe and the framework in which we view them.

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed." - Albert Einstein

Are you a single person or group of artists?
It's just me as far as the art goes, but the MOVEMENT RUNS DEEP!

When did you start making street art? What was it that got you started?
The first piece I put up was back in 2008. It was just my way of sharing all the things I had learned and continue to learn, with the public at large. It's actually the story of my own personal spiritual journey, told through images and symbols.

What type of pieces do you do? What types of tools do you use? Where can your pieces be seen? Do you do walls, installations, trains, sidewalk pieces etc.?
Mostly wheatpastes, stencils and hand lettering. As far as tools go, whatever it takes, I guess. Most of my pieces can be seen up and down the west coast, mainly Los Angeles and San Francisco, but I'm really hoping to take the Movement on the road in 2012.
Where do you get your inspiration?
I'm mostly inspired by ideas that challenge my perception of reality; i.e., Buddhism, Quantum Mechanics, Psychedelics, etc...

Can you explain the concept behind the Cryptik symbol? It reminds me of a square kufic script and I have noticed that you often place it in the center of the location of the third eye or mandala within your pieces.
Nice observation! It's really just a "symbol," like any other religious or occult symbol (Cross, Swastika, Star of David), and it essentially serves the same purpose. Symbols are meaningless until you attach ideas or philosophies to them and, up to this point, the CRYPTIK symbol, which I refer to as the "CRYPTOGRAM," represents ideas associated with Eastern Philosophy, mainly Buddhism & Hinduism. Ultimately, the goal is to create something Sacred; something that ALL people can relate to, regardless of their religious or spiritual beliefs.

Your site states that "The goal of this organization is to serve as a catalyst for a change in consciousness on a global scale. At this very critical juncture in human history, either we evolve or DIE!!! Join the Movement! The "Great Awakening" is upon us." This is something that has great meaning to me. I find it interesting that you state that you are not pushing a specific religious agenda, but aren't you in essence, a spiritual movemnet, which I think is quite different than a religious movement. You have chosen many symbols connected to the east. Can you explain this?
That's exactly right! I would consider it a Spiritual Movement, which is very different from any religious one. It's not about pushing my beliefs onto other people, but rather, forcing them to question everything that they believe in. Spirituality is not about going to church or temple once a week, but something you practice in your everyday life. As far as the symbols go, they are all inspired by Eastern Philosophy, which is the first of many series to come.

I believe you can't wake other people up to consciousness, but you can help show them a way and they will choose to wake up or stay asleep. Would you agree or disagree with that thought, and can you elaborate on how you hope to impact humanity with your work?
I definitely agree with that, though I feel it's not that they choose to stay asleep, but that they may simply lack the curiosity. Maybe some of us are more inquisitive than others by nature, I don't know. All I hope to do with my work is to spark that curiosity, which will hopefully lead people to embark on their own spiritual journey.

What has inspired your journey into the mystic and your unique way of sharing it with others?
I think I've always been intrigued with the mysterious or unexplainable. This curiosity has led me to discover many things about the nature of reality/consciousness, which is what I hope to share with the world through my art.

The Ganesha piece you put up in San Francisco has a very powerful presence and the typography behind it is amazing. What is the typographic style and what does it mean?
Give Thanks! The lettering is just my own stylized version of english. It's really a hybrid of all the ancient scripts, like Sanskrit, Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi, etc... with a twist of cholo/gang lettering. For that particular piece, I used mantras associated with Lord Ganesha, like "Aum Shri Ganeshaya Namah." Depending on the piece, I typically use Buddhist/Hindu mantras, quotes, or poems.
Do you have an upcoming project or show you want me to let people know about? What are you working on now?
I'm actually working on a bunch of different things at the moment, but the one I'm most excited about is the CRYPTIK book set to be released this summer through Zero+ Publishing and Gingko Press. It is available on pre-order here.

PEACE SF!! THANKS FOR ALL THE LOVE AND SUPPORT!!

via STREET ART SF