When did you start writing?

Just over 3 years ago, Easter Bunny time in 2006, I wrote Mint. I met other guys that wrote, like Sure and Wer but they obviously didn’t write that at the time. So I tried it out one day with some college friends on the train and that got me hooked.

How did you choose your tag?

I wanted something different, went through lots of letter combinations until it came down to Bzar and Ares… Bzar had jas letters and it stieks uit! Ares I used for permission walls.

What is your favourite piece you have ever done?

Hmm… I don’t know. I’m always chuffed when I do new kak. As I progress I hate most of my old stuff. I guess that’s how it goes, you always have to try new things. Can’t stay stagnant.

Why do you write graffiti?

It’s just another thing that you can either fail or succeed in. I like to check my name on the walls when I come past in the train or in the car and know that I did that Bzar thing..haha naai, graff is addictive, its grand sometimes, but a lot of the time it just causes kak for you and negative shit goes down. But it’s alright… I’m a creative ou, so I like to make pretty pictures what say bzar, you know.

What do you think is the general public’s biggest misconception about graffiti?

Well generally “Graffiti” to most is just another form of vandalism. People aren’t aware of the different forms and levels of it. Then also people have no understanding of it. They don’t see the purpose and the meaning of pieces. Basically it’s just another subculture that they’re oblivious to. Therefore they despise it.

What do you ultimately want to achieve through graffiti?

I have no ultimate goal with graffiti. It’s not like Cape Town has the biggest market for making use of writers. I’ve made a few bucks here and there from being in the position that I’m in but in the end it is mainly a hobby I guess. So at the moment I ultimately just see it costing me money. Otherwise apart from the financial aspect, I’d just like to travel and paint other cities with their writers, that would be dope.

Are there any surfaces which you will refuse to paint on?

I don’t grand churches and funeral homes and obviously I’m not going to drop a piece on someone’s front door. Other than that I’m pretty much open to anything.

Do you prefer painting highways or the tracks?

Recently I’ve been painting alot of trackside spots, but not lines that I would travel often anyway. I would say that I prefer highway spots though as I mainly travel on highways these days. You gotta hit up both though for sure!

You have developed a unique style within the Cape Town graffiti scene, where do you get your inspiration from for your letters?

I don’t really know, my brain works wonders with my letters. Sometimes I think of kak first then I try sketch it but like my brain wants to build pieces and make shit look right. Its all very scientific. I get amped when I sketch something new, I’m always trying new shit because I get bored kak quickly. Most of the time I picture the idea in my head and then work it on paper until I get it right. I definitely need to sketch more often though, never quite make the time.

Who is your favourite South African writer that you have never met before?

I dig some of Taps’ stuff as well as Rasty’s character skills. It would also be dope to meet more Durban cats, like 2kil.

Why did MDK dissolve?

Money, Drugz, Kinner$. Haha.. It was fun while it lasted. Sure got trekked into RL and we just got lazy and got over it I guess. Then CK came along.

Unless this has changed in the last little while… Why have you chosen not to paint panels yet?

Panels, panels, panels I wouldn’t say that’s exactly my choice. When MDK came along I started checking shit out, going in and stuff, but there are two main problems with the system. One is that about 70% of the time shit goes wrong. Either you get chased or its too hot or shit goes down. The second problem is that most of the writers that actually know their shit and have the experience aren’t always amped to lend a hand or get you into the system. We are a selfish society, but that can also be good sometimes.

Do you think increased punishment for graffiti offences would affect your painting in any way?

I think me getting punished from graffiti could affect me. I’ve had a few run-ins which gave me a wake up call, but nothing to a major extent. If consequences increase dramatically I think maybe I’d keep it a bit more legal, but these days that’s also becoming quite the challenge. Nothing beats a big hit!

What is your craziest chase story that sticks out in your mind?

Fish Hoek yard, daytime, get chased, skit under the train and start running looking for the hole. I was ahead with Sure and Wer following. I ended up running right past the front of the train and literally into the guard. Haha, homie shouts at me “Hey what you doing!!!”… I turn around, run back the other way, check Sure and Wer climbing through the hole, went through, ran over the dunes onto a beach full of people and just fucking dropped my clothes and jumped into the ocean for a casual Sunday paddle. That sure gets your adrenaline going!

What do you think is the biggest weakness of the Cape Town graffiti scene?

I don’t know what it’s like elsewhere, but alot of the new guys think its quite casual to just bite your letter styles and that sort of thing. Other than that I think it is reasonably small, there aren’t that many “big hitters” in our scene. I don’t really think about these things much though, so it isn’t such a great question for me.

If you could pick one local and one international writer to do a wholecar for you who would you pick?

Hmmm… locally, I know this sounds cliché, but I rate “TOE”, because his style differs so much from mine, so it would be completely fresh and fulla flavour! As for internationally I admit that I’m not heavily aware of the international scene, but panel wise I rate “OTIS” has quite a good thing going. So I reckon he could do me some justice.

What keeps you going to keep painting and putting up?

That fucking bastard Sure, he paints too much. Can’t let him have all the fun!

Any shout outs?

Just to all the guys I paint and hang with: Unik, Obis, Sure, Disk, Res, Wer, Plastik, Aple, Hyst, Kres, Toe, Cros, Kem, Scape & all the CK cats..