Erni Vales — The Man Who Invented 3D Graffiti
Erni
Vales
In 1993, he introduced the '3D graffiti' style to the world — transforming the flat, two-dimensional lettering of the streets into a deep, architectural landscape of light and shadow.
"My goal remains the same: to pull the viewer into a space where the canvas no longer exists, leaving only the depth of the imagination."
Erni Vales began painting the sides of subway trains in the mid to late 1980s. It was the peak of the graffiti years in New York City — the trains were the gallery, the city was the museum, and the talent required to paint a full car at speed, at night, without being caught, was the most demanding training any artist could receive. He was soon showing at Graffiti Productions Inc., one of the first galleries to feature authentic graffiti works by the legends of that era.
In 1993, he introduced 3D graffiti to the world. Where conventional wildstyle lettering occupied the flat surface, Vales's innovation gave the letters depth — light and shadow, perspective and architecture, the sense that the letters existed in physical space and were reaching out toward the viewer. It was not a stylistic development. It was a dimensional one.
How does New York City inspire you as an artist?
Just as I get influenced by life all around me, life in NYC is always grander, more charged, and more diverse. People in NYC enjoy life more than anywhere else I have seen — they are challenged more and they are more creative and expressive. No matter where my travels take me, I always return to NYC for that extra boost from life.
Most interesting projects you have worked on?
I did a huge metal sculpture that lives in the elevator bay at the Mercury Records headquarters in NYC. It was my only sculpture and was very challenging — and I love that it still exists today. The general nature of graffiti is that it's temporary most of the time. I also loved designing Atlas in Moscow because I had to learn the metric system and overcome the language barrier to get everyone on the same page. I guess I always lean towards the new chapter, the bigger challenge.
"From painting 70 subway cars in the early days of NYC to my recent 'Unusual Journey' — a series of 169 paintings completed in just 13 months — my art is driven by the challenge of the un-paintable."
Other artists you really admire?
You would think that my favourite artists would be in the graffiti world, but they aren't. Chuck Close is such an amazing artist — he overcame a crippling disease, reinvented himself, and became better because of his struggle. I recently got turned on to the works of Ernest Pignon. Really original and creative stuff.
On club culture and nightlife — where have the great venues gone?
I am not into this new trend of bottle service and celebrity-fuelled nightclub venues. I have been going to clubs since the early 80s and have gone to many great parties worldwide, but I find the clubs of today kind of boring — and everyone looks so similar. There's not much creativity anymore.
The last best venue I remember was a party called Jackie 60 at Mother — a cellar in the meatpacking district, run by Chi Chi Valenti and Johnny Dynell. That was the last really great NYC club I remember. My summer in Ibiza in 2007 was also a great and amazing party and music experience.
70 subway cars painted. High School of Art and Design. First shows at Graffiti Productions Inc.
500+ club murals — Limelight, The Tunnel. Hollywood producer brings him west for TV set design. Lower East Side Clothing with Gil Aviles.
He introduces the 3D graffiti style to the world. Architectural depth, light and shadow, dimensional lettering.
10-year project at Chelsea Market. Meets LaChapelle. Sets for shoots with Madonna, Elton John, Lil' Kim. Hype Williams collaborations.
Designs Atlas Bar in Moscow — learning metric system and overcoming language barriers to execute the vision.
169 paintings completed in 13 months. Today, EVLworld Studio, Miami — continuing to push 3D aesthetic boundaries.
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