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Emblematic French graffiti artist, Marko-93 largely contributed to making graffiti enter the world of contemporary art

In 1988, Marko-93 embraces hip hop and is quickly attracted to graffiti, which is strongly influenced by American styles at the time. During the 90s, he sharpens his technique:

letterings, portraits, RIPs... Marko’s graffitis become part of the neighbourhood’s architecture, with some even being made with the local kids to whom he enjoys teaching his

art.

In 1994, he starts incorporating abstract Arab calligraphy to his graffitis and tags. He carves his caps like calligraphers carve their calams to oroduce upstrokes and down strokes. A style he names Kalligraffism, for which he becomes famous, leads him to paint with such prestigious

calligraphers as Hassan Massoudy, Nja Madhaoui, «El

Mamelouk» and Mongolian calligrapher Tamir

Samandbadraa.

« FUTURE SCHOOL »

Marko-93 discovers light-painting in 1999.

It all starts with questions arising from seeing

trails of light left by car headlights on a picture:

is it possible to control the sources of light and

use it as a paintbrush? Long pause, LED dark

scenery: the basic technique is found, and the

possibilities are endless.

One thing leads to another, and his research

draws him to new fields. From walls to can-

vas, from spray paint to home-made wallpaper

brushes... Marko-93 experiments tirelessly. One

day he comes across the movie «The pillow

book», in which a Japanese calligrapher paints

on women’s bodies. The movie has an enormous

impact on him. From then on, he carries a posca

(water paint marker) with him at all times, and Bodypainting becomes a second language for him. His Bodypaintings follow him wherever he goes, from famous clubs to concerts (artists on stage), and even painting on John Galliano’s models for his spring-summer fashion show in 2008.

With the new millennium, Marko-93 adapts light-painting to video, thereby creating animated images in real time. With the help of engineers, the technique is still evolving. Real

time video light-painting is starting to gather more and more interest as, indeed, the field of new technologies in the arts as a whole continues to grow.

At the end of 2004, he goes back to painting on canvas. He’s just as comfortable with a spray can as with a paintbrush and adapts his tools to the size of the surfaces he paints on...

mixing spray cans with brooms, brushes and thin

paintbrushes.

Marko-93 is an artist who has always associated his art with collaborations and new encounters, whether it be for initiating novices or discovering new techniques. Marko loves to travel: Japan, Morocco, Egypt, Cambodia, China, Mongolia, and all around Europe... every place is an opportunity to meet other artists, with whom he shares, exchanges and creates.

Marko-93 has a natural impulse to share and a strong desire to learn, precious human qualities that can be added to his obvious artistic talent, and that make him a fascinating and endearing person.

Like most of Hip Hop’s children, Marko-93 has kept the movement that opened the doors to the artistic world close to his heart. 20 years on, he is a renowned artist in tune with his era: multipurpose with multilingual traits, he is endlessly seeking new opportunities .