Art: Introducing Mode 2

Hip hop culture has been a major influence for countless artists all over the globe. Aside from graffiti and street art, there is also a stream of more traditional artists that represent the cultural aesthetics of hip hop.

Mode2 started his artistic career through graffiti, becoming the co-founder of Chrome Angelz, and one of the most important figures in the British scene during the late 80s. He opened the eyes of the masses to a brand new artistic wave. The movement gave the youth a chance to express themselves about all the cultural and social issues of the time in their own way.

His earliest influences were fantasy literature, videogames, comics (especially 2000 AD and Heavy Metal), the punk and reggae revolution in London, as well as the hip hop classics Subway Art, Breakin’ and Beat Street. Hanging around Covent Garden allowed him to get in touch with the new hip hop community in London.

Later on, after moving to France to work for a computer graphics company, he would discover French cult magazines and a new comic art scenario while witnessing a blooming hip hop scene in which he took part by collaborating with NTM and Saïan Supa Crew (remember X-Raisons? You better…)  on top of still being active with graffiti – actually, one of his old pieces in Paris was selected for the cover of the book Spraycan Art.

Back in England, he met the graphic artist Swifty and the art shows started again, followed by commmisioned work, art projects with Maharishi and Coco de Mer, painting performances and big installations in Trafalgar Square.

Mode’s work portraits the musical energy and the human side of hip hop: friendship, love and a little bit of  sex in which the female characters are not there to show off their goodies, but taking an active role and enjoying themselves. Spraypaint, markers and brushes are the tools used by the Mauritius born artist to represent this imagery product of the street culture mixed with the Pre-Raphaelite’s technique and the style of more contemporary artists like Hans Bellmer or Tanino Libertatores.

His latest work has been more related to private commissions, mural pieces, advertising for different clothing stores and  street campaigns covering various social issues, as well as continuing with his graphic work for the international breakdance event Battle Of The Year.