THEGRIFTERS PHOTOBOOK TWO
THE FULL INTERVIEW for Concrete Magazine
What is Grifters and who stands behind it? Teh Grifters™ is the frontend of a project which has been in the making for many years, and has involved the studies and synergy of many different subjects, including behavioral, social and reverse psychology, NLP, fine arts, design science, colour theory, geometry and harmonic concepts, marketing, persuasion and sales, behavioural finance and calculus, martial arts, as well as many others. Put simply, though, it is the best thing that ever happened to internet graffiti media: an original photoblog, showing the lifestyle of graffiti writers around our social circle. The focus is on everything that we do before and after the final product - the graffiti piece - is created. Initially it was a representation of our crews that we put into the world, because we were not satisfied with the published pictures in magazines and other internet sites. We have always had a different vision and outlook on our material, which was in a substantial part formed by the unique environment around us; so naturally, no one else was doing it like us and we had to pave our own way through an internet platform. We came to the conclusion that every day we get bombarded with the same pictures of the very same artists, doing all the same pieces, photographed under the same angle, photoshopping away the same mistakes, until people transform this perfection into this mysterious worship of some unknown underground hero. We meant to create something different, much more human and to humorously and intriguingly show all the neat stuff that usually gets left behind, all the pictures around the actions, all the flicks without focus. To take the mask off and show how we live, eat, drink, fuck, puke, what we are like and how we spend our free time. We made it to this point using only cheap and crappy film cameras and we managed to prove and remind, in our opinion, to all the wannabe photographers, that it is not important to have the last model digital camera and the most expensive lens to take a good picture. Instead, it is the flavor, harmony, moment and presence of the flick, which make it unique and emotionally stimulating. Our charisma is not the best and most robotically executed style piece, it is the attitude, fun and energy which we bring to your party. This essentially is, what graffiti means for us, because once the fun is gone, graffiti is just as gone, mechanical, boring and dead. In the beginning the people behind this project were solely from our crews and the concept was to show only our own pictures – where we go, the people we meet and the things we do together. However, over time some of us moved around the globe and the concept started to change. Today, you might catch us around some of our (temporary) headquarters in cities like Paris, Berlin, New York and of course, the biggest and greatest of them all: the glorious city of Sofia, Bulgaria [/sarc]. Since we moved further and further away from
East Europe the rules changed a bit, as Vandal Squads and the long arm of the law have tried to make our life harder – but preparation and anticipation beat it all. Nevertheless we hide behind the mask of journalists, following the acts of others (who do bad, bad, BAD things which we would never support). We create exciting heroes and we have the power to kill them with one click, if we so desire. As we know so very well, there are trendsetters and trendfollowers in life, and, well, [*cough, cough*] we managed to open the door for many other people, to show their more vulnerable side and expand on their avatar. We now see many writers with their own blogs with PREVIEW film cameras and the same type of shots, but it’s all good: We are happy to see that. We are also happy that some of the people who were hiding from our cameras in the past, are now approaching us with the request to take pictures of them; it is funny, how life runs in circles. What is the mission? Being famous in graffiti circles is one of the most useless efforts that you can waste your life on. It neither helps you get rich (and thus financially and emotionally free), nor does it help you with your health or to get laid – in fact, quite the opposite. But if you cannot attract a beautiful woman into your life, you are, by definition, sterile. Instead, by the time you are in your thirties you get admired by a bunch of teenagers, while you get the added benefit of
“FOR EXAMPLE THIS QUOTE DOESN’T EVEN BELONG TO THIS INTERVIEW” your wasted life. So what is it all about? For us it has always been about pushing the limits of what is humanly possible; about the path of unlimited growth and expansion; about tapping into your potential (and we truly believe it is unlimited); about fearing the unknown and staying focused and disciplined enough to take the upper hand of the situation; about the power of goal-setting and -achievement; about the dedicated and obsessive motivation, which drives all great and PREVIEW exceptional people; about judging perceived probabilities and making them work in your favor; about expressing your creative and masculine energies; about being competitive and always doing stuff better; about being present in the moment and observing the world through the foggy lens of constant risk taking, while simultaneously having the fun of your life. It is all mental, after all, and to have an extraordinary life you have to have an extraordinary psychology. Sounds simple? We publish the lifestyle as it is - pure and harsh, provocative and, in part, disgusting. We hint at all the little techniques, tips and tricks (as absurd and funny as they may seem) that we use to reach our goals and targets – all the weapons that we use to get the job done. Though an ordinary person may not necessarily understand or like our material, we want him to, at least, see and feel the ambience in our lives, no matter how good, bad or ugly. We show the story behind the street spam that people encounter every day; surely, we do
IN MY DREAM I WAS DROWNING MY SORROWS. BUT MY SORROWS, THEY LEARNED TO SWIM.
SE. WHAT A FOOL DOES IN THE END, THE WISE DO IN THE BEGINNING. ROC LL. DONT LOOK AT ME LIKE I AM NORMAL. IT’S NOT THE BULLET THAT KILLS YO HO CAN BE OF NO POSSIBLE SERVICE TO HIM. CONFUSION IS THE FIRST LEV GHTED ANARCHY. MONEY FOR NOTHING. UNREFLECTING MIRROR. I DON’T ANCE. REAL MAN ARE MASTERS OF CONFLICT. BORN TIRED, LIVE TO TAKE A R ARNED TO SWIM. HE DIDNT CALLED YOU BACK? HE MUST BE SHY! CLOSER OOM, YOU. ARE IN THE WRONG ROOM .IF YOU TRY AND DON’T SUCCEED, OU FORGET WHO YOU WERE BENEATH IT. OH MY GOD, WHAT IS THIS AND H LONE, YOU ARE IN BAD COMPANY. THE DESCRIPTION IS NOT THE DESCRIBE YOU REVEAL YOUR SECRETS TO THE WIND, YOU SHOULD NOT BLAME THE W ND IS BLIND. MY ONLY WEAKNESS IS A LIST OF CRIMES. LEAVE HER BETTER OREVER VACATION. EMERGENCY ENTRY. SUNSETS AND STUFF.MOTION UND OAD TO SOMEDAY LEADS TO A PLACE CALLED NOWHERE. MAN IS INCOMP OOL IS THAT THERE IS NO LIFEGUARD. IN WAR THERE ARE NO UNWOUNDED S OO DUMB TO STEAL. I AM THE ITCH YOU CAN’T SKRATCH. HOW TO UNBAK OM HIS OLD SELF. TO SEE A DIFFERENT SELF IN THE MIRROR OF SOME WOM AREFUL. YOU COULD HURT YOURSELF. FORGETTING IS DIFFICULT. REMEMBER OMPLICATE SIMPLICITY. WHY AM I STILL DOING THIS.TAXPAYERS ARTIST. IN O E DANGER LOST TIME IS NEVER FOUND AGAIN SLEEP IS FOR THE GUY WHO AN FIND SOMETHING DIRTY IN EVERY SENTENCE. GOOD GIRLS ARE BAD GIL OWER COMES HUGE ELECTRICITY BILL.GOD BRINGS MEN INTO DEEP WATER MPIRE OF LIES. IF YOU FAIL TO PLAN YOU PLAN TO FAIL. CRIME PAYS – GRAF SE’S LIFE. LIVE TOGETHER DIE ALONE. IF YOU DRESS LIKE A GENTLEMAN, YO OT PAYING FOR IT, YOU’RE NOT THE CUSTOMER; YOU ARE THE PRODUCT BEIN EASURE. INFORMATION TRAVELS THE FASTEST WHEN LABELED AS SECRET. TH OES WHEN NOBODY IS LOOKING. A MAN’S HEALTH CAN BE JUDGED BY WH AFETYTHE FASTEST WAY TO BECOME POOR IS TO SOCIALIZE WITH THE RICH. IT O SATISFY THEIR NEEDS, STRONGER MEN THEIR DUTIES. THE ONLY THING NECE RE NOT TOTALLY USELESS. WE CAN BE USED AS A BAD EXAMPLE. TAKE MY A O IT AGAIN. AS I SAID BEFORE, I NEVER REPEAT MY SELF. IF YOU ARE NOT LIV O DO AS WE TELL YOU. HE WHO ROCKS THE BOAT SELDOM HAS THE TIME TO EQUENT. MOST MEN DIE AT 27, WE JUST BURY THEM AT 72. WHO LOOKS OUT CE THE LESS WE BLEED IN BATTLE. WHEN THE STUDENT IS READY THE TEACHER OURIST DE MERDE. COVER ME I AM GOING SLOW MO. I DIDN’T COME TO PL EY TRY TO BE SERIOUS. THOSE WHO HAVE NOTHING TO PROVE NEVER SAY T SEARCHERS LOOKED VERY UNHAPPY. PRETTY PICTURES WON’T SOLVE ANYT I TELL YOU I WILL HAVE TO KILL YOU. FREE BAD ADVICE. I FOUND YOUR FAT E HATE THE SAME STUFF. GREAT IS OK, BUT AMAZING WOULD BE GREAT. SH TO A MURDER. I DONT USE MONEY. PEOPLE KILL DRUGS. UNIVERSITY OF LIF ATIONAL TRAITOR. I’M AFRAID YOU HAVE THE DISEASE I INVENTED. JUST BECA E GOVERNMENT CAN TAKE MY FREEDOM, BUT IF THEY TAKE MY INTERNET P
CK OUT WITH YOUR COCK OUT. A PSYCHOPATH IS BETTER THAN NO PATH OU IT’S THE HOLE. THE FINAL TEST OF A GENTLEMAN IS HIS RESPECT FOR THO VEL OF LEARNING. ONE PERSON’S CIVIL LIBERTIES CAN BE ANOTHER’S SHOR KNOW ABOUT ANGELS, BUT IT’S FEAR THAT GIVES MEN WINGS. MONEY CA REST.IN MY DREAM I WAS DROWNING MY SORROWS. BUT MY SORROWS, TH R TO GOD, FURTHER FROM Y’ALL. IF YOU ARE THE SMARTEST PERSON IN TH CHEAT. REPEAT UNTIL CAUGHT. THEN LIE. YOU WEAR A MASK FOR SO LON HOW CAN I REPLACE MY BOOD WITH IT? IF YOU ARE LONELY WHEN YOU A ED. IT’S AMAZING WHAT LENGTHS WE GO TO, TO GET OUR PENIS LICKED O WIND FOR REVEALING THEM TO THE TREES. THE EYES ARE USELESS WHEN TH R THAN YOU FOUND HER. GETTING LOST IS THE ONLY PLACE WORTH GO T DETECTOR. FIND WHAT YOU LOVE AND LET IT KILL YOU. DIVIDE BY ZERO. TH PLETE UNTIL HE IS MARRIED. THEN HE IS FINISHED. THE PROBLEM WITH THE GEN SOLDIERS. MISTAKES ARE THE PORTRAITS OF DISCOVERY. TOO PROUD TO BE KE A CAKE. THE MAP IS NOT THE TERRITORY. A MAN HAS ONLY ONE ESCA MAN’S EYES. I USED TO DO DRUGS, I STILL DO. BUT I USED TO, TOO. DON’T RING IS WORSE. ALL HUMANS ARE BASTARDS. PROGRESS IS MAN’S ABILITY T ORDER TO BE FREE ONE MUST BE CHAINED.WE ARE NOT IN DANGER, WE A IS BROKE. THIS NO LIFES ALSO KNOWN AS GRAFFITI WRITERS. 69% OF PEOP LRS THAT NEVER GET CAUGHT. IT’S WORTH IT WHEN YOU LOSE IT. WITH GRE RS, NOT TO DROWN THEM, BUT TO CLEANSE THEM. TRUTH IS TREASON IN TH FFITI IS FOR GAYS. YOUR TIME IS LIMITED SO DON’T WASTE IT LIVING SOMEON OU’LL BE A GENTLEMAN. REGRET NOTHING. SURPRISE ADOPTION. IF YOU’ NG SOLD. KILL THEM WITH FIRE. PORN BABY. ONE MAN TRASH ANOTHER MAN HE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MAGNIFICENCE AND ARROGANCE IS IN WHAT ON HICH HE TAKES TWO AT A TIME – PILLS OR STAIRS. FREEDOM IS NOT DEFINED T IS BETTER TO LIGHT A CANDLE THAN CURSE THE DARKNESS. WEAK MEN AC ESSARY FOR THE TRIUMPH OF EVIL… IS FOR GOOD MEN TO DO NOTHING. W ADVICE, I DON’T USE IT ANYWAY. PEOPLE USUALLY APOLOGIZE SO THEY CA VING ON THE EDGE, YOU ARE TAKING UP TOO MUCH ROOM. YOU ARE FR O ROW IT. AH, WOMEN. THEY MAKE THE HIGHS HIGHER AND THE LOWS MO TSIDE, DREAMS; WHO LOOKS INSIDE, AWAKES. THE MORE WE SWEAT IN PRA WILL APPEAR. MOTHER, HOW’D YOU GET THIS NUMBER. I WISH THIS WAS YO LAY, I CAME TO WIN. NOW LET’S PLAY. SOME PEOPLE ARE ONLY FUNNY WHE THAT THEY HAVE NOTHING TO PROVE. I WENT TO A HAPPINESS CONFERENC THING. TWO DAYS BEFORE THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW. LISTEN TO YOUR EYE THER’S WEDDING RING WHILE FINGERING YOUR SISTER. I LOVE YOU BECAU HE CAN’T LEAVE YOU IF SHE CAN’T FIND HER LEGS. LET’S NOT TURN THIS RA FE. GOOD GIRLS BEND AT THE KNEES. BAD GIRLS BEND AT THE WAIST. PROU AUSE OTHER PEOPLE DON’T DO WHAT WE DO, ITDOESN’T MEAN IT’S WRON PORN, THEY ARE GOING DOWN! I’VE GOT THREE KIDS AND NO MONEY. WH
A MAN HAS ONLY ONE ESCAPE FROM HIS OLD SELF. TO SEE A DIFFERENT SELF IN THE MIRROR OF SOME WOMAN’S EYES
THEY ARE ALL PINK ON THE INSIDE
THE EYES ARE USELESS WHEN THE MIND IS BLIND.
JUST BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE DON’T DO WHAT WE DO, IT DOESN’T MEAN IT’S WRONG
DON’T BE CAREFUL. YOU COULD HURT YOURSELF.
IF YOU ARE THE SMARTEST PERSON IN THE ROOM, YOU ARE IN THE WRONG ROOM
IF YOU REVEAL YOUR SECRETS TO THE WIND, YOU SHOULD NOT BLAME THE WIND FOR REVEALING THEM TO THE TREES.
WE ARE THE KIDS YOUR PARENTS WARNED YOU ABOUT.
ANOTHER DAY RILA MOUNTAIN 2012
…Another adventure. But this time we weren’t up against metal giants, endless nights or fat cops. We were up against nature, bare, raw and harsh as she gets. “How much time do we have left?” – “Seven hours downhill”, I said, turning around in the fog to see his reaction. “And don’t stay behind: we don’t want to lose you”. We had decided to go trekking off-season for a purpose. We knew there would be few other tourists and we would catch some different colors and vibes. And catch them we did. We had checked the weather forecast, but it turned out to be quite off in the morning at this altitude. The fog meant that it was impossible to see further than 10m and it was possible to miss the trekking markings; combined with the rain and wind it also meant that it was impossible to rest. Well, that’s not what we came here anyway. Another world. Far away from the city life, we were again pushing our boundaries, exploring our own physical limits. The pain didn’t mean much. We were trained in focusing on what had to be done, military-like. While simultaneously keeping the artist in us alive, our attention to detail, trying to breath in all the impressions that were unique to the place. For some reason we always came back to it. Was it the energy, the nature, the (lack of) people, I don’t know - there was something special about it. Yet, every time it was just as
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