#KODDART presents an interview with Ramzi Adek, an artist whose subversive universe embodies a colorful and generous aesthetic, at the crossroads between street and pop art. To discover through an exclusive interview for Kodd…

#Koddart: Your journey

Ramzi Adek: A guy who always had the nerve to realize his ideas, without ever really knowing how to do it and especially without money. As a result, I didn’t necessarily always do well. It was rather in “ghetto” mode! (laughs) But I still managed to do some really cool things in my life: party organizer at the Gibus, Bains Douches, l’Enfer, to name but a few, music production and artist management, creation of my own label. I was also a DJ. Clearly, I was very bad at chasing vinyls (laughs), but I had a crazy flow for the selection!

So here I am from music, from this “Entertainment” culture. It’s in the early 90’s that I decided to go definitively towards painting and graffiti. In the end, almost 15 years later, that’s what stayed!

#Koddart: What are your inspirations?

Ramzi Adek: The 80’s in all its exciting aspects. The American series with that smooth, childlike side that I like. Young people in the 80s grew up with television. They know its codes and are now thirsty for something new. Happy or unhappy, the past is always a space in which we recognize ourselves: a bubble that reassures. My character Mickadek comes out of this era. His personality is imbued with all this gentleness even if his character is thought to be more like a kick in the face, a cry of revolt (laughs). Against what?! I don’t know because there are so many things to say about our modern society, but at least it feels good.

#Koddart: Why painting? What do you mean by street and pop art?

Ramzi Adek: Because of all the psychologists I met in my childhood who made me draw to supposedly make me talk. I feel like telling them, now I’m talking! (laughs) If they had made me play petanque maybe I would have specialized in it, who knows? (laughs)

No, to be honest, I don’t know. I’ve never really asked myself that question. I do, period, but I think it has everything to do with childhood. Concerning my style, I’m at the crossroads between street art and pop art. My world is very colorful, and I enjoy painting a canvas for one of my collectors as much as I enjoy painting a wall in Wynwood, Miami for Art Basel. And don’t forget that my working tool is above all the aerosol can (a wink to my sponsors Boesner – Liquitex). My art was born from graffiti, from the street. So even on canvas, I try not to lose my true identity.

#Koddart: Today software such as Photoshop allows artists to paint. What do you think of this phenomenon of artist 2.0?

Ramzi Adek: Artist 2.0! You said it all in your question (laughs). For me they are not artists! Little by little, I’m starting to do stuff on the computer to see my wall models, but frankly I’m not patient with all that. Photoshop – I’m teasing the beast – but it’s not for me. It doesn’t give you that different thing that you can’t explain and that’s called flow, style.

If I talk about my personal experience, the guys are just pumping out the design of my “Mickadek Classic” (n.b. the artist’s emblematic canvas). From H&M, to Zara, gallery owners or pseudo street artists, I’ve seen my design everywhere! But they do it with the help of the computer and it looks disgusting. The computer remains the computer. You’ll never be able to take the flow out of an artist. It’s all about style, it’s your trademark. You see, that thing that makes your collectors or people who are passionate about your work say “this is Ramzi Adek”. Man can never be replaced by machine. It may make it easier for you, but I don’t think it should go any further. At some point, on the artist’s side as well as on the buyer’s side, I think you have to be honest with yourself. Art is lived, it has a soul, not pixels.

#Koddart: What do you think of Kodd magazine?

Ramzi Adek: Honestly, I discovered the magazine not long ago. It’s not easy to really make a place of yourself and emerge today because a lot of people get into this lifestyle niche without having a real editorial line or a great personality. But it’s a real decision to put forward a new scene – that of the future – knowing that in France we often live in the past (laughs). It’s a good challenge to follow in any case. We’ll meet again in 6 months to give you a more in-depth opinion? It’s my treat!

#Koddart: A last word for Kodd’s readers?

Ramzi Adek: My buddy Doc Brown said: “The future is never written in advance. For no one. Your future will be exactly what you make of it, so make it beautiful, for each of you. »

Discover the second chapter of its video series “L’ARTISANAL” produced in partnership with its sponsor Boesner and the Café Jules.