FUZI UV TPK

FRENCH GRAFFITI LEGEND FUZI UV TPK VISITS U.S. FOR THE FIRST TIME;
OFFERS FREE TATTOOS

Saturday, September 1, 2012
12 to 5 p.m.

The Hole Shop
312 Bowery
New York, NY 10012

On Saturday, September 1, French graffiti writer and tattoo artist FUZI UV TPK will make his first-ever trip to the United States, where he will tattoo at The Hole Shop in New York. The tattoos will be provided to the public for free, courtesy of Citizens of Humanity.

FUZI is a veteran graffiti writer, who dominated the trains and subways of Paris for more than a decade. He imposed his “ignorant style” on the masses, a style that is instantly recognizable for its ironic twist and self-confident assertion.

Passing with ease from one medium to another, FUZI taught himself how to tattoo and brought a freshness to his designs that were inspired by his brutal lifestyle: direct black lines with devastating punch lines. “I did my first tattoo on the arm of my friend and graffiti partner RAP,” says FUZI. “It’s maybe my favorite tattoo ever, and I have maintained that self-taught style throughout my practice because I want to be without influence and learn from my own errors.”

FUZI chooses to tattoo in unique locations, using streets, subway tunnels and art galleries as his ephemeral tattoo studios. “I want to develop my vision of tattooing outside of the traditional tattoo studio,” FUZI says. “Each of my tattoos is unique, never duplicated, and I execute them in unusual places, because it leaves a mark on the memory, not just on the skin.”

The Hole Shop is the perfect venue for FUZI’s first time in the United States. The Hole is an influential, avant-garde gallery and creative project space, and its shop is directed and managed by the New York Art Department, which curates, produces and promotes emerging, cutting-edge cultural content.

For the event, FUZI will create 50 unique tattoo flash designs, inspired by New York. “I created these drawings as I do each time. I use a strong theme, and the idea goes directly from my brain to the paper, without corrections,” FUZI explains. “This time, NYC influenced my ideas, but the city and its lifestyle has always been an enormous influence on me and is an integral part of the symbols I use in my flash. You’ll find violence, graffiti, women and money, but humor is present also.” People selected for appointments will choose from one of these flash designs, and FUZI will tattoo them free of charge.

In addition to the tattoos, FUZI and Citizens of Humanity will release a limited-edition Ignorant People T-shirt, and 100 shirts will be given away at the event on a first-come first-serve basis.

This event is part of Citizens of Humanity’s ongoing commitment to support arts from around the world, which also incudes sponsorship of Miss Van’s exhibition at Copro Gallery in Santa Monica, and Barry Mcgee’s retrospective at the Berkeley Art Museum.

“Coming to NYC for the first time is an important step for me,” FUZI says. “I left my train line in the suburbs of Paris so that I could present my art to the world, without compromise, and being able to do that in New York will be a powerful experience for me.”

The event will take place on Saturday, September 1, from 12 to 5 p.m., at The Hole Shop, 312 Bowery, New York, N.Y. 10002. FUZI’s books Ma Ligne and Flash Tattoo Collection N°1 will also be available to be purchased at the shop, and can be signed by FUZI.

Email explore@citizensofhumanity.com for a chance to win one of the appointment slots. People selected for appointments will be notified no later than August 24.

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