EP 25 - KLONE
b"It has been said that Graffiti and street art is the most widespread and influential art movement in history. A lot of the worldwide reach that graffiti has enjoyed has much to do with with it's timing and connection to the birth of the internet age but before that even, Kids around the globe were catching the graffiti virus through obscure graff-magazines and books like Martha Cooper's Subway Art. Few people currently active in today's urban contemporary art scene exemplify this more than Tel Aviv's own KLONE.
In the late 80's and early 90's the graffiti scene in Israel's capitol city was virtually nonexistent, that is until a handful of kids inspired by visions of New York and LA began treating these magazines like textbooks, following the rules laid out within them to the letter. Klone, like most of the others at the time, first cultivated his addiction to graffiti by writing letter styles on walls and abandoned spaces around his city. With almost no attention from the authorities, this very small group of writers in Tel Aviv enjoyed the freedom to experiment and progress their skills and artistic voices. Eventually however, Klone's visual language would transform away from letters and into a whimsical universe of animals, plant-life, and and vast landscapes. Currently he balances his time between travel and projects around the globe, and life as a dedicated studio artists in his hometown. It was a pleasure to talk with Klone about his background, the current state of the art world in Tel Aviv, and where he sees things for himself in the future."