Richard Vasseur : Why was a book made featuring graffiti?
Tarek : Well! I’ll try to answer clearly and to explain my story. So, I discovered graffiti art in London subway during my first travel in this country in 1986. I was living in black ghetto and the subway line near my house was fully painted by English writers… I don’t remember which writers were in this area but I was very impressed by their style and it was for me the first time I sew this kind of graffiti in subway. I was 15 years old in 1986 and for me graffiti wasn’t visible so much in my line in Paris. After one week alone to discover the city and all lines in London, I tried to do like English writers on my books and a few times in my street… At the beginning, I tagged alone and after few weeks with one of my best friend in subway (only several times) and more in the street. Three years later, I decided to write a book about this kind of art because I desired to speak on graffiti not like a writer but like a book's writer. For a long time, I appreciated art and I needed to write to feel good. Consequently, I started to take a lot of pictures in Paris subway, on RER line, in city and suburbs alone and sometimes with Sylvain Doriath who’s a famous French writer. With him, I meet writers and after that the adventure of Paris Tonkar began! My experience and my desire to write a book became the first French book on graffiti and first one in Europe. I was 19 years old… At the 90’s in Paris and in its suburbs, you could find most of the writers from the first generation like CTK (crime time kings) the Bando’s crew (he was maybe the first writer in France), NTM, 93MC (93 mafia crew) with Kea, Swen, Fame (rip), Kay and more, BBC (bad boy crew), Force Alphabetick with Mambo, 156 with Jonone from New-York, FBI with Darco and Gawki, Artistes Urbains, TCG with Sheek, CAS, TBK, PCP and many others… Between 1983 and 1988, the French scene was essentially in Paris and in its suburbs with the first generation like San, Ash, Jay, Spirit, Blitz, Bando, Steph, Colt, Boxer, Meo, Lookiss, Mode 2, Posh, Squat, Psy, Alp, etc… Most of them painted in downtown (Quai de Seine, Palissades du Louvre, Beaubourg, Stalingrad station…) and in subway, even if the trains where washed before they go out of each depot. In the suburb, writers painted all RER lines and a lot of stations like in Gare du Nord or the B line in south or Cergy line. The second generation started in latest years of 80’s with Hip Hop movement… I was present before this period and I think this one was the most important because Old timers and a lot of writers of new generation where together to paint and to learn how to do with a good style.
Richard Vasseur : What will the future hold for "Paris Tonkar"?
Tarek : In 1991, I couldn’t imagine that my book will grow to be a reference 20 years later. Frankly not! At this time, I knew that I was writing the third book about graffiti after the two of H. Chalfant but I never imagined that it would be one of the references in the world. I’m very happy now and proud of this part of my life. Since 2010, I’m working on anniversary edition of my book for the beginning of next year with the team of my magazine, Hélios and Yann Cherruault. So, I’m preparing also new edition with more pictures, more texts, more writers and surprises for the end of 2012. I will add new content of unpublished pictures that I’ve taken at that time. Indeed, I get a lot of pictures very important for earlier years of French graffiti scene. I can’t speak about the content but I can give one important info: for this new edition, I decided to relate the history of French scene between 1980 to 1995 in Paris and its suburbs. Now, I’m discussing with over 200 writers and a part of them were not really present in first edition like Spirit, Reno, Yank or Chino. I will change the format, with more pages; a new format will be conceivable. Before writing all texts, I’m questioning all writers about his history and his experience. Concerning the new book, I hope that he will be published worldwide! You will find Paris Tonkar 20th anniversary edition in 2012 on your bookshop in France and I hope so in the rest of the world.
Richard Vasseur : What type of person will enjoy "Paris Tonkar"?
Tarek : Frankly, I don’t know exactly! But I’ve my idea concerning my magazine: people of my generation who want to understand this art,especially the Street art, people who like urban art; people who practice graffiti and people living in big cities like Paris, Bruxelles, Lyon or Rennes. Nowadays, people think that I’m the author of the most famous French graffiti book; that’s amazing for me! I’m connected worldwide with many writers in many countries because I’m the author of this book. Street art and Graffiti are considered now like any other kind of art and I think my book and my magazine can enjoy every one. At last, Graffiti is the last movement of artistic expression of the XXth century!
Richard Vasseur : Who is Sir Arthur Benton?
Tarek : He’s the most important character of my comics’ book Sir Arthur Benton (6 vol.); Stéphane Perger and Vincent Pompetti are the cartoonists! Sir Arthur Benton was general in the English MI6 (Military Intelligence 6) and the head leader of the Secret Organization; the western allies created this special unit after the victory in may 8th 1945 for struggling the Communists in East of Europe. During the 2nd world war, he was one of the worst enemies of the allies even if he was spying the Nazi for his country; he was double agent. So, I gave his name to my comics’ book because I wanted to have an elegant title. This dichotomy between the story and the title is very important for me because in all my books the title gives the A of my script and antihero’s name for this comics’ book allow to get more curiosity from the readers.
Richard Vasseur : What do you personally get out of writing?
Tarek : I wanted to become a writer, maybe when I was 4 years old. Nowadays, I get satisfaction when people read my books or my magazine. I like to share my stories and my scripts with the readers like street-storyteller in Baghdad during 10th century. For my beginning in this job, I always thought that’s very important for me speaking about my work and passing my passion on to all readers.
Richard Vasseur : Where does your inspiration come from?
Tarek : Books! I read a lot of books and I live among books. Movies, discussion with people, my life and my mazy mind are also a part of my inspiration.
Richard Vasseur : If you could write any comic which one would it be and why?
Tarek : By comic, If you’re thinking about US comic it will be probably a story about the beginning of the Sliver Surfer in his planet before his fall and his arrival on earth.
Richard Vasseur : Which other writers do you admire?
Tarek : I admire the Emile Zola’s book, especially Germinal, Le bonheur des Dames and Nana; The Republic of Plato, Hugo Pratt, Sergio Toppi and Tardi for the French comics books authors and Alan Moore in England, Shakespeare because I appreciate a lot and more and more writers… My favorite book is Sultan Baybars, an Arabic tales who’s speaking about Sufism and wisdom.
Richard Vasseur : Do you read many books and comics and which ones if you do?
Tarek : Yes, I read all times books and comics for my inspiration, my job and my pleasure of reader. My last book is one about Tunisian revolution and my last comics’ book was Les autres gens (Dupuis), good one but very simple style.
Richard Vasseur : Why do you like writing children's books?
Tarek : I like this! I like to tell stories to the children because I think it is important to transmit the envy for reading to the youngest and by means of the tales I have fun while having the impression to be useful.
Richard Vasseur : What are you currently working on?
Tarek : During this twelve last years, I wrote many comics’ book for children and adult because I liked this job. I sell over 70000 of Sir Arthur Benton (the two cycles) and 40000 of my children’s tales for example. My books were translated in Turkey, Sweden, etc… Since 2008, I changed my thinking about my job and I decided to change my editor because I couldn’t work anymore with him. I work with further publisher more professional and more serious now and I’m in discussion to be published by others. I’ve more time to write other books on Street art and I’m thinking on a new edition of my book. I’m often taking pictures of walls and train painted for my magazine “Paris Tonkar magazine”. I’m also painter and I got many exhibitions for my artwork since 2010. Concerning comics’ book, I have a big project with Vincent Pompetti about “Gallic Wars” (Tartamudo publisher : http://tartamudobd.wordpress.com/) and one other with Batist with the same publisher about First World War with Algerians warriors: Turcos, le jasmin et la boue. This comics’ book is available now!
- BDFugue bookshop on line : http://www.bdfugue.com/turcos-la-boue-et-le-jasmin
Richard Vasseur : Which artist or writer would you most like to meet?
Tarek : Francis Ford Coppola.
Richard Vasseur : How can someone contact you?
Tarek : On my websites (www.tarek-bd.fr or www.paristonkar.com) you can find my email address! It’s very easy.
Richard Vasseur : Any final words of wisdom?
Tarek : Peace and Love!