Meet Brandon Sines

Brandon Sines is a painter and street artist with no formal art education. Sines grew up in Toronto, Canada, and moved to NYC in 2010, creating his iconic character, Frank Ape, that same year. Frank Apes can be found painted, wheat pasted and stickered throughout NYC and other states Sines’ visits. Frank Ape art has been purchased by people all over the world, including Japan, Germany, Bangkok. Notable collectors include Solange, who owns 4 original Franks pieces and photographer Richard Misrach who owns several original Sines paintings.  Sines continues to  work in New York City.

 

Brandon Sines’ next solo exhibition will be May 3rd 7-10pm, at Specials, a vacated bodega. 195 Ave. C at 12th St, New York.

 

1) Being an artist who also uses public outdoor space to showcase your work, how do you deal with the impermanence of the artwork you put up?  Do you think that in order to be a “street artist” you need embrace this impermanence?

I’d say so.  It’s a balance that you have to weigh in your own mind.  For example, if you put something up in a busy intersection many people will see it but it will only last a short amount if time,  versus putting the same piece on a quiet street.  It will probably last longer but fewer eyes will see it.  What’s more important?  Depends on the piece I guess.

 

3) Regarding street art, how do you think “repetition” could possibly replace quality? For example, do you think some artist become more obsessed with having their artwork everywhere, instead of the “meaning” or quality of their work?

Well yeah, Shepard Fairey made the whole power of repetition thing big a long time ago. Many people, including myself,  I guess you could say, are still riding that wave.  But it doesn’t matter how many times you repeat something if it sucks.  You’ll just get on people’s nerves after a while so repetition is a powerful tool but will never replace quality… I hope.

 

4) What do you think happens to a piece of artwork that is taken from outside, where it is illegally put up, and put into an art gallery?

It’s pretty corny but I guess flattering for that artist.

5) In the past and present one can see different waves and styles of art as forms of communicating political, religious, and social beliefs.  If you were to view art as a form of communication, what do you think your art is saying? Do you think art needs to “say” something at all?

I think my art generally says something like, “the world’s a messed up place, let’s be sweet to each other,”  But it’s open to interpretation.  I don’t think art needs to say something specific but I personally don’t connect with things that are too abstract.

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