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Graffiti artist, 15, follows in Banksy's footsteps

5:31am Monday 21st May 2007

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A graffiti artist from east London is making a name for himself with stunts and satirical stencils.

The name Cartrain name may be familiar to people as it appears all over Waltham Forest on walls and street furniture.

Now the 15-year-old, of Leytonstone, has started to look further afield to showcase his work.

He said: "I don't do any more work in Leytonstone because no one pays any attention.

"I have since moved into Brick Lane and Hackney, where there have been a lot of websites talking about me."

His work has also started to appear across central London.

Banners carrying his distinctive emblem have been seen hanging from bridges and his stencils have been sprayed on walls opposite the Houses of Parliament.

His work often depicts political figures including Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and George Bush.

He also satirises the famous logos of fast food companies KFC and McDonald's.

He said: "I find it very offensive when big companies have big adverts that make you feel small unless you buy their crap.

"Councils are very quick to tell you how much graffiti costs but not so quick to tell you how much they get from advertising."

Cartrain first started doing graffiti when he was 12 and soon came up with his signature.

"The name Cartrain is a random name that I made up when I was thinking of tag names."

Despite some early difficulties, he quickly began taking his work more seriously.

He said: "I only did small pen tags. I started off doing small stencils of text.

"But I got hold of a copy of computer graphics software Photoshop and my stencils have improved. It's very hard cutting out large stencils as it takes a lot of time and hurts your wrist."

There are also a number of other concerns for graffiti artists, including public criticism, the threat of being caught and the competitive nature of tagging.

Cartrain said: "Sometimes I worry about getting caught - you never know when a police car is going to go past.

"People that think graffiti is a nuisance should open their eyes. Graffiti doesn't tell people to buy crap they don't want, unlike advertising. I consider my work artistic and creative, not mindless rubbish designed to annoy people.

"I have a rule that I won't write on people's property. Tagging can be very territorial, it's about getting your name around more than anyone else. If you go over someone or they don't like your style, they will put a line through your work."

Cartrain's profile continues to increase thanks to his high volume of work across the city and his contributions to the YouTube website. His work even appears in the music video for the song Glory Days by Just Jack.

Cartrain's finest hour came when he sneaked a fake exhibit into the British Museum.

He produced a plate titled Nike Footware (sic) and hung it in the museum while a friend filmed him.

The information accompanying it claimed it dated from 2800 BC and showed a man wearing trendy Nike footwear, "made for pennies and sold for pounds".

The museum has insisted it was removed within a few hours, but Cartrain maintains it was on display for three days.

The incident received coverage on the London Tonight television programme and a clip from the show, as well as Cartrain's original footage, can be seen on Youtube.

The stunt was reminiscent of Bristolian graffiti artist Banksy, someone Cartrain has always admired.

He said: "The British Museum idea was Banksy's. He has been a huge inspiration for me.

"I've sent him a few emails showing him my work and he sent me a signed piece of his work in the post. I went to an exhibition and a similar piece, but unsigned, went for £10,000."

Cartrain will continue to take sideswipes at companies and politicians for a while yet, but he is unsure what the future holds for him and his work.

He said: "I think, with my graffiti, I will continue to do it for a few more years and not make a huge career out of it and abuse the graffiti market."

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Your Say YourThis Is Local London

geshy, watford says...
1:47pm Tue 22 May 07

This is how graffiti started and now it blights our cities, making some areas look like dumps. Now with the help of reporters like Sam Trendall, wall stencelling with catch on. Common sense tells us that we cannot condone these acts. It's a shame that Sam and this newspaper have no common sense!

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umc, London says...
3:24pm Tue 22 May 07

"The stunt was reminiscent of Bristolian graffiti artist Banksy"

No, it was exactly the same. Therefore unoriginal and unimaginative.

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Cartrain, says...
2:39pm Wed 23 May 07

umc wrote:
"The stunt was reminiscent of Bristolian graffiti artist Banksy" No, it was exactly the same. Therefore unoriginal and unimaginative.
Well if its unimaginative you go out and do it and get it on london tonight. also what cant banksy have a rival like pepsi and coke ?

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Krutz, says...
12:24am Fri 25 May 07

Why has this vandal not been arrested yet

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Alan Smith, Leytonstone says...
11:58am Fri 25 May 07

Pointless, boring, derivative, childish, naive. "Hey look! It's Ronald McDonald! In a prison outfit! THAT'S STICKIN' IT TO THE MAN alright!". Pathetic.

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xx PJ xx, North London says...
2:55pm Sat 26 May 07

i think all of you eho have left messages calling cartrain pathetic and childish are just too stuck up your own backsides to be able to appreciate the art of graff. the Ronald McDonald piece is only one of many pieces of his work and the skill used in Cartrain graff shows the concentration and passion he puts into his work! Im starting up as a Graff artist myself and being female many people think its unlady like as well as "pathetic", "childish" etc. not all graff is scribble. some artists use canvas but Cartrain and people like myself use the streets. all we are trying to do is put our messages across to the people on the streets. are messages are hidden within the art we produce and i believe if each of you sat back and looked at some of the work on the streets you would see what we see and appreciate the intriguing world of Cartrain and so many other amateur Graffiti artist's work!

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Alan Smith, Leytonstone says...
3:51pm Sat 26 May 07

"all we are trying to do is put our messages across to the people on the streets. are messages are hidden within the art we produce".

You are comically, astonishingly, ignorant.

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Cartrain, says...
2:36pm Sun 27 May 07

Krutz wrote:
Why has this vandal not been arrested yet
Vanal ? and i havent been nicked becuase im carefull

Report this post »

Alan Smith, says...
10:51am Tue 29 May 07

Cartrain. When you are caught - as you most assuredly will be - I won't know whether to laugh or cry. Are you aware that a criminal record will prevent you from entering many countries of the world? That may not bother you now, as a 15 year-old with your obviously immature and naive outlook, but one day it will.

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Luce, London says...
3:09pm Sun 3 Jun 07

I find it hard to understand how people can say graffiti is what makes our cities look like dumps, there are bad unskilled graff artists out there sure, the same as dodgy arcitects ruining the skyline with ugly tower blocks but there are also alot of talented artists who have a lot to say. Why should art be defined by what is allowed into galleries?? Graffiti may not be everyones cup of tea but hey there are a fair few of us out here who can appreciate it and like having something interesting to look at while we wait for the bus!!!

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xx PJ xx, North London says...
3:02pm Mon 4 Jun 07

In reply to the stuck upm miserable person that said i am an ignorant person, i believe the only ignorant people in the city are people like yourselves. if you cant see what we see thats fine im sure there are things you do that we do not understand but Alan Smith from Leystone there was absoloutly no need to get personal, we each have our own opinions and we are all here to voice those, not to get personal and argue! you are obviously one sad and lonely man that simply needs a bit of love in order to spread that as we do across the city. why dont you try lightening up or smiling might make your day a bit more interesting;) keep up the good work Cartrain and mi fellow graffiti artists!!

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Diamond-T, London says...
3:06pm Mon 4 Jun 07

Graffiti is another form of expressive art you narrow-minded old sods!
Even though tags (street names) are more likely to be drawn the true graffiti artists express themselves by picture, words and many things. You obviously haven't discovered the beauty of art!You just think of underage teenagers spraying street names all over a shopping centre wall in the middle of the night - Like i said.. NARROW-MINDED!

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KS, London says...
4:17pm Mon 4 Jun 07

Graffiti is a perfect excuse for narrow minded people to have a good moan. Were any of you ever young? The naiveity of those who choose to get on their high horse about graffiti is baffling. Have you seen the skill, love and art that goes into (some) graffiti? These kids are artists, they are harnessing their energy and talent and they are saying what they feel about the world. We need to LISTEN. Rather than putting your energy into moaning, put into campaigning for legal places and ways for these kids to make use of their obvious talent... You sad moaners are as destructive as you say the graf artists are being..

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Alan Smith, Leytonstone says...
12:39pm Wed 6 Jun 07

Oh boo hoo. The grown-ups don't understand me, with their taxes jobs and mortgages. Boo hoo hoo.

PJ, I'm not getting personal - I'm sorry If I offended you. But some of the comments on here defending graffiti are laughable at best.

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leon, hayes, west london says...
5:22pm Mon 11 Jun 07

Alan Smith wrote:
Oh boo hoo. The grown-ups don\\\'t understand me, with their taxes jobs and mortgages. Boo hoo hoo. PJ, I\\\'m not getting personal - I\\\'m sorry If I offended you. But some of the comments on here defending graffiti are laughable at best.
Alan Smith wrote:
Oh boo hoo. The grown-ups don't understand me, with their taxes jobs and mortgages. Boo hoo hoo.

Alan Smith, you must be the most arrogant, stuck-up and narrow-minded person i have ever spoken to.You called Cartrain childish, but for an adult, your use of not very funny sarcasm doesn't seem too far away from childishness. So stop judging others, open your eyes and smile once in a while, because you seem like a miserable sod, who has nothing better to do but to sit on his computer and talk nonsense about things he doesn't know anything about


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Alan Smith, Leytonstone says...
6:10pm Thu 14 Jun 07

Ha, Leon. You just haven't got the first idea, have you? Come back with a point when you've left the sixth form, done your gap year, finished uni and done a year's work in the call centre. OK?

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xx PJ xx, North London says...
11:22am Tue 19 Jun 07

okay Alan Smith from Leystone i accept your appology but at the end of the day this message board was to voice opinions on graffiti and look at whats happened! we're all arguing about it. Alan mate you've obviously completely lost it with all us youngers and i really think its time you hang up your computer mouse and took up a new hobby. this isnt a place to argue. if you like graff then fine everyone should be able to listen to your point and accept that, likewise if you have a problem with graffiti we should be able to listen to your opinion and take it into consideration, not bloody argue and insult weachother! im all for graff as long as its not just scribbely tag names and name calling. so ta KS n Leon for backing us up and im sorry Allan but from where im sitting it looks like you're just bulling for arguments.

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Diamond-T, Tottenham, Uk says...
11:25am Tue 19 Jun 07

TOO RIGHT!

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Alan Smith, Leytonstone says...
12:42pm Wed 20 Jun 07

Funny how you assume I'm old. You'd be surprised.

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xxPJxx, North London says...
10:37am Fri 22 Jun 07

Believe it or not Allan Smith i could give a toss how old you are! and okay you may not be all that old but you have taken up the attitude of an older person and to see that really is quite sad to be honest thats really quite a sad thing to see. Lighten up babe you'll find yourself enjoying yourself a lot more and people might actually like you and WANT to listen to what you have to say;)

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Alan Smith, Leytonstone says...
4:11pm Fri 22 Jun 07

You know nothing whatever about me, other than what you have read on this board. And I don't need to take advice from you, thanks very much.

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xxPJxx, North London says...
10:05am Tue 26 Jun 07

God sod off and get a bloody life babe !

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Alan Smith, Leytonstone says...
10:51am Tue 26 Jun 07

I've got a life, cheers. You obviously have a lot of issues about yours "babe". Have a word with yourself. Go for a nice walk. Read a book. Take a train to the coast. Breath the air.

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xx PJ xx, North London says...
11:16am Tue 3 Jul 07

okay okay so you obviously arn't going to give up on this so im going to walk away and let you 'win' if you like, your childish game is getting boring so well done Alan from Leystone, everyone give the big man Alan a round of applause i think someone should give Alan a gold star dont you?!

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Mr H, Stornoway says...
1:38pm Thu 5 Jul 07

I can't understand why, if Cartrain is so anti-capitalism and anti-establishment, he is so obsessed with the commercial value of the Banksy signed original work he was sent.

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A.sinclaire, says...
1:59pm Thu 5 Jul 07

Cartrain wrote:
Krutz wrote: Why has this vandal not been arrested yet
Vanal ? and i havent been nicked becuase im carefull
Sounds like you should be more careful where you spray the paint , it appears the fumes have not only confused
your mental state but your grammar as well.
I would suggest the punishment when you are caught should be a bottle of bleach and a toothbrush.

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NEVERMIND!, London says...
6:37pm Thu 5 Jul 07

well, i just think he's crap.
i mean, there is actually no origionality to it?
he see's the world as most teenage boys who think they're grown up does - and yes i would know, because i'm only 1* myself.
and before you come along and tell me i just don't appreciate graffiti, i do, because i used to do it, and still are friends with lads who do it.

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NEVERMIND!, East London says...
6:50pm Thu 5 Jul 07

xxPJxx wrote:
Believe it or not Allan Smith i could give a toss how old you are! and okay you may not be all that old but you have taken up the attitude of an older person and to see that really is quite sad to be honest thats really quite a sad thing to see. Lighten up babe you'll find yourself enjoying yourself a lot more and people might actually like you and WANT to listen to what you have to say;)
and okay you may not be all that old but you have taken up the attitude of an older person and to see that really is quite sad to be honest thats really quite a sad thing to see.

that, is EXACTLY what cartrain has done.

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Padre Pio, Hackney says...
10:27pm Thu 5 Jul 07

You put a stencil of Bush on our communal bin. I quite like it - we thought we had a Banksy at first but then realised Cartrain was your tag.
However some graffiti can be a mess like the **** who made it impossibloe to navigate Camden Town Station because all the signs were unreadable as they had sprayed all over them

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bleh, LONDON says...
11:50am Fri 6 Jul 07

"The stunt was reminiscent of Bristolian graffiti artist Banksy" No, it was exactly the same. Therefore unoriginal and unimaginative.

if you must know banksey also copyed this from another artist adam neate

"the **** who made it impossibloe to navigate Camden Town Station because all the signs were unreadable as they had sprayed all over them"
real deal graffiti not this lets try and make money and crave media fame. this is just a kid playing a mans game and doing it all wrong

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Jackbo, East London says...
2:19am Sun 8 Jul 07

Cartrain,you never cease to amaze me.Even through all this hate you still carry on.Why don't you just listen for once.Just stop and ask yourself what message were you trying to get across when you did that stencil of ronald mcdonald in a prison uniform?You insist that there are messages in these stencils and half the time there isn't,and when there is it has been done a thousand times before and is everything but creative.One of the more humorous comments in the article was when you said your stencilling "improved" once you started using Photoshop.A compter doing the work for you isnt an improvement.Try making something up no one has thought of before and,without using a computer, try and make a multi layered stencil of it.That ain't easy.And what you're getting into now is the sort of things that give a bad name to graffiti artists worldwide.Your tags are popping up more and more and they show absolutely no skill whatsoever.Thousands of graffiti writers are out everyday spraying full colour works of art,and you think you're making a difference?

Speaking of corporations,please do remember the paint that you use is also from a million dollar corporation.

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growl., Oregon says...
11:43pm Wed 25 Jul 07

go to **** school and stop **** yourself.
its pathetic.

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rare, says...
9:56pm Fri 3 Aug 07

haha, this is pretty funny. i know cartrain, hes a proper dork, hes home schooled has no friends and this is his way of gettin attention

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mercdriver, says...
2:59am Sun 19 Aug 07

rare wrote:
haha, this is pretty funny. i know cartrain, hes a proper dork, hes home schooled has no friends and this is his way of gettin attention
Yes he's a sad loner and a crap vandal as well.

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Phil Dunsmore, London says...
9:06pm Sat 25 Aug 07

Cartrain wrote:
Krutz wrote:
Why has this vandal not been arrested yet
Vanal ? and i havent been nicked becuase im carefull
Cartrain, i don't know if you look back on this but I really like your stuff. Saw my first one in the 'paint' the other weeek. Down near the tate modern. Even put a pic of it on my bebo, hope you don't mind!
http://www.bebo.com/

PhotoAlbumBig.jsp?Me

mberId=343812&PhotoA

lbumId=5239508829&Ph

otoId=5365413525
Keep'em coming!
Phil

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c-one, uk says...
2:30pm Mon 5 Nov 07

hahaha this is brilliant love the alan smith ****
"keep on truckin"

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Ellie Electric, Leytonstone says...
4:55pm Tue 6 Nov 07

To be honest, I like cartrains work. Although there's not much left of it in Leytonstone, it gives me somthing to look at as I'm walking around london.
Don't listen to the haters, keep doing your thing.

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Joe WG, Leytonstone says...
10:37am Fri 30 Nov 07

To be honest, this is all a little pathetic. You all (excluding Ellie xD) cast judgement on a 15-year-old kid. Clearly, you can't speak of naivety because you're on this **** website, posting your worthless opinions.
How sad.

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Alan Smith, Leytonstone says...
8:32am Sun 16 Dec 07

I can cast judgement on a 15-year-old when the 15-year-old is vandalising my neighbourhood. And don't you see the irony in post?

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jammus, leytonstone says...
3:21pm Thu 14 Feb 08

Alan smith acts like he knows everything when clearly he's just some tosspot who's wound up by all these vandals taggin on his darn street. im a close friend of car's and ill tell you this- he probably has the best advice and philosophy coming staight to him form his dad, he has the most freedom do whatever he wants, and look where it's got him. Any one who wants to lay a downer on him is upset by this either because they think the things he's vandalised are important, that his work doesn't deserve this or that your just plain jealous. Tough luck guys he's already made a fortune out of it and i doubt he will "assuredly" get caught so why doesn't EVERYONE just pull thier heads of the sand and smell reality. none of your opinions even mean anythign anyway in response to the dick urging car to stop because of all his "haters".
Many thanks.
Jammus

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alan Smith, says...
8:45am Sun 2 Mar 08

Hahahahaha - you clueless foo l.

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TheCubb, Bristol says...
9:02pm Tue 4 Mar 08

It's the worst thing possible for any type of artist to do: blatantly copy another artists style of work and in this case, even copying the message another artist is trying to put across. Not many people would deny that it is simply unimaginative, unoriginal and plain plagiarism. Rather pathetic don't you think? I'm not denying that stencil stencil art can be brilliant but the fact that Cartrain is trying to work off the back of someone else's ideas so blatantly to try and gain recognition. Therefore, he is a little ****.

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xxPJxx, North London says...
4:15am Tue 18 Mar 08

wow, i must say i am impressed. i havn't had an argument with Alan 'stuck up his own arse' Smith with here in a while and after all this time of not visiting the site i must say i am shocked to see the guy is still going! glad to see people are still arguing with him for me. alan i honestly believe that one day you will say the wrong thing to the wrong person.

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Sands, Notts says...
3:19pm Tue 18 Mar 08

I really think that all these people having a go at Cartrain need to take a step back for a second. I myself am a fifteen year old and I am expecting you all to tell me to grow up and whatever else but I, like Cartrain, feel that I should be free to express my views. I think it is wonderful to see young people getting involved with political issues and I whole heartedly agree with the messages behind Cartrain's art. I prefer to see this kind of decorative art rather than the scribbles we so often see around town centres.. Myself and my friends believe there is no harm in expressing your views this way as we do not regard it as an eyesore.

Keep up the good work Cartrain, you're an inspiration.

x

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Alan Smith, says...
6:34pm Tue 18 Mar 08

wow, i must say i am impressed. i havn't had an argument with Alan 'stuck up his own arse' Smith with here in a while and after all this time of not visiting the site i must say i am shocked to see the guy is still going


"Argument" . Don't flatter yourself.

I whole heartedly agree with the messages behind Cartrain's art


What message? Or do you mean parodies of another shallow vandal who comes up with an image and then invents a superficial slogan to fit?


Myself and my friends believe there is no harm in expressing your views this way as we do not regard it as an eyesore.


Yeah - and "yourself and your friends" don't pay tax.




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Mike, Uxbridge says...
11:30am Wed 19 Mar 08

Well Alan, I do pay tax, and I have no problem with Cartrain or Banksy, both original and talented artists, not vandals.
As far as I am concerned they should keep doing what they do, as more people should take ntoice of this form of art and the messages it can convey.

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alexxx, Los Angeles says...
11:59pm Wed 19 Mar 08

The kid is fifteen. So... childish and pathetic? i think not.

i dont think the point is "sticking it to the man" i think rather, like Banksy, Cartrain is intent on showing people in a satirical fashion how backwards our lives are.

hes not sticking it to the man.

shutup.

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Alan Smith, says...
3:02pm Thu 20 Mar 08

Cartrain is intent on showing people in a satirical fashion how backwards our lives are.


Ok. How's he doing that then?

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Gareff, Rotherham says...
1:57pm Fri 9 May 08

either way there's 2 sides people are coming from, either against graff art such as banksys and cartrains or from the other side where people do appreciate at least a tad the work of above mentioned artists.

personally i think graff art is a great expression of self via the streets and it gets public view insantly as people will see art displayed on a wall in a town centre.

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Jasmine- :), London says...
3:41pm Sun 18 May 08

Look, I think that Cartrains stuff is clever, creative and awesome I think that everyone who is complaining about it being vandalism is ridiculous if people dont clean it off from THEIR premises then why should you give a s***t!
I think that Cartrain should just carry on doing his thing :)
****

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Tom, London says...
6:32pm Sun 18 May 08

recently some stencil art was left near my road by artist Bandit. it is of a two people, one as a fencer (fencing with swoards) and the other is the same, but wiht an army uniform and an uzi attacking him. this is clever, attacking and very important, more and more people are quite happily comfortable staring at their screens and sitting on their sofa's complaining about the world, it's wonderful when someone gets off their arse and does something about it. we are growing into an unthinking scarless unity. introverted and repressed.

Cartrain, who ever you are, best of luck and keep up the good work, i hope to see more work.

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Stephen, Leytonstone says...
12:28am Sat 24 May 08

Cartrain, if you ever read this, I hope you stay true to your word and only create graffiti art with meaning. You say that you "have a rule that I won't write on people's property", but my bin and my workplace both have your tags scribbled on them, as do alot of private buildings around Leytonstone.

I saw a couple of kids the other day (and I mean actual kids; they looked about 9 years old) scribbling their names on a road sign, and being in Leytonstone, they were no doubt influenced by your tags. It's meaningless scribbles like that that ruin our beautiful city.

Keep on with your graffiti art, but please make sure it is art.

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Jasmine- :), says...
12:14pm Sun 1 Jun 08

'Please make sure it is art'
The thing is that what people dont appreciate is that the name tagging and messages left by these people is a form of art and I get what you mean but I think that we need to adress this stuff as art and it is unfair to say that it isnt. Anything can be art Stephen.

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Cartrain satirises famous logos like that of MacDonalds Cartrain satirises famous logos like that of MacDonalds

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