andre · N^o5424

Andre Saraiva started writing graffiti in 1985, and helped grow the early graffiti scene in Paris. He later transitioned into street art and developed Monsieur A, a distinctive pink stick figure with a top hat and toothy grin. In the early 2000s, he began to paint the names of people’s loved ones around the city, which became known as the Love Graffiti series.

In addition to his career in art, Andre enjoys a successful career as an entrepreneur. He owns multiple restaurants, hotels and the nightclub Le Baron, which has locations in Paris, Tokyo and New York.

In this interview with Citizens of Humanity, Andre discusses his origins as a graffiti writer and his transition into street art.


When did you start getting interested in graffiti? What was some of the first graffiti you remember seeing?
In the early 1980s, I was 13 years old and living in Paris at the time. Paris had a culture of stenciling all over the city, but it was more related to the punk rock and new wave scenes. At that time, there was one street writer more related to urban life called BANDO and also a guy called BOXER. They were the only ones just writing their names all over Paris. I began then just writing my name instead of using a pseudonym or surname. I thought it sounded more European or French and didn't want to hide behind a nom de guerre.


How did you meet other writers at that time?
I remember there were so few people at the time involved in the culture of hip-hop so if you saw another writer on the subway you recognized them from their dirty hands and you would go and speak to them.

How influential was Subway Art on your and other Paris-based writers' styles?
When I began to write, we did not have Subway Art yet. Paris at the time developed its own style; even if it was inspired by American graffiti, Paris reinvented it a bit. Making the work very specific to Paris at the time. You could recognize a French artist right away. When Subway Art came it was the bible for us. It's not like today. We didn't have zines or internet so you had to look for it to gain access to that culture.


How would you describe the Paris style of graffiti?
At the time, it was related to walls and to write on buildings more than the subway. The subway came later in the 1990s. Also, the letters were a more-readable calligraphy.

In 1990, you stopped writing your name and started writing Mr. A. Why did you make the transition from traditional graffiti to street art?
In 1990, Paris became covered in tags. So much so that you couldn't even see you own name in the middle of accumulation. I also noticed that that graffiti at that time was addressed to other graffiti artists, and I wanted to make use of the public space and make something that everyone could relate to. Something more figurative seemed like it would have a more universal language and appeal.

Were other people in Paris also doing characters at this time or were you the first?
No. I was really the only one doing that at the time. It was a bit avant-garde and unconventional in the graffiti world.


Photos courtesy of Andre