08 Jul, 2022
·
Justin '706' Rollins
08 Jul, 2022
·
The Lost Boyz: A Dark Side of Graffiti by Justin Rollins is a magnificently crafted, written exposé, of a deeply hidden subculture; charting the rise, fall and subsequent redemption of “706", a (former) teenage gang leader and present day graffiti artist originating from south west London.
Submersed in the shadowy lair of the London underground transport system, there still remains an illuminated showcase sprayed by faceless, nameless, graffiti writers; alluring, allegiance signalling individuals, without circumspection nor caution, replete with their own volatile story lines. Several are no longer with us but their memory is forever brutally 'codified' into the cities architecture through their faded street tags as well as survived & meticulously recollected with breathtaking accuracy in the adrenalised, enthralling chapters of 'The Lost Boyz’.
From within this hellscape, Rollins' artwork therefore stands as a part autobiographical, part visceral vice land of intense proportions; encompassing a mind-bending pastiche of themes from physical violence & psychological abuse to self care & spiritual awakening, cementing Rollins as arguably the most provocative, sought after graffiti artist of 2021/22 & beyond.
It’s not often that unglamorous subject matters that are traditionally left 'untouched', such as society’s forgotten youth and mental illness, are both introspectively depicted together without any ‘makeup’, first over a decade ago in a book, and now unpacked again further through a second creative endeavour; painting.
Rollins thus ‘vandalises’ our perceptions of what it means to truly self reflect, by drawing on his life experiences, and working through them to self-actualise, seamlessly integrating his insights into artworks and examining them in juxtapositions; contrasting the innocent & innocuous (mouses & trains) with the sinister and sobering (meat cleavers & therapy).
Furthermore at moments Justin also subtly immerses his ‘handstyle’ (graffiti typography) with elements of his colour palette to be congruent with inciting parts of his story, best exemplified by several blood wounds from a violent attack that are outlined in muted fuchsia & Rothko-esque red, present in his self-portrait...
~ Discover a mildly disturbing, pathological assault, blending street gang-style theatrics with the harsh realism of rapidly declining mental health. Expect visually poetic spray paintings of past self destructive ideations with aesthetic paint drips that immortalise painful memories, handcrafted to perfection. Moreover find infinite hope & illimitable optimism in enlightenment & escapism. ~
Final Verdict: Hauntingly evocative, wildly unpredictable and ludicrously raw! A true collectible for the discerning and informed!
Notes. Justin Rollins is an author, graffiti artist and social commentator from South West London, UK. Each year ‘The Lost Boyz’ is studied by over 500 criminology students in 4 universities across the United Kingdom. In 2020 Justin’s story was turned into the short film ‘No Dog’, coming very soon to a theatre near you. Follow Justin's journey on Instagram @justinrollins706
View the Huedra x '706' collection here.
* In 2022, 2% of all Huedra profits will go to Mind, a UK mental health charity, that makes sure ‘no one has to face mental health alone’.
Submersed in the shadowy lair of the London underground transport system, there still remains an illuminated showcase sprayed by faceless, nameless, graffiti writers; alluring, allegiance signalling individuals, without circumspection nor caution, replete with their own volatile story lines. Several are no longer with us but their memory is forever brutally 'codified' into the cities architecture through their faded street tags as well as survived & meticulously recollected with breathtaking accuracy in the adrenalised, enthralling chapters of 'The Lost Boyz’.
From within this hellscape, Rollins' artwork therefore stands as a part autobiographical, part visceral vice land of intense proportions; encompassing a mind-bending pastiche of themes from physical violence & psychological abuse to self care & spiritual awakening, cementing Rollins as arguably the most provocative, sought after graffiti artist of 2021/22 & beyond.
It’s not often that unglamorous subject matters that are traditionally left 'untouched', such as society’s forgotten youth and mental illness, are both introspectively depicted together without any ‘makeup’, first over a decade ago in a book, and now unpacked again further through a second creative endeavour; painting.
Rollins thus ‘vandalises’ our perceptions of what it means to truly self reflect, by drawing on his life experiences, and working through them to self-actualise, seamlessly integrating his insights into artworks and examining them in juxtapositions; contrasting the innocent & innocuous (mouses & trains) with the sinister and sobering (meat cleavers & therapy).
Furthermore at moments Justin also subtly immerses his ‘handstyle’ (graffiti typography) with elements of his colour palette to be congruent with inciting parts of his story, best exemplified by several blood wounds from a violent attack that are outlined in muted fuchsia & Rothko-esque red, present in his self-portrait...
~ Discover a mildly disturbing, pathological assault, blending street gang-style theatrics with the harsh realism of rapidly declining mental health. Expect visually poetic spray paintings of past self destructive ideations with aesthetic paint drips that immortalise painful memories, handcrafted to perfection. Moreover find infinite hope & illimitable optimism in enlightenment & escapism. ~
Final Verdict: Hauntingly evocative, wildly unpredictable and ludicrously raw! A true collectible for the discerning and informed!
Notes. Justin Rollins is an author, graffiti artist and social commentator from South West London, UK. Each year ‘The Lost Boyz’ is studied by over 500 criminology students in 4 universities across the United Kingdom. In 2020 Justin’s story was turned into the short film ‘No Dog’, coming very soon to a theatre near you. Follow Justin's journey on Instagram @justinrollins706
View the Huedra x '706' collection here.
* In 2022, 2% of all Huedra profits will go to Mind, a UK mental health charity, that makes sure ‘no one has to face mental health alone’.