3 minute read
Jupp’: Gibraltar’s Banksy
scene
‘JUPP’ GIBRALTAR’S BANKSY You’ve likely come across his (or is it her?!) work whilst strolling around Gibraltar. A leaping cat, one of our furry residents in a Christmas hat, Pac-Man on his interminable quest to eat all the pellets… all the work of this one mysterious artist, whose weapon of choice is the trusty stencil.
BY SOPHIE CLIFTON-TUCKER
What first inspired you to create? (What age were you, what did you produce and why, etc.)
I’ve enjoyed creative activities for as long as I can remember. My earliest such memories are of following my mum to a ladies’ craft association where I used to sit under the table learning to knit, sew, and cross-stitch. Since then I’ve always filled my time by making things, be it clothes, art, food or bacon-flavoured vodka. Who were your biggest influencers?
I’ve always been influenced by the pop-art movement: Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg. Vintage advertising and 20th century
political posters are also a great source of aesthetic inspiration. For recent street art I particularly like Obey, Christian Guemy (C215) and Kitt Bennett to name but a few.
Why did you choose stencilling as your chosen medium for your recent spate of works in Gibraltar? Is it one you’ve used before?
I’ve been stencilling since I was 16. I originally started because I wanted to recreate the clean lines and flat colours of pop art but didn’t have access to a silk-screen printer. It’s a great medium as the majority of the work (prepping the image and cutting the stencil) can be done at home. It then takes only a few minutes to paint a detailed image out on the street. What do you feel these pieces bring to the people who see them; what was the aim behind them?
I hope they bring a little joy and surprise to people on an otherwise mundane commute. I also hope they brighten up some of the unsightlier parts of Gibraltar; this is why I’ve done a lot of my work on the ever-increasing white and red construction boards around town.
Which is your favourite piece, and why?
On the street, it has to be the Chairman Meow posters as these gathered the biggest response. Shame they only stayed up for a few hours. I also like the Prince portrait on Coral Road, which is perhaps less well seen. And the little motorbike stuntman in Casemates; I’d like to do more pieces like this that interact with the location itself.
At home I can afford to spend more time, have more detailed stencils and more layers. Of these pieces I’m most fond of my animal work (such as the puffin and toucan).
Why the decision to remain anonymous?
The first pieces I did in Gib were the series of Gustavo Bacarisas murals up Castle Street. This project was the brainchild of Ronnie Alecio, supported by the Ministry of Culture, with the aim of celebrating the life and work of Gustavo Bacarisas. As such I didn’t think it appropriate to take any of the limelight. Since then I’ve enjoyed being anonymous and will do my best to continue to be so!
Tell us a little about your works so far, and the thought processes behind them.
There’s not a lot of thought behind them! I usually think of an image I want to see on the streets (often animals), grab a beer,
some paper and a knife and start cutting. It’s impossible to please everyone but I hope that my work so far has been enjoyed by people that have come across it.
What have you got in store for Gibraltar in the future?
time and enough wind-free days to do them.
I’m currently planning some more large murals that will hopefully appear in the spring, in various locations around Gib.
I’d also love to hear any suggestions/requests via my Instagram jupp.jupp.jupp or email hellojupp@gmail.com.
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