Polizei Speaks Up . . . So Listen Up!

For the cats out there who don’t know who you are, tell us a bit about yourself, how long have you been painting, what got you started?
My name is Polizei, quest, 193, alt. From a wee child I’ve liked to draw, drawing any type of creatures or stick soldiers firing bazookas and blowing up tanks and what not. Before graf I was a b-boy, I really enjoyed the way you could just flex your body in any direction and get loose, but the first time I saw cats painting was in Cape Town, it was their section of Battle Of The Year 2005. I went to see the Flaming b-boys from Mitchells do their thing, but then laid my eyes on cats like Falko, Toe, Faith and other underground writers who’s letters were a bit too wild for me to even start to decode. I was hooked from then on!

You are the Life Check 2011 champion; tell me about the comp, and the piece you painted?
Ya, the Life Check champ what a name... mmm unexpected, just doing what I love. The concept was an eco type theme, kop17 it is. So I painted a baobab character with tones of green, I love greens so it was dope; it was a very chilled day.

What does graffiti mean to you and what keeps you motivated to paint?
Graffiti art is my life and has been around me for a good few years. It’s the love to create, if you don’t create something in your life, your life is worthless.


Having said that, you are one of the 7 writers who got arrested for painting a legal wall in Durban two weeks ago. I want to hear your side of the story because we all know certain national media publications are making assumptions and not getting their facts straight before they publish stories.


Tell me about the wall you guys decided to paint and why?
The wall was for a past brother Wesley EIY5 Fisher. It was a "legal" spot or that’s what we thought, because everyone paints that wall all the time.

How far into your piece did the pigs arrive and what did they say to you?
I had filled in my piece, started to do my out line, got about half way, then BAMB! "Ay you, boy, you’re under arrest!”

You were then taken to the Umbilo Police Station, and what happened there?
The same old procedure, a long wait, frothing old farts clenching their files of evidence, loads of paper work, black paws, lost paint and stubborn oinkers. You know the usual old ball game.

So now you need to appear in court? And fight for what?
Justice for doing nothing wrong, this MI2P charge is kaak, it should be burned.

What is your view on this whole thing?
The government shouldn’t pay investigators anything, they would save so much money helping us help them, you know what I mean?!

 
Is there anything else you would like to say?
One love to the 031 graf clicks and the rest of yall in SA, Jah bless Questboys represent.

So you got arrested by pigs who ASSUMED you were painting illegally, basically, you got arrested for not 'breaking and entering' you just stood on the side of the street, basically, you got arrested for creating artwork on an ugly wall for people to enjoy, basically, you got arrested for not hurting anyone and just doing your hobby which is painting, so basically any other person that has an alternative hobby and displays it in public should get arrested.  – That means people should stop planking too hey!!!