The graffiti artist Toz was born in Salvador, Bahia state, but lives in Rio and his characters are inspired by the modern urban life. In this video he answers a question by the also artist Cadu, who wants to know: “Where does life start and where does art end?”
Tomaz Viana, aka Toz, tells us that when he was a child, his mother used to take him to her Fine Arts lessons, and that his father took him to get his first tattoo when he was only nine.
He also talks of how his characters started being recognised and gained specific features, and of the differences of working in the streets or in a gallery: “driving on the street, you can never see a graffiti piece calmly. But in a gallery you have all the time in the world to sit and enjoy the work.”
Watch the video:
For more on Toz, his career, exhibitions and images of his works, access his artist page.
For other interviews with artists nominated this year and in previous editions, as well as special videos, access the video page.