Latino Hispanic Culture, Art and Film at Bullfighter’s Cafe

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Like in any café, on any given table you may overhear an interesting conversation, picking up pieces of dialog that may intrigue or perplex you, but you listen nevertheless. The words captivate your imagination and compel you to hang on to the conversation until your comprehension can catch up. This artist feature is the same. A lot is said here, but there is more intriguing and thought provoking ideas to be contemplated if you dare to see what this artist has to offer.
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BFC: Can you tell about your background?
Philosophers define life as one where we encounter ourselves. I was born in the Latino Barrio en Nuevo York. In the late 1970’s I was lucky enough to meet my first mentor Caine 1. who served me the name of Caine 2. Caine 1 aka Edward Glowaski RIP knew he would not live long as a result of an apparition. Caine 1 was the author of the first Freedom train created on 7evens. The Bicentennial was United Snakes of Amerikkka 200 year anniversary where Caine 1 on the eve of that celebration first painted the top to bottom full train. Caine 1’s crew was Tage, Mad 102 Tracy 168 and Flame 1 as well as Speed 

BFC: How did you discover your passion for the arts?
My passion for the Arts came to me early as a Salvation. Salvation knocked on the door and my passion answered in response. In life many live a life of defense not knowing why or whom they are defending against. If you choose to be a creative entity you have to practice kenosis in risking one thing and that is yourself if you dare. Very few will ever connect with their passion.

BFC: Did you attend college or receive any training in the arts?
As true epistemological knowledge is nomadic and to this day I continue to pursue Education from many schools and sources.

BFC: Is there a difference between formal and street training in art?
There is always a difference one is based in the immediacy of expression as a value, the other is a more academic system while the latter is more provincial and elitist, which do you choose? You see the trend of many who attend Art school buying certificates of education as validation.  

BFC: Currently, you are working under the pseudonym “El Fatom De La Kalle”. Can you tell us about your work and why you choose this identity?
The identity was coined by media and chosen by our time. The work that I have intentionally created in the Media and on the Streets, under the pseudonym, “The Street Phantom,” invokes a simple visual spray painted icon silhouette in order to provoke social discussion through urban myth, gossip and ritual.

El Fatom uses urban walls as a canvas for commentary of political expression. El Fatom is the spokesperson of our time, effecting change through mobilizing individual activism. The artist coins political phrases that reach out to our generation in need of a voice of representation. The Artist believes in effectively raising a level of social conscious and personal inquiry through usurping the power of mass media as a vehicle for awareness. The Artist chooses to speak to the psyche of our nations alienated youth, representing a generation in search of a sign. The elusive street artist comments on our social conditions by voicing thoughts of a personal and intimate nature, which transcends cultural prejudices.

BFC: You created the cover art for Rage Against The Machine’s “The Battle of Los Angeles”. What does it represent?
The silhouetted figures with provocative text such as ” ART SAVE$ LIVE$” and ” Looking 4 AmeriKKKA” as well as “CirC@ De Ti EN TU IDIOM@”, “WHAT you BUY BUYS yOU” are highly politicized street spectacles that address post-apocalyptic urban decay and contemporary social issues, responding with charged timely anonymous phrases that confront problems of our day such as AIDS, racism, domestic violence, censorship and media alienation in our Power structure society today.

BFC: You also call yourself a “Radical Subversive Guerilla”. By this you mean it how you approach your art?
I have always felt that being a Radical Subversive Guerilla Performance Artist is not necessarily specific, but a diverse composition that leads to a distinction comprised of many infused expressions. My creative concepts are derived from the blurred boundaries of many disciplines and mediums.

I am committed to Creativity as a lifelong pursuit, there are many in this realm that practice mimicry jumping bandwagons and trends. Many lack courage in realizing their own language being blinded from ever being able to take the journey of a creative reality. Few will ever be able to dare to create with Courage in Life.

BFC: You have an interesting concept, that we (BF Café) may participate in, called Art Saves Lives.
Art Saves Lives (”ASL”) is a production company of creative affiliates who specialize in being Media Image Brokers with a responsible cause. We are a collective who work directly with the Artists to create distinctive imago. The aim of Art Saves Lives is to create a New Theater of social commentary, which navigates between the Public stage of Art and Life. We referenced important obscure languages and seminal historic movements like the Gutais, the Los Four as well as the Theater of the Living.

BFC: Any last words for our readers to contemplate from El Fatom?
Life is the great Theater. We create our reality through the fabric of ourselves and our time and being. The definition of Personae in Latin signifies the disguise or the outward appearance of Man. Personality is the palette that we create from with the placement of our intentional creative cause and effect. Personality is never innate it is acquired in Life. Personality is the Karmic role of our existence but never our true essence. I believe it is through a creative understanding of whom we are that one can create from life.† Without an understanding of ourselves how can we can we manifest our true creative essence as our potential? Creativity is a responsibility which understands mise en scène in its placement challenging irony and its structure.

We are True Visionary Believers who are returning Media and its message to its True Messenger.

Come join us as the Messengers…
El Fatom

www.myspace.com/elfatom

PM/03/07