Fresh Coat Of Paint

In the "zero tolerance Stockholm", this was created a while ago. The proud owner of the Grill Bar has asked the artists to create art on his Grill. And so the did. And, of course, the police did arrive (after all, it´s Stockholm, right?). But, without any drama, they talked to the owner, looked at the art, and went away to much more important missions. Hooray!

TagsAndThrows IG account from zero tolerant Stockholm

Five question interview with Thomas who started TagsAndThrows. Today focus on his own work as OKOK and just arrived from exhibition in NYC at restaurant Red Roaster in Harlem.

1. How did you come up with the idea  TagsAndThrows on Instagram?

I have been into graff since I was a little kid. When I was in New York  I began suddenly shoot tags. I came to Stockholm with a few hundred photos on Guns, Malvo, Adek, Gusto and others. These photos I showed up for a friend as we sat and drank beer. He loved them and to see things not circulate as much online. He loved that I just photographed tags and not only paintings. I was thinking about that more people must be interested and I decided to start TagsAndThrows.

2.  When?

This was a little more than two years ago.

3. What did TagsAndThrows taught and gave you?

I love tags and working with TagsAndThrows. It give me inspiration for the rest of my life. To walk around town and take pictures of tags makes life more fun. It's like a big art exhibition or series that I follow. To see who has been out in the weekend in Stockholm or who is the King of a city you just landed in is exciting. I have learned to enjoy the new, in my world, different styles, and I'm learning every day to be a better photographer.

4. What are your thoughts about Stockholm and zero tolerance for graffiti and activities who can make any interests of graffiti?

It's idiotic and undemocratic. The debate and the whole environment is skewed. That people can express themselves makes people not bubbling over and gets mad.

5. What do you think is the most important work to affect that zero tolerance scrappes?

That people in positions of action that reaches people dare to come out and say that they bear the color of the walls. More people venture onto the streets to paint even though they risk a fine. That we work together to influence society to a more accepting places, not just when it comes to decorate public spaces. It is WE who live here - we should get to choose how it will look.

THANK YOU Thomas for the interview and your beautiful work with TagsAndThrows. It makes people in Sweden understand the big interest of this artwork and communicating. We think TagsAndThrows are an important part of  changing the zero tolerance in Stockholm.

We wish you great luck with TagsAndThrows and also with your own artwork by OKOK. 

Be sure you follow tagsandthrows and artbyokok on IG!