Graffiti art has long since left its bad reputation behind. What used to be forbidden is now recognized art. One of the best-known sprayers in Switzerland is Fabian “Bane” Florin. He talks about how spraying got him out of his addiction and why he is committed to spraying.
Radio SRF 1: You slipped into addiction at the age of 14. How did that happen?
Fabian “Bane” Florin: I became addicted when I was 14 years old. It’s the classic way you imagine. I started out with smaller things, took increasingly harder substances, up to heroin and cocaine. Then I lived on the streets. I was addicted and marginalized for 14 years.
Spraying used to be associated with youth going off the rails. With you it was exactly the opposite. Spraying got you out of addiction.
I sprayed before I got addicted to drugs. When I was addicted, but not anymore. With addiction came drug-related crime. At one point my criminal record was so full that I was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. First I was on the run for a year until I was arrested. I ended up in a psychiatric ward and had to go into forced rehab. Instead of going to jail, I was able to do inpatient therapy. It gave me the chance to get healthy and work on myself.
Where does spraying come into play?
If you’ve been addicted to addiction for 14 years, which is your purpose in life, and you give it up, then you’re an empty person. You have to relearn everything. Get up in the morning, shower, daily structure. You also need a new job.
During my therapy, my old hobby, spray painting, came back to life. I had the opportunity to start again. This is how I rediscovered a lost love.
During my therapy, my old hobby, spray painting, came back to life. I had the opportunity to start again. This is how I rediscovered a lost love.
So, from one day to the next, did you realize that spraying is worth continuing?
I was able to take part in a graffiti contest back then. The Chur judiciary allowed me to do this and provided me with 200 francs so that I could buy paint. When I started painting, that was my moment of enlightenment. My button popped and I discovered joie de vivre. With every stroke I became more sure of what I want to do in the future.
Bane is more than a stage name. How come?
«Bane» is deeply rooted in the difficult times I had. Today in English people say “the bane of my life”. When I got clean I had to kill “Bane” and I was reborn as Fabian. I was my own «Bane». I’ve been my own constant annoyance for the last 14 years. The name sounds good, has a meaning and I wear it as a memorial.
You have been a big name in the Swiss graffiti scene for many years now. A few years ago you launched the Chur Street Art Festival. Why is it so important to you to give people access to spraying?
Of course illegal spraying still exists, but graffiti is more than that today. Spraying is a serious business. It is livelihood and purpose of life. I am still of the opinion that spray painting will be in the art history books as the next big era. It’s important that people understand what we’re doing here and that our work is seen.