Urban Art Association

Perhaps this film might enlighten a little more.

www.lost.art.br/zezao_slideshow.htm

I would say partly its where he paints and as much as what he paints.
But his abstract forms have been developed from years of graffiti writing.
The graffiti writing tradition is about writing your name and coming up with own style simply put.

a few Q&A's I had once with a journalist...

Is he an abstract artist?

- it depends how you interpret that word. He certainly not a figurative artist. His forms may seem random but clearly they have an organic flow. Like the abstract expressionists there is a certain amount of subconscious creation but its not formless or automatic. As you say typography is an important root in his work and there is ornamental element - like the Art Nouveau movement which was "characterised by highly-stylised, flowing, curvilinear designs often incorporating floral and other plant-inspired motifs."

Are the sewers just as important as the piece?
- absolutely placement is key, like the environmental artist movement (Andy Goldsworthy, Christo, etc) graffiti artists understand the importance of the environment as the site for their work. I think Zezão is a special case in this and I believe his outside "installations" are just as important or valuable as artistic work as traditional "installations" in gallery spaces.

Thanks Tristan appreciate that. Always dug his style but wondered if there was anything deeper to it.