YANN L’OUTSIDER
L’outsider was born in Bretagne, where he lives and works today. He discovered graffiti in
2001, at the age of 17. His studies at the École Bulle brought him to Paris, where he met
new graffiti artists and with them formed the crew FD. From the very beginning,
L’outsider was fascinated and enthusiastic by the freedom and energy of the graffiti
practice in the urban space. Although he suffered from acute dyslexia, he worked
persistently with the letters and words. With his crew he sprayed a lot in Parisian metro
stations. They orientated themselves on the traditional graffiti style which was mainly
known from the States. The pioneers of American graffiti, like Futura2000 and Dondi
White were his first artistic role models. Gradually he developed an individual creative
practice that was shaped by architecture, graphic design and contemporary art. His
inspiration has been expanded by creative expressions of foreign cultures that fascinated
him throughout his life. His journey to Ndebele (South Africa) led him to incorporate
ethnic imagery and ancient pictorial patterns. During his journey through Japan, he also
included their aesthetic foundations, from ancient calligraphic tradition to pop culture, in
his repertoire.
Eventually, his work shifted from the „outside“ space to the „inside“ space. Working in
the studio and producing canvases opened the door to the gallery and art world. This
resulted in exhibitions in Paris, Zurich, Weil am Rhein and other European cities.
Nevertheless, he always continues to the practice in the urban space, which is mostly
based on spontaneity, intuition and site specificity.
Text © YANN L’OUTSIDER