Online portfolio and blog by graffiti artist Chu

I can remember thinking about this when I used to see the security at the Eclipse in Coventry. I’d been asked by the promoter of ‘Splosh!’ to paint the back wall in the chill-out room for his market stall selling poppers mainly (bought from Blackpool in truckloads). That was an experience - I think it was also at this time I decided to paint instead of dancing. Not like I was a dancer, but them lickle Garys were like portable black holes. From around 300 writers in Walsall borough, there were around 6 active and 8 ‘trainees’ through the Walsall Youth Arts programme.

I’m drifting slightly.

So, the security staff at the Eclipse were kind of ‘notorious’, and when I saw the writing on their back, it sparked an anti-authoritarian bonfire.

Fast forward thirteen years and I’m sitting on a bus, on the way to finish the poster and graphics for Santas Ghetto 2003 on Carnaby Street. I’m passing an accident on the Kinglsland Road and I remark about the tape, out loud.

"That’s a tick" was the reply.

About 3 weeks later there were 1200 rolls of the stuff, and it was sold as my contribution to the ‘Santas Ghetto’ that year, for only a fiver, together with perrrrrrrrlenty of ‘Your Mum Rang’s too (and the ‘Collecting Sh*t’ piece).

The piece was credited to ‘Banksy & Chu’ as P.O.W. had put up the money to manufacture the initial stock.

It was on the product pages from ‘Pictures On Walls’ website and also available at the following year’s Santas Ghetto on Charing Cross Road, 2004. Apparently they flew out the window.

Anybody fancy a roll? It’d make really nice wrapping paper…