{"id":36491,"date":"2025-08-01T07:48:33","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T05:48:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/?p=36491"},"modified":"2025-08-01T07:48:33","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T05:48:33","slug":"keso-in-sweden-notable-anti-style","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/en\/2025\/08\/keso-in-sweden-notable-anti-style\/","title":{"rendered":"KESO in Sweden: Notable Anti\u00a0Style"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201e I have always painted strange\/funny letters and didn’t fit in any specific style\u201c<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Hello KESO, I heard you are based in G\u00f6teborg, Sweden. Did you grow up there or somewhere else? Since when do you live there?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was born in G\u00f6teborg in 1982 and spent my childhood here. After that I have lived in different places and moved back here in 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How is life over there?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Life is good, nowadays, I live a quiet family life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Can you tell us something about your childhood? What were you interested in?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My childhood was good and one of my early interests was drawing and music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Did you read comics at that time? Anything that inspired you? Did you draw as a child? What did you do after school? Any studies?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I read comics but was more into cartoon TV shows like Turtles<\/em> and Hanna-Barbera<\/em>. Today I still like to draw cartoon characters from that era. I studied as little as possible and hung around with friends on the streets instead and listened to music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When and how did you discover graffiti writing?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I was around 12 years old I discovered graffiti through hip hop music. I started to draw a lot of sketches and began tagging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SYKOS, G\u00f6teborg, 1998 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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BUBA, Landvetter, 2016 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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BUBA, Landvetter, 2016 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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LAD, G\u00f6teborg, 2016 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Does music play an important role in your life? Are you doing music yourself?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes it does, I listen to dancehall, reggae and jungle. Reggae music has always been a big part of my life. I don’t make music myself, but I had a sound system, and played some records in clubs when I was younger. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When did you start yourself and with which name(s)? Since when do you call yourself KESO?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I started to paint around 1997 when I was 15 years old. My first pieces were with the name HERB. Shortly after I changed to BUBA. I took a break from painting\/graffiti between 2002-2016. I changed it to KESO in 2017 when I needed a fresh start and began to paint more abstract pieces. That was when I discovered trash, Anti Style and abstract graffiti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why did you stop for so many years?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At that time I didn’t hang out with people who painted, and it didn’t fit in my lifestyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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KESO means cheese, right? Why did you choose that funny name?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Sweden, we have a brand for cottage cheese called Keso. I have loved it since I was a child and still do, that’s why I chose that name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Did any particular graffiti writers inspire you at that time? And did you connect with the local scene?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At that time I was inspired by Bates and local writers like Slav, Rubin, Mouse. I guess I was more connected to the local scene back then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Were you part of any crews? Like RBC?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, the Rude Boys Crew is just me and an old friend from when I first started graffiti. Today, I’m in the crews OKNO, ART forum and 0%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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KESO, Landvetter, 2017 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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KESO, G\u00f6teborg, 2017 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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KESO, Lerum, 2018 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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KESO, Bohusl\u00e4n, 2019 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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KESO, G\u00f6teborg, 2019 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Which style did you paint in the beginning?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have always painted strange\/funny letters and didn’t fit in any specific style at the moment. It was all graffiti back then and there wasn\u2019t much talk about different styles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When did you start to paint figuration with motifs like chairs, furniture, objects, and why in particular those everyday objects?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I always liked to draw everyday objects, especially chairs and a couple of years ago I started to paint it on walls. I like old, antique and vintage objects and I love to attend second-hand and flea markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You also paint more abstract works in a biomorphic style with intertwined forms. How did you evolve toward this style? Are letters still a base\/reference?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The letters became more and more strange and transformed into these shapes. A lot of times there are still letters but mostly only I can see it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The letters KESO or others?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mostly KESO but also crew names.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Do you see your style as an Anti Style?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I just like to paint the things I love and for me, it is not so important to call my style a special name. But I think Anti Style is a good name for styles that break the traditional graffiti rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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KESO, Halmstad, 2020 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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KESO, G\u00f6teborg, 2021 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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KESO, Landvetter, 2020 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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KESO, Bohusl\u00e4n, 2020 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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KESO, Bohusl\u00e4n, 2022 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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How often do you create works outdoors? Do you go paint alone or with others?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I try to do it as often as I can, 1 to 2 times a week if I have the time and if the weather is okay. I often paint alone but sometimes with friends or visitors from around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What techniques do you use on walls?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I mix my painting with spray paint and wall paint. Sometimes I use spray cans and sometimes brushes or both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Do you improvise on the surface? Or do you have an idea in mind before going? Or even a sketch?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mostly I improvise but some days I don’t have the right mindset, so I always have a bunch of sketches in my painting bag. But mostly I have no idea what the piece is going to look like when I start and just improvise along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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KESO, G\u00f6teborg, 2021 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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KESO, G\u00f6teborg, 2022 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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KESO, G\u00f6teborg, 2023 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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KESO, G\u00f6teborg, 2023 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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KESO, G\u00f6teborg, 2023 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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KESO, G\u00f6teborg, 2023 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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KESO, G\u00f6teborg, 2023 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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KESO, G\u00f6teborg, 2023 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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KESO, Landvetter, 2023 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Is sketching important to you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I love to sketch whenever there’s a paper in front of me, this is something I do every day on a regular basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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KESO, Untitled, Markers on stickersheet, 2022, A4 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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KESO, Untitled, Markers on stickersheet, 2023, A4 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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How do you choose your colour palette on walls and how to do you proceed?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I never plan colour schemes, I choose the colour palette spontaneously while I paint. I only use the cheapest paint I can get my hands on and paint with the colours I have at the moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Do you see and name your wall paintings still as pieces?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, I still see them as pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Besides your colourful drawings\/sketches, do you create other studio works?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No, the works I create are outdoor walls and occasionally some sticker sheets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How would you describe your own artistic development?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I always try to dvevelop new styles to evolve my pieces. I don’t want to create the same sketch over and over again. I like to make pieces that look different but still look like a KESO painting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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KESO, M\u00f6lndal, 2024 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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KESO, G\u00f6teborg, 2024 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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KESO, Bohusl\u00e4n, 2025 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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KESO, G\u00f6teborg, 2025 \u00a9KESO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Are there any modern or contemporary painters that you like and inspire you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not a specific artist but I enjoy attending art shows and museums. I can get equally inspired by everyday life, a famous painter or a kids colouring book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You created the Instagram account Graffiti Lobster to share works by many graffiti writers worldwide. When did you start, and what was your motivation behind?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I started Graffiti Lobster around 2016, I wanted to create a space to showcase different styles of abstract graffiti. I began Anti-Stylers shortly after \u2013 for more letter based trash\/Anti-Style graffiti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Can you describe us a bit the possibilities for artists rooted in graffiti writing to show their work in Sweden? Are there institutions or spaces you recommend?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have never shown my work in that way, I only paint walls for myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thank you KESO for your time and the pictures!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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instagram.com\/keso_rbc<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201e I have always painted strange\/funny letters and didn’t fit in any specific style\u201c Hello KESO, I heard you are based in G\u00f6teborg, Sweden. Did you grow up there or somewhere else? Since when do you live there? I was born in G\u00f6teborg in 1982 and spent my childhood here. After that I have lived […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":36553,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[91,1259,3268],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36491","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kunstler-crew","category-highlights","category-interviews"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36491","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36491"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36491\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36553"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36491"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36491"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urbanpresents.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36491"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}