ZEVS was an early and influential graffiti artist and active as a tagger in Paris in the 1990’s. He is named after a regional train, Zeus, that almost ran him over one day he was down in the metro. Working with other French names of the second half of the 1990’s like André and Invader, Zevs has been among the prominent figures who pioneered the French street art scene.
By the end of the 90’s he became known for his poetic drawings of shadows in Paris. Later he ‘bombed’ models on the billboards between the eyes. Though his interventions have been very popular, it has been discussed in France whether it is vandalism or art.
In 2002 he cut out a model of a gigantic Lavazza-poster at Alexanderplatz in Berlin. Above the hole in the poster he wrote: “VISUAL KIDNAPPING – PAY NOW!” This intervention not only struck a chord with art lovers and people in Berlin, it has also inspired political activists. Stealing an image from a poster in Germany is now spoken of in the media as a visual kidnapping.

In his current exhibition, Zevs makes an artisic impression, “re-working” brand logos like Chanel’s and Louis’. The dripping pieces were created on lacquer, the traditional Chinese way, in collaboration with a local craftsmen. In addition to the logo work, he has also made a series of ceramics and paintings on metal.

Art Statements Gallery, 5 Mee Lun Street, Hong Kong, 011 852 2122 9657, Mon-Fri 11am-7pm, Sat 11-6, thru Sept 30, www.artstatements.com