Works on metal by Kofie & Codak at Ronin Gallery, Los Angeles,CA
Written By: Kevin Ocubillo
I caught up with Codak and Kofie on an overcast day in LA. They were gearing up for their show at 1924 Echo Park, better known as Ronin Gallery. Metallum represents the first time L.A. graff native Kofie and Codak showcase their work in collaboration. Together they’ve produced a unique collection of pieces, 1-shot rustoleum, enamel paints recovered from various garages and discontinued spray paint applied on metal surface are the main mediums of the show. Kofie and Codak used found metal objects- file boxes, old spray cans and rusty street signs- and painted them. Both Kofie and Codak are artists known for their unique abstractions of architectural pattern and design. I got to witness this first hand when I interviewed them as they worked on the wall installation for Metallum. Kofie’s work reads like a familiar blueprint and Codak‘s evokes a highly advanced organic quality. The end result is an interesting dialogue manifested in line, shade, paint and metal.
There’s an evolutionary emotion that Kofie and Codak elicit from their work that makes using metal an interesting juxtaposition. Metal is interesting because of its relatively long life compared to its relatively limited use. Metal is often forged into some object that has a single, specific use. It is hopelessly designed to serve that one function, say as a garage door, or toolbox or spray can. After the last drop of paint has been sprayed out of a spray can it can never be used again for anything else unless it is melted down and made into some other thing. The point is, metal objects, like old clunky toolboxes or off set type drawers are rarely reappropriated. There’s such a proliferation of unused metal, why not salvage some pieces and paint them? That’s what Kofie and Codak figured anyway. “Both of our works are highly derivative of design, architecture and environment. So it seems natural to do a collaboration utilizing our various techniques and design based styles on metal surface.”
This definitely is not the first time either artist has painted on metal. Kofie periodically laces huge industrial rolo doors that shopkeepers use with his signature style. He’s also been painting found metal, the insides and outsides of old toolboxes and such that have utility. “They fall under cute,” at least that’s what he told me. “People use them (the painted metal boxes) for all sorts of stuff. Mostly to keep special items in.” Kofie’s boxes have been on display in shows before, Metallum is different because they will be a main part of the exhibition.
Codak has also been known to incorporate metal in his pieces, partly because of his affinity for found and discarded objects. “When I lived in Memphis, the environment lent itself to weathering all kinds of materials on building and especially in abandoned warehouses. I spent a lot of time rummaging through these places looking for rusted metal sheets, objects, that kind of stuff.” He’s been working with metal for about ten years. When Kofie stumbled into the old Japanese print shop that was closing in his then neighborhood (Boyle Heights), materials were abounding. Vintage paper stock, light tables, and fully functional printing machines were seemingly theirs for the taking. Kofie called Codak, Codak showed up and the idea of throwing a show inevitably came up. “I was extremely excited when Kofie invited me to look through this Japanese print shop. I’ve always been attracted to using highly textured surfaces and even if I was painting on canvas or boards, the goal was to first texturize the background. So when I moved to Los Angeles I found myself with a void where there was once this abundance of weathered materials. Finding all these sheets of off-set type shelves was a dream come true.” Some would call the closing of the old independent Japanese print shop a sign of the times. Boyle Heights was once home to one of the largest Japanese American populations. Only a handful of businesses remain from this era, one less now that the print shop closed down. Unfortunate? How about fortuitous. Kofie likes to call the “catalyst.” The show is called Metallum
About the artists:
CODAK
Codak was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma, grew up in Portland and has been living up and down the West Coast before Los Angeles. He began with spray paint and used to write under the alias ‘Zodak’ during his days in San Diego. Eventually Zodak turned into ‘Codak’ which comes from his fascination with the transient nature of graffiti, or rather our attempts to capture it with film. Stylistically, Codak has evolved to incorporate stronger design oriented thinking. “Shows are important to do,” he says, “because they push your philosophy, they push yourself to think, critically.”
Check more out at www.under-developed.com
KOFIE
Born and raised right here in Los Angeles, it is hard to talk about who’s pushing LA graffiti without mentioning Augustine Kofie. Prolific would be a euphemism for the calculating, meticulous way in which Kofie approaches art. Primarily self taught, Kofie is at the forefront of abstractionism in Los Angeles. He aims to work the abstract into graffiti. “Europe has been more advanced when it comes to conceptualizing. We got to add to it.” Kofie would like to see more dialogue amongst artists. “Our creative energy needs movement, flow and layering.” get more Kofie at keepdrafting.com
