Thanks to Tracy from Boojum&Snark for sharing this latest news from Sandown, the shortlisted UK Town of Culture entrant. Ed
If you’re a resident of Sandown, you can’t help but notice the humorous and thought-provoking graffiti popping up around town with subjects ranging from Wet Leg’s Rhian Teasdale proudly wearing her “I London Sandown” T-shirt to Edward Scissorhands.
These are the creations of Sten Wash or, to give him his full title, Sir Stencil Washington. Now Sten has added the enigmatic Sandown Clown to his outside gallery, sprayed in all colours on the side of a building – with the owner’s permission, of course.
We caught up with Sten and posed a few questions …
Was art something you were good at in school, or did you only discover your visual voice later?
I’d love to lie and tell you I’ve always been a natural artist. I did art at school, but couldn’t draw a bowl of fruit to save my life. It’s always interested me, I’d read and watch documentaries on certain artists and I dabbled here and there but the real passion and drive came much later in life. I recommend watching Exit Through the Gift Shop and Downtown 81.
Graffiti often toes a thin line between vandalism and public art. Where do you feel your own spray-paint-practice lies, and why?
I’ve always viewed it as public art. Who doesn’t enjoy viewing and trying to interpret art? I think it really depends on what you’re painting and where you’re painting it. If I was going around Sandown spraying penises on shop fronts, I’d class that as vandalism.
Your subject matter often features outsiders and cult figures, from Edward Scissorhands and Ian Beale to Rhian Teasdale. What draws you to these kinds of characters?
The art style I’m mainly interested in has always been pop art, so I’m always looking to use pop cultural references. I pick my favourite movies or artists and go from there. Not everyone will understand my paintings, but if you do, you’re gonna smile and maybe take a picture.
Your work feels inextricably linked to Sandown, like Jules Winnfield from Pulp Fiction declaring, ‘Say Sandown again. I dare you.’ Why has the town become such a constant anchor for what you create?
I’ve lived in Sandown my whole life. It’s home. It’s a beautiful location that’s been forgotten about. Look at old pictures of the Ocean Hotel. King’s House was my favourite pub. Today’s Sandown is improving, but there’s still a lot of boarded-up former establishments, which kind of makes it a sprayers’ dream town!
You’ve recently added the Sandown Clown to your repertoire, depicting him in a coat of many colours like a vagabond street prophet. What drew you to ‘All Colours Sam’?
Sam drew himself to me in a dream. No, seriously, I’ve always had an interest in supernatural, unexplained phenomena. My mate got me onto Sam a few years ago. I didn’t believe him until I looked it up. He’s a pretty big deal. I wanted to give our Sam some fresh clothes. I drew inspiration from late Victorian travelling fairs and pierrot performers, which Sandown would’ve been full of 130 years ago. He’s Sandown’s unofficial mascot.
Sandown’s identity as a creative hub is really growing, between the opening of GRAFT Studios and the momentum building around the UK Town of Culture 2028 bid. How do you see creativity helping the town evolve?
Art, local studios and events bring people together and give them something to remember. You don’t have to be able to draw to be called an artist. Creativity is free. It costs nothing to have an idea. A good idea can completely change how people experience a place. If more people are encouraged to create and share their work, I think that can only be a positive thing for Sandown. Hopefully Sandown becomes known for its creativity as much as its history.
Sandown being shortlisted for UK Town of Cultbooure 2028 definitely raised a few eyebrows. What’s your reaction to the news?
We’ve done so well to make the shortlist which makes me think there must be a reason why Sandown’s made it there. We have potential. If we’re going to go any further, it’s going to take everyone getting behind the campaign; we all have to be in it to win it. If you haven’t got anything nice to say, don’t bother. We need to be proud of Sandown. We take the beaches for granted. We’re so lucky to live here. Stop littering, give Kenny a day off.
Without giving away your next wall, what kind of themes or figures do you want to tackle next?
I’ve got a Vincent from Pulp Fiction locked and loaded. I’ll keep finding things that interest and inspire me and try to create something, most probably Sandown-related. Even just changing a word from a famous movie line to Sandown can be childishly funny.
You can see Sten’s Sandown Clown on Albion Road. Tag your pictures #Sam2028
Follow Sten on Instagram, Facebook or visit his website.
