Graffiti Obsession and Mission

My journey as an artist has been a colorful evolution that began at the tender age of two, drawing trucks with unwavering dedication. With time, my creative horizons expanded in high school, where I transitioned to logos like Independent and Xen.

As the years went by, I delved into drawing 3D cars and women. My father played a pivotal role by gifting me inks and encouraging me to fill canvases without leaving a hint of white.

The ink ran in my family, with my grandfather's art, especially a remarkable piece featuring an echidna on a skateboard, serving as a profound source of inspiration. Sadly, he took his own life.

It was my cousin, Ebony, who introduced me to the world of graffiti letters during my time in Narangba, Australia. While Ebony herself wasn't a prolific artist, her sister, Rebecca, excelled in the realm of cartoons. Ebony's connection to a tagger introduced me to the art form, and it was beneath a paper bark tree where I coined my tag name.

That day marked the introduction to rap and the beginning of my lifelong obsession with graffiti. The tag "Beras" became my identity, finding its way into school books, bus shelters, and school toilets around 2001.

Fast forward to 2006, when I watched "Dogtown and Z-Boys" with friends Josh and Mitch, sparking the idea to create a skate crew with boards reminiscent of the film. My "JMJ" logo, a love heart with limbs spelling out Josh, Mitch, Josh, adorned the town, with stencils to help spread the message.

Chasing our passion wasn't without its challenges and close calls, but it was during this time that I adopted my tag, "Menu," and ventured into other creative pursuits, including a short-lived vegan crew.

What endured was my insatiable hunger for self-expression through graffiti.

In 2007, my uncle's return from an Indian pilgrimage marked a turning point. He introduced my family to Hare Krishna food and the culture rooted in the Vedas, meaning "truth." It was then that I decided to change my tag to "Vedas" to help spread this message.

The city of Brisbane became my canvas, and I painted "Vedas" relentlessly, gaining notoriety and attracting police attention. My journey led me to join the Hare Krishna movement, embracing a monastic lifestyle of book distribution and street preaching.

However, the urge to express myself through graffiti never faded. My path led me to Melbourne, a graffiti paradise. I found creative ways to continue my craft, even using the temple's resources for wheat pasting and exploring new avenues for artistic engagement.

After four years as a somewhat rebellious monk, I ventured out on my own. I continued my spiritual practice and began doing graffiti workshops and murals for a living. Later, I married and moved to New Zealand, where I resurrected the "JMJ" symbol as "Love Heart Man," promoting self-love.

My journey took another turn with international artists contributing Krsna sketches for a book I was working on. Even through life's ups and downs, my passion for graffiti and spreading Krsna consciousness persisted.

Now, as a father, my responsibilities have grown, and I've taken a step back from the relentless bombing. Yet, graffiti remains an integral part of my identity, an art form etched into my being for over two decades.

I've come to realize that graffiti is more than just an artistic pursuit; it's a service to the Sankirtan movement, a mission bestowed upon me by my guru. Today, my purpose is to create canvases and murals that inspire others to embrace Krsna consciousness. Not only does this passion fuel my spirit, but it also sustains our livelihood.

As I prepare to jam my studio wall with a fellow graffiti artist, I'm reminded that my artistic journey is not just about self-expression, but about leaving an indelible mark on the world – one that promotes love, consciousness, and spiritual awakening

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Hare Krishna