Not too long ago we had a meeting with Kept One, a controversial
graffiti artist from the Bay Area, United States. He began writing in 1990 and is
known for his style innovations. A good conversation and many
refreshing ideas followed, however, time was short. We are working on
a number of projects and one of them is to release a photo print. And
not just any photo. It's a photo of the legendary TIE ONE (Seo / Shae
/ His / Jonathan Lim). Kept took this spontaneous portrait of TIE,
South of Market in San Francisco, the week prior to his murder in
March, 1998.
On March 18th, 1998, TIE was shot on the fire escape of a residential
building in the San Francisco Tenderloin, and died on the street
below; the district attorney didn't press charges against the shooter,
who said that he shot in self-defense as TIE grabbed at his gun. A
woman in a parking lot below told police she heard TIE yell, "Wait
man, hold on!" The resident disputed this account. His bicycle was on
the street below. He was carrying a bag containing a spray can.
This photo print is a tribute to his close friend TIE.
Kept remembers the day well: "I ran into MQ and TIE while walking –
smoking weed and coffees in hand – around 10:30 am to check out some
of Jonathan's new spots. We asked him to get in the photo and he
quickly grabbed that piece of cardboard to 'censor' his face. More
than 2 decades have passed since Jonathan was killed and I still think
about him all the time. His murder was like an atom bomb in the SF
scene. Respect to all who knew and loved him and to all the new
generation that are inspired by him."
This silver gelatin photo print is made in an edition of 25 copies,
all produced and signed by Kept. What is a silver gelatin print? A
silver gelatin print is a black and white image exposed from an
analogue film negative using only traditional darkroom, optical and
chemical processes. The process produces an image with deep blacks,
and a lustre from the actual silver particles in the paper. Each is
made by hand and only 25 exist.
This is a serious fine art photo print. A tribute to TIE / Jonathan Lim
and a piece of graffiti history.
Instagram: Kept One
Silver gelatin photo print
on Ilford fiber paper
11 x 14 inch / 27,9 x 35,6 cm
Signed on reverse by Kept One
Edition of 25
Kept 2022
Price: 350 Euro