Meet Dodo_Urbain aka. Urban Naps | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dodo_Urbain aka. Urban Naps and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dodo_Urbain, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
What was your thought process behind the Dodo_Urbain (Urban Naps) project?
The project was first conceptualized in 2021. I asked myself how I could leverage my artistic practice to highlight the ongoing struggles of marginalized populations and the increasing issue of homelessness in our city’s landscapes. Dodo_Urbain (Urban Naps) is a direct response to the social issue and seeks to disrupt normative processes.

In a patriarchal society built through colonization, public spaces have seized to exist. The street is no longer a public space, but an administrative one, regulated and monitored by municipal and state authorities where the collective good of cities is increasingly ignored and replaced by commercial interests that favour the privatization of public space where marginalized people, the most vulnerable people of our society are the most affected.

The pasted life size figure of the anonymous person sleeping requires the viewer to bear witness and question the presence of whom would usually fade in the background. Every spot that I choose to paste is a response and testimonial of the presence of our unhoused neighbours and their part of our urban landscape. The site specific street pasting project, Dodo_Urbain (Urban Naps), seeks to deconstruct the illusion of neutrality in public places to reveal the dehumanization and misery that maintains them. Although the pasting will inevitably be painted over or ripped off, we can no longer hide the truth of the fleeting presence of our houseless neighbours living among us but treated as ghosts.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Whats one thing outsiders are probably unaware of ?

Since most of the Dodo_Urbain (Urban Naps) project takes place outside in the street I thought it would be interesting to dive into how street art\graffiti reveals to us the illusion of of neutrality in public places.

What we call “public space” is actually more of an administrative space, regulated and monitored by municipal and state authorities. Our contemporary urban cities have been saturated with countless advertisements, so much, that we barely even perceive their cognitive effects on us anymore. In other words, what has been called “public space” is actually quite segmented and controlled.

For example, I’m sure many of you have noticed those park benches with the bars going across the middle, disguised as arms rests, when really they were placed there to prevent people from laying down. One of the pictures included in this article shows us a more discrete form of “hostile architecture” where the design of raising wood pieces along the bench prevents anyone from laying down. At first glance you probably wouldn’t even notice this “seamless” design that in reality is inherently violent as it fosters social exclusion.

Risk taking: how do you think about risk, what role has taking risks played in your life/career?

“You miss one hundred percent of the shots you don’t take” – Wayne Gretzky.

As a graffiti writer, street artist, and adrenaline junkie, I don’t struggle with putting myself in situations others may fear. I don’t think the risks themselves are the issue most people face, but rather fear, worry or docile submission to ones comfort zone. Since most of the Dodo_Urbain (Urban Naps) project takes place and is showcased in the streets, I really have to be vigilant and hyper aware of my surroundings when pasting.

Part of the meaning behind “keeping watch’’ is essentially to trust your gut to call the shot wether your being vigilant by yourself, or have a partner scouting for you when vandalizing. Being able to trust your intuition in regards to staying safe from potential threat of danger, police or snitches is crucial to the practice. I think this aspect of “keeping watch” in street art/graffiti culture correlates to when one intends to take a risk, one becomes willing to put themselves in a situation that may compromise their security knowing that they can trust their internal compass to take the lead and inform them of these risks whether it is a cue to stop, step out, let go or run! (LOL)

It’s less about controlling the outcome but instead surrendering to the situation and trusting oneself to be able to navigate it.

Other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?

I’d say these three things have very much contributed to my success;

1. Meditating and stretching every day. Whether it’s for just a few minutes or half an hour, it’s important to consistently engage in practices that calm down the nervous system.
2. The acronym FEAR. False. Evidence. Appearing. Real.
3. Lastly, courageously charging towards reaching your goals and dreams even when others are in doubt or think you’re crazy.

What is the most important factor behind your success / the success of your brand?

I believe success lies in believing in one’s vision, to the point where you do not need external validation to keep going. Consistency and discipline are essential to one’s self motivation. At the end of the day each one of us holds the power of our own free will to actualize what we internally feel drawn to create and share with the world around us. I believe it is our own duty to bring the ideas that captivate us to life, whether there are people to support our vision or not.

Do you have a favorite quote or affirmation? What does it mean to you / what do you like about it?

The masters tools will never dismantle the masters house – Audre Lorde

This quotes resonates with me and with the intentions behind the Dodo_Urbain (Urban Naps) project as even though I would like to embrace history as a possibility, we have to acknowledge that the ones who built our society cannot be removed from their dominant position by using the tools upon which they built it. In other words todays problems cannot be solved by the same methods that created them.

Why did you pursue an artistic or creative career?

Art’s greatest potential is to transmute consciousness. If art mimics life and life mimics art, then anything can become a work of art, it’s just a matter of intention. We are all gifted with the richness of our imagination, it’s just a matter of transcending one’s idea into form. Personally I have always been drawn to imagery and the effects different symbols have on our conscious and subconscious minds. This is why I chose to live the life of an artist.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love going to the fashion district

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My best friends for endless support in my creative vision.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dodo_urbain/

Image Credits
Image credits: @dodo_urbain

Last two photos: @wall2wallmtl