Exhibition

An experimental journey into the world of TONES, an invitation to ride with him, with style and flow, to celebrate a quest for movement as well as the dynamism of letters and the artistic movement of Graffiti in its entirety.

“Roll With Me” is the story of a teenager who starts skating in the city and ends up traveling the world, getting lost in his passion for Graffiti to find his way. A perpetual quest for style that ultimately resembles a quest for oneself…

It all began in 1995 with TONES’ first steps/contacts with urban cultures. He then discovered skateboarding, which, more than just a wooden board, became his new passion! With a group of friends, he explored Corsier and the surrounding areas until the end of the bus E line at Hermance, where they improvised skateparks. Skateboarding led him to discover a space previously unexplored: the city.

Along the way, TONES encountered other communities, notably the graffiti artists. He then swapped his skateboard for spray cans. It was 2000, and he now traveled the city by scooter, placing his first graffiti pieces in every corner of the canton. No lettering, just characters, which he signed “TOONS”. This new form of expression provided him with a different perspective on the city, turning it into a new playground… a forbidden playground.

In search of space to convey his art, TONES improvised his style and transformed vacant lots and other construction sites in Geneva into open-air expression spaces. This play with the forbidden, from this initial creative period, has greatly influenced the artist’s painting over time: there is a contrast between the raw construction colors and his creations, establishing a dialogue between his art and the environment. The bold codes of Graffiti blend with those of the city.

In 2003, TONES made a decisive encounter with the old-school graffiti artist Rey, a Swiss graffiti legend. Under his wing, TONES rediscovered this art from the perspective of letters and learned the coded language of American wildstyles. He swapped an “O” for an “E” and became “TONES” — the tones of colors in English.

This artistic stimulation and encounter accelerated his trajectory and opened the doors to a magical world, the Mecca of Hip Hop: New York! From this immersion, the artist developed a strong relationship with Graffiti that led him to experience unforgettable and crazy moments, joining a global community embraced by Graffiti…

With this exhibition, TONES retraces the birth of his art — Graffiti — and that of the Hip Hop movement in its entirety: an art created by dreaming kids from New York that, fifty years later, has become the art of the century.

Biography
TONES, immersed in the Graffiti scene, was born in Geneva, Switzerland. He grew up as a writer within the EDK & DVS team, directly inspired by traditional New York style.
A funky letter technician & dedicated disciple of style, his specialty is making his letters dance. All of this through connections, funk, and flow while respecting New York’s classic codes.
TONES initially drew inspiration from his team’s housemates and New York graffiti legends such as Skeme, West, Doze, etc. His style has evolved over time and through encounters with major figures in the field, notably during several international trips and participation in graffiti festivals — in Europe, the United States, and Asia. His approach to graffiti has led him to primarily express himself in the streets, following the underground spirit of this art. However, he has participated in several gallery exhibitions over the past six years.

Recent Exhibitions
– 2022. Roll With Me, Le Floris, Geneva, Switzerland
– 2020. International Graffiti Block Party Festival, Strasbourg, France
– International Graffiti Meeting of Styles Festival, Pattaya, Thailand
– 2019. Live Painting, SIG “Smile City”, Geneva, Switzerland
– International Graffiti Mural Master Festival, Seattle, USA
– International Urban Culture “NL Contest” Festival, Strasbourg, France
– International Urban Art Festival “FARA”, Assinie, Ivory Coast