We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ruben / #TAG Karapetyan. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ruben / #TAG below.
Ruben / #TAG, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
My parents have played a significant role in shaping who I am today. I remember how, from a young age, they introduced me to art and exposed me to various creative experiences.
When I began sharing my creative work with the public, I couldn’t help but wonder how my parents would react, even though I didn’t dwell on it much.
Over time, I noticed that my parents started sharing my work on social media and proudly talking about me to others. This brought me great joy because it felt like I was giving back a small part of all the support and belief they had invested in my development.
I want to share a story about how I got into the design world and, later, street art. I’m a sports fan, especially basketball. While watching an NBA game with my dad, I noticed the team logo on the court. At that time, I was unsure about my life’s direction and felt confused.
I was captivated by the logo’s beautiful design, and my dad noticed my interest. He smiled and told me that I could also create logos and other designs if I had the desire to learn and the passion for it.
His words were encouraging and gave me the initial push to take the first step. This eventually led to my acceptance into a design school, where I began studying design, which paved the way for me to enter the world of street art.
To this day, I am thankful for that conversation and all the support I received from my parents. Without them, my journey would have been much more challenging, perhaps even nearly impossible.
Ruben / #TAG, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m Ruben, aka #TAG, a Tel Aviv-based 39-year-old artist and creator. I embarked on my journey in street art around eight years ago. Street art has always held a special place in my heart because it represents a form of art without boundaries or censorship, free from curators, allowing anyone to share their message in public spaces.
What particularly drew me in were street art pieces with meaningful messages. I was continually fascinated by how these messages could be creatively presented in public spaces. After observing many such works, I realized that I, too, wanted to convey my messages through street art. I had a lot to say, but I wasn’t sure how to go about it. However, one thing was clear from the outset: my works would carry a message, often infused with humor, but, above all, designed to provoke thought. I wanted the message to be straightforward and understandable yet not overly simplistic.
This led to the guiding motto of my artistic journey: “Provoking thought one artwork at a time.”
As well as conveying messages through my works, I explore a visual fusion of classic art from the past and technological symbols of today. Facebook, Twitter, and Amazon, along with figures like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Kim Kardashian, have seamlessly blended into the world of classical imagery, creating a new reality.
I firmly believe that history repeats itself, and the process of merging the past with the present continues to captivate me, demonstrating how it’s possible to reinterpret works, adapting them to our times while preserving their original narratives.
At the beginning of my journey, I undertook one of my main projects, which I am still proud of to this day: the creation of a street museum. The essence of this project was to establish a street museum within the neighborhood, featuring as many works as possible in close proximity, creating a museum-like atmosphere. I dedicated three years to this project, and at its peak, there were approximately fifty artworks within the neighborhood. The street museum gained more exposure than I initially anticipated, attracting thousands of visitors, both tourists and locals.
Today, I continue to create art. In addition to two-dimensional works, I have ventured into the dimensions of video art and installations, with the primary challenge being to explore art in new places and continuously reinvent myself as an artist.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
This is an good question, and I will attempt to answer it comprehensively. A creative individual often possesses the ability to perceive aspects of a puzzle that may elude those who lack creativity. They have a unique vision and a distinct path that is not always easily understandable to most people. Non-creative individuals who do not always grasp the whole picture may struggle to understand or appreciate the journey and ultimate goal the creative person is pursuing. Over time, the support for a creative person with a vision can dwindle, and in some cases, detractors may attempt to divert them from their intended goal.
It’s crucial for a creative person with a vision and a specific goal to remember that the creative force within them holds significant power. Such individuals consistently see the puzzle pieces that others may overlook, as mentioned earlier. They can adapt and change their course to achieve their desired objective. Furthermore, it’s crucial to pause and listen to those who may not share the same enthusiasm for their vision.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I believe being an artist involves passion, vision, exploration and expression, and an enduring quest, even when it’s not always easy. My experience as an artist has taught me that being an artist comes with both blessings and challenges. It comes with numerous challenges to overcome.
An artist grapples with doubts that surface each time, necessitating reinvention and perpetual pursuit of something novel to maintain a sense of “hunger.”
On the flip side, every artistic evolution feels like a rebirth into a refined and more contemporary iteration.
Being an artist entails an ongoing cycle of seeking insights, drawing conclusions, and embarking on a fresh cycle. Most importantly, being an artist means residing, for the most part, with the inner fire that propels us forward toward uncharted territories and new challenges, ensuring that we remain alive and engaged.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tagstreetart.com/
- Instagram: @tagstreetart