COPE2 (Filipino, b. 1988)
A master of throw-up and wild-style pieces, COPE2’s journey in the graffiti world began in the 1970s. His inspiration was sparked while travelling on the train with his family, mesmerised by New York’s aesthetic landscape. Discovering that his cousin, Chico, was a graffiti artist opened a new world for him. As he started meeting other graffiti artists in his neighbourhood, his passion for the art form ignited, setting him on the path to legendary status.
At night, COPE2 would bomb his tag in spray paint across the slumbering iron horses of the subway, transforming them from mere vessels of transport into moving masterpieces of graffiti, a gallery which in the morning travelled through New York’s veins, viewed by thousands. In 1982, he formed ‘Kids Destroyer,’ which later evolved into ‘King’s Destroyer‘ as they transitioned from teenagers to adults, becoming a prolific graffiti crew known for, as their name implies, destroying surfaces with tags, bombs, and wild styles.
After conquering the streets, COPE2, like many graffiti artists, ventured onto canvas and gallery walls, travelling the world and collaborating with brands like Adidas. Yet, his rise from the canvas of the streets to international acclaim wasn’t without hurdles. Over the years, COPE2 has faced controversy and legal challenges regarding his public expressions, which are often viewed as vandalism by authorities. This duality of acclaim and legal challenge underscores graffiti‘s complex position in society.
