Kicking off the first feature of Stamp Magazine is Graffiti Artist, Painter and Musician Silva. Creating under the alias Silva Paints (she/they) this multi-creative has been working on creative projects for the last three years. Since 2022 they have been travelling and working remotely around the globe, currently residing in the Dominican Republic, she will be heading to Ecuador next but hopes to end up back in Glasgow someday.
Have you always been creative? Was painting always something you were interested in?
I’ve always been invested in developing new skill sets, mostly creative ones. I guess I’ve been experimenting with forms of self-expression my whole life, which started with writing a lot of poetry and music when I was younger and eventually developed into expressing similar themes through art. During lockdown I started really focusing on painting since I was living alone at the time and felt pretty lonely. That’s when I started doing graffiti since I wanted to add something positive to Glasgow, especially at a time when there was so much sadness and grief.
Self Acceptance & Body Positivity: Life under the male gaze
What inspires you to paint?
Painting has always been a form of meditation for me. When I feel emotionally overwhelmed, I turn to painting to help me work through it. It calms me down and gives me some space from my phone, social media, etc.
I have always been fascinated by the human form and the way we view our bodies. This is deeply personal for me as someone who has struggled with body image in the past. In a way, I think I started painting nudes as a way to find self acceptance.
As your art often depicts the female form, do you use this as a method to spread body positivity?
The theme of body positivity kind of birthed itself from my art - at the time, I was painting simply for the sake of painting, without thinking too much about the meaning. After a while, people started messaging me asking if I would paint them. Seeing their reactions to my paintings of their bodies was amazing, and so exciting. People seemed genuinely surprised to see themselves in that way, and I realised something very important: there is a great deal of value in seeing yourself through someone else’s eyes, and it is usually very different to the way you see yourself.
Our bodies are scrutinised constantly - by others, and by ourselves. Because of this, I think most people could think of a few things they feel insecure about or would change if they could. And that’s totally okay, as well. But I think the things that we are insecure about are usually the things that make us the most distinctive-looking. When I’m painting someone, I’m looking for those things because they’re what will make the painting stand out as undeniably, without-a-doubt, THAT person. So I end up highlighting the things that might be a cause of insecurity, but the results end up proving how beautiful those things are.
Another thing you learn through painting the human form is that the more conventionally “beautiful” a model is, the more boring a painting comes out of it. We look for fat rolls, wrinkles, saggy boobs, fading tattoos, cellulite, body hair, just signs of life really. These are the things that make interesting art.
How do you think your art impacts and disrupts the male gaze?
I think it would be foolish for an artist to try to step outside of the male gaze, since it impacts the way all people are seen. I try to be self-aware of this when I paint and think about the potential impact of what I’m painting, and where. It’s definitely something I think about when I’m doing graffiti - how will this be received by people passing it? More importantly, how will men react to it? I think presenting the female form in a non-sexual way can help to redefine how women’s bodies are viewed, not just as sexual objects.
In your opinion how can others help break down these stereotypes of women being seen as sexual objects in society?
I often think about this quote from John Berger (Ways of Seeing):
“A woman must continually watch herself. She is almost continually accompanied by her own image of herself. [...] She has to survey everything she is and everything she does because how she appears to men, is of crucial importance for what is normally thought of as the success of her life.”
Paintings of women have historically been created with an imagined male viewer on the receiving end. Often, the women in the paintings are aware that they are being watched - looking over their shoulder, directly at the person watching them. I think this attitude has integrated itself into all perceptions of women, and contributes to our own judgment of our own bodies, since we feel constantly watched and observed.
Although this is unavoidable, artists can choose to depict human life in a different way. As a queer woman, my relationship with other women is paramount to this, since it’s about a combination of attraction, admiration, respect and celebration of women in all their forms. Although there are erotic elements to some of my work, I don’t believe sex is the driving force of the art, but rather the appreciation of the beauty of people, and life.
"I don’t believe sex is the driving force of the art, but rather the appreciation of the beauty of people, and life"
Other than art, what do you see as a powerful way of promoting self acceptance?
The best way to find acceptance and love for yourself is to first find it for other people. Practising empathy and trying to give unconditional love to everyone around you, will also in turn reflect back on the way you treat yourself.
"Practicing empathy and trying to give unconditional love to everyone around you, will also in turn reflect back on the way you treat yourself"
If you had to choose between traditional painting methods or murals around the city, which would it be?
I think both have a lot to offer, but I find murals and graffiti to be more disruptive and political. The impact of walking past a work of art on the street is to do with repetition, and a lot of graffiti artists work in this way - we have tags to make our work easily recognisable, but also because repetition has a bigger impact on those who see it. In this way, I think graffiti can be a powerful way to relay messages. This puts a lot of pressure on the artist to think about the impact of the message they’re trying to put out in the world, and something I have ended up spending a lot of time pondering since I started painting the streets.
"I think graffiti can be a powerful way to relay messages"
As you support the queer community through your work, what can others be doing to show their support?
Just talk about it. From my experience, some areas of Scotland don’t see a lot of queer culture and I think it has an effect on how we are viewed by the country as a whole. The more we talk about it, the more it will be integrated into everything. I like to share a lot of queer art on socials, and I hope that it has a positive impact on those who haven’t been exposed to much of our culture.
Do you think murals will end up being overrun by commercialised ads?
I doubt it, because I see paid-for murals as just another form of advertisement, one that’s a bit more accessible and powerful for younger generations. There are some beautiful murals around Glasgow but it would be wrong to think that these have not been selected to advertise Glasgow in a specific way.
I’d like to see more freedom for non-commercial graffiti artists in the city. Legal graffiti walls would be a great place to start. This would really showcase Glasgow in all its forms without money changing hands and the messages being specifically selected/limited as a result.
Have you got any goals in mind for the coming year or two?
I’ve been thinking of getting into tattooing for a while now, since I get a fair few requests for tattoo designs based off some of my work, but that’s a far off dream at the moment.
Quick fire Round
If you were commissioned to paint a gable-end mural, where would you want to paint it?
On the wall of The Polo Lounge, of course!
If you could choose any artist to collaborate with, who would it be?
Probably the Tattoo Artist, Blaabad
Lastly, how do you put your stamp on life? What makes something Silva?
If it’s bold, colourful and imperfect, it’s probably me behind it.
Check out Silva Paints
Instagram @ silvapaints
Big Cartel Shop silvaproject.bigcartel.com
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