Benoît Maitre aka Ben Spizz
Le Lavo//Matik takes its name from Lucie Pressing, the detective novel by Spizz, an imaginary bar and a true novelistic meeting place, open to the world and to sharing. Passions that have
motivated Benoît since the 80s.
Co-author with Samantha Longhi of Paris Pochoirs, a landmark book on the beginnings of street art published in 1991, Benoît was one of the precursors of an emerging culture where graffiti, tags
and street art were neither appreciated nor understood by the majority of the people and authorities in France.
A unique place in Paris
Urban by nature, Le Lavo, as it is known to the many enthusiasts who meet up there, opened its doors in 2014, in the new 13th arrondissement, which still have some abandoned places in the outskirts of the city.
From its beginning the gallery offers an original concept:
- Urban art gallery dedicated to artists coming from street art only, both known and unknown to the mainstream audience (canvases, paintings, drawings, serigraphs, installations, objects...).
- The largest bookstore in Paris on the world of street art. Ephemeral art is more easily shared as it leaves a trace here...
- Record shop: vinyls and CDs, sorted in alphabetical order, allow to (re)discover the punk music culture in its broadest sense: reissues, records almost impossible to find anywhere else, many records coming notably from the label Archives de la Zone Mondiale (Bérurier noir, Ludwig von 88, Haine Brigade, the main part of the collection is dedicated to French punk rock).
Free and open walls
From the very beginning, the street art artists extended the space of the shop by taking over the outside walls of the gallery. The staircase opened only a few years later.
Benôit then created open walls, without any distinction, selection or speculation on his part, giving everyone a chance, offering a free space to all the artists who give their all to art!
Yperite
On the music side, Benoît is the singer of the Group Yperite.
Formed in 2006, Yperite has released 3 albums and 2 EPs on the Close up Label.
4 punk rockers trending the D.I.Y.
Vocals: Benoît
Guitar: Marc
Bass guitar: Olivier
Drums: Mc Fly
Listen and buy Yperite on Bandcamp
Proust mini Q&A
Your main character trait: calm.
Your dream of happiness: to be peaceful.
What you hate the most: hassles.
Your favourite colour: red.
Your motto: D.I.Y. !
Your confinement playlist
Thank you very much Benoît for taking your precious time to answer us !
Long live Lavo//Matik and long live D.I.Y.!
See you at Lavo//Matik: 20 Bd du Général Jean Simon, Paris 13ème.
Translation by Elisa GOZZI
Écrire commentaire