Dustin, known in the art world as Desur, seamlessly merges the raw energy of graffiti with the intricate detail of tattoo artistry. His journey, deeply rooted in the graffiti culture of the late 90s, has evolved into a mastery of what we now recognize as the highly sought-after “Graffiti Tattoo.” For tattooat.com, we delve into the story of Desur, exploring his artistic roots, stylistic evolution, and his profound impact on the graffiti tattoo scene.
Desur’s introduction to the vibrant world of graffiti wasn’t a sudden spark, but a gradual ignition. He recalls being captivated by the urban landscape marked by tags and graffiti during family drives in 1997. This initial fascination blossomed into active participation around 1999 when, through new school friends, he began tagging. “We tagged the inside and outside of our school and the bus line 91,” Desur recounts, painting a picture of youthful rebellion and artistic exploration in the nascent graffiti scene of his city. He perceived the graffiti movement as just beginning, yet already witnessing the emergence of crews making their mark across the urban canvas.
In 2000, a move to a new suburb and a chance encounter through skating broadened Desur’s horizons musically and culturally. A friend introduced him to Prinz Porno, an artist whose music was a revelation, expanding his understanding beyond mainstream radio sounds. The advent of home internet in 2001 further deepened his immersion into Hip Hop culture, which significantly influenced his artistic trajectory. Despite this growing passion, it wasn’t until 2011 that Desur connected with spray can artists and created his first piece, marking a pivotal moment where tagging transitioned into full-fledged graffiti art.
Desur in action creating graffiti art
Desur’s artistic journey is also defined by his affiliations with notable graffiti crews. Initially involved in crews engaged in illegal activities, he later sought a different path, joining the Loyals crew (LS crew) in 2008. This crew was formed by childhood friends reconnecting through their shared passion for graffiti, highlighting the strong community bonds within the graffiti scene. In 2019, he expanded his collaborations by joining the NEW crew, a collective of artists from various German cities like Kiel, Hamburg, Rostock, and Berlin. NEW crew is characterized by a focus on elaborate, conceptual pieces, prioritizing quality and depth over rushed, superficial work. Further enriching his network, Desur became part of the Born to Script crew in 2019, a global collective specializing in lettering, particularly in tattoos, with a shared foundation in graffiti.
Defining his style, Desur describes it as primarily “semi-wildstyle,” appreciating both complexity and simplicity in his pieces. He emphasizes the crucial elements of flow and dynamism in each artwork. Style writing, for Desur, has always been the most captivating aspect of graffiti. He notes a significant stylistic evolution, especially after changing his artist name from AFOS to DESUR. “Back then I was trying to do everything symmetric but it was difficult with the old name because of the letters itself,” he explains. This stylistic constraint led to a creative block, prompting a name change and a stylistic reset. While symmetry still finds its place, his current focus is on achieving harmonious and balanced compositions in his graffiti tattoos and art.
A detailed mosaic showcasing Desur's graffiti art, emphasizing his unique lettering style and the evolution of his semi-wildstyle technique.
Lettering has been a cornerstone of Desur’s artistic development. He started with Chicano handwriting styles, which he now views as unbalanced and lacking flow. Years of dedicated practice and the integration of graffiti elements have led to the development of his signature lettering style. This evolution is marked by a fusion of influences to create something distinctly his own. Technique has also played a vital role in his progress. Desur understands that translating graffiti aesthetics onto skin requires specialized knowledge to ensure the tattoo retains the authenticity and impact of graffiti on walls. This understanding is crucial in creating genuine graffiti tattoos that resonate with the culture they represent.
Desur’s passion for tattoos was a long-standing interest, sparked in childhood by his father and his friends who were heavily tattooed. He found tattoos “super interesting” from a young age. His entry into tattooing was organic, growing from his involvement in graffiti. As graffiti writers around him began tattooing, Desur’s curiosity grew. A pivotal moment occurred when he tried tattooing on a friend, an experience that mirrored the excitement of his first spray can line. “I was so stoked about the craftsmanship and thought that’s what I want to do,” he recalls, highlighting the immediate connection he felt with the art form.
Driven by this newfound passion, Desur pursued an apprenticeship in his hometown of Kiel in 2014. After months of learning studio management and observing his mentor, he performed his first official tattoo in January 2015. Six years later, his enthusiasm remains undiminished. He cherishes the feeling of each “first line on new skin” and appreciates the multifaceted aspects of his career. Tattooing has enabled him to make a living from his passion, travel globally, collaborate with diverse artists, and enjoy the autonomy of being his own boss – elements that define his successful career in graffiti tattoos.
A collection of Desur's graffiti tattoos showcasing various lettering styles and intricate designs on skin.
When asked about the parallels between graffiti on walls and tattoos on skin, Desur points out a key similarity: the ability to create tags. However, he emphasizes crucial differences. “Not everything looks good on skin as it does on the wall,” he explains, noting how the dynamic nature of living skin alters letter forms. Tattooing on a curved surface requires an understanding of distortion to maintain visual accuracy, for instance, ensuring a circle tattooed on a limb remains circular in appearance. Technically, the processes diverge significantly. The rapid execution of graffiti contrasts sharply with the meticulous, time-intensive nature of tattooing. Achieving a comparable visual impact on skin demands hours of focused work and patience, emphasizing the distinct skill sets required for each medium.
Desur identifies making a living from his passion as his greatest achievement in the art world. This simple yet profound accomplishment underscores his dedication and success in merging his love for graffiti with his profession.
Reflecting on the graffiti culture in Germany, Desur believes national boundaries are increasingly blurred by the internet, fostering a globally interconnected community. He sees a vibrant and expanding scene with new talents emerging continuously. He names several influential German writers, including Spoare, Median (now Medas), Pork, Phet, Skore 79, Ohm, Mobar, Smoe, Norm, Twik, Pout, and Semor, acknowledging the depth and dynamism within the German graffiti landscape.
A vibrant graffiti wall collaboration featuring various artists and styles, including Desur, in Hamburg Heimfeld.
Looking ahead to the resurgence of international graffiti events, Desur expresses eagerness to participate in events like MOS worldwide, Urban Giants in Italy, Pow Wow Hawaii, and Roskilde in Denmark. Nationally, he hopes to attend the Schichtweise Jam. He cherishes memories from past events, particularly the Next Level Graffiti party near Barcelona, where the Petados crew made him feel exceptionally welcome. For Desur, the highlight of these events is the collaborative process of creating large-scale concept walls with fellow artists, underscoring the communal spirit of graffiti culture.
Beyond graffiti and tattoos, Dustin a.k.a Desur leads a life deeply intertwined with his art. He is an avid traveler, constantly seeking opportunities to connect and collaborate with other artists. Describing himself as a “workaholic,” his life outside tattooing and graffiti still revolves around creative pursuits. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, brought an unusual period of homebound activity, during which he channeled his creativity into new projects like developing graffiti brush sets for Procreate, alongside personal hobbies like baking, cooking, and skateboarding in the digital realm via Skater.xl. He values the company of his girlfriend and their two cats, who add balance and joy to his life amidst his artistic endeavors.
A collaborative graffiti piece by Desur and Norm, showcasing their combined styles and techniques.
In conclusion, Desur’s journey from a young graffiti enthusiast to a celebrated graffiti tattoo artist is a testament to his passion, dedication, and artistic evolution. His story, shared with tattooat.com, offers valuable insights into the dedication required to master both graffiti and tattoo art, and the unique space where these two powerful art forms converge. Desur’s work not only exemplifies the essence of graffiti tattoos but also inspires aspiring artists to explore and innovate within this dynamic and increasingly popular art style.
