Hello 0036 Mark, can you introduce yourself?
I am a Budapest-based street artist, mainly doing paste-ups, and I mix up old-school cartoon characters with pop-cultural allusions.
Where does your artist name 0036 Mark come from? It is a nod to the dialing code of Hungary?
Exactly! The first part is the country code or dialing code of Hungary, and the second part is obviously my first name. I wanted something that refers to my nationality, but a bit more sophisticated than Mark_Hungary.
When did you start to make Street Art and why did you choose this form of art to express yourself?
I had a short career in graffiti back in the ’00s, but I had to accept that I wasn’t talented enough compared to the other writers back then, so I just gave up spray painting.
However, my love for the arts and urban art has never stopped, and I felt the urge to create again. So, I waited for inspiration, which came on the 24th of December 2018. And because I already had firsthand experiences on the streets, I glued my first paste-up on the next day.
Why did you choose to use paste-ups rather than another medium? In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of this medium?
Paste-ups can be considerably bigger than stickers, faster than graffiti, and more elaborate than stencils.
But on the other hand, you have to prepare with glue and cut out the paper. The weather and humidity will destroy the paper within a year, and you will still get dirty at the end of a street session.
I noticed your inspiration mostly comes from cartoon characters of the 80s and 90s, why did you choose this specific theme?
It’s a kind of nostalgia.
My childhood roughly coincided with the last years of the communist regime and the early years of the new democratic Hungary. Despite the fact that the communist era was one of the darkest times in recent Hungarian history, there is no denying that some of the animated works produced behind the iron curtain were genius. Those were the heydays of Hungarian animation, and after the Soviet-backed regime imploded, western cartoons flooded the screens, so those times were magical for me as a kid.
I really like the idea that these cartoon characters grew up with us and changed through time. I also like how easily they can be altered or twisted in order to share your ideas and thoughts, but still recognizable for passers-by.
Among all your work, which one is your favorite and why?
Quite hard to choose. I would say my favourites are those which play with the urban landscape or reflect the local characteristics of an area, therefore, the city itself becomes part of the artwork.
For example, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial with fire hydrant eyes.
Nevertheless, most of my works are installed in places that can boost the original meaning, like a fireman paste-up near a firehouse, cult movie artwork next to the art cinema, etc.
How would you describe the Hungarian Street Art scene?
Before the pandemic, it was more active, and artists from all over the world also visited the capital. Budapest is quite popular among foreign artists. Nowadays, only a handful of locals put their stuff on the streets. Hopefully, the end of the pandemic will fire up the scene again.
What does Street Art mean to you?
As everybody used to say, it’s a kind of self-expression, an act of freedom. But for me, it’s principally a fun activity. In our digital age, there are a lot of other options for sharing your artwork. But I particularly like to see the relationship between the works and the streets and how people react to them. So for me, street art is a physical interaction and a dialogue.
In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of social media for Street Art artists?
In my opinion, there are only pros.
I would love to, but I can’t be everywhere, and this is where social media comes in. You don’t have to put your art on every corner of the city to get well known.
If they find your artwork, they can follow you, check your other works, give feedback, and send love.
You don’t have to walk the city all day long looking for street art. Or to travel the globe to know other artists’ works. I bet I have followers who like my works, but never see any in person.
You can talk with fellow creators or followers without compromising your identity.
What are some of your upcoming projects?
There are a lot of ideas in my head, and I’m also trying to expand the boundaries of pasting up.
Like mixing up paste-up with other disciplines, creating 3D objects, etc.
Last question: Do you have any movie, series, or book recommendations?
I would recommend some Hungarian cartoons from the golden era, but there are no subtitles available. And it’s also hard to find them. Anyway, I use references from blockbuster movies of the ’80s and 90s, so anything from that period will do.
Don’t forget to follow 0036 Mark on Instagram and Facebook
Thank you!
You can discover or rediscover my other Street Art interviews here.
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