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Scott Sueme was born in 1986 and raised in Vancouver BC. He currently works out of his studio near Vancouver’s Olympic Village. He continues to travel and showcase his work in public spaces and in galleries. ‘My work is interested in connecting the visual world with my personal experiences and perspective in travel. Graffiti Ideology is often referenced and conveyed through certain stylistic traits and aesthetics. I’m inspired by the abundance and wealth of my visual surroundings – the subtle textures in our natural world and more often, man-made creations in contrast. The work attempts to uncover the link within communication, geometry, landscape, pattern, and colour. Combinations with their respective opposites expose both the contrast, and natural balance of those ideas. My aesthetic is driven with solid colors, bold marks, hard edges, and subtle textures – where their execution can play as both uniform and spontaneous. I work with geometry as a narrative with landscape and perspective in attempt to reveal its role in both nature, and human interaction within it. Referencing my experiences through a small window of representation allows me to feel connected to the viewer in a new way. The moment of inspiration is born again.’

Vancouver artist Scott Sueme is well-known for his geometric works which reference his background as a graffiti or street artist. His vision for the Abbottsfield Recreation Centre was rooted in this aesthetic and further refined by input from community members at a weekend workshop held in February 2014. He writes: “I wanted to reference some of the patterns created by the community members during the seminar, but rather than collaging multiple submissions of pattern design, I decided to simplify and reduce this idea to something I saw recurring in the submissions. The use of ‘Stripes’ or bands represent a commonality amongst one another That together we are all part of a uniform direction, or a common goal. This idea is then contrasted with the use of colour to highlight a sense of individuality. The focal point of the piece is a word piece that reads ‘ARC’ done in a minimal graffiti style. With this aspect of the artwork I wanted to instill the message that graffiti can be more associated with design and craft as opposed to its potential negative associations, ego, violence, etc. I felt as though the community was truly passionate about graffiti as a culture and creative outlet, and through the artwork we can set an example and portray graffiti in its distilled tradition of craft, design and positivity.”