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Young talent sees the medium as a way of expressing his thoughts and feelings

It is almost dawn and 22-year-old graffiti artist Spoon is heading towards his destination with a member of his crew and several cans of spray paint.

The young artist, who (understandably) prefers not to give his real name, is the youngest member of the first local graffiti group CEA (Chinese Exhibition Association).

In many people's eyes, graffiti is an act of vandalism. To Spoon, graffiti, like other art forms, is a means of expression. 'It's a good way to vent my emotions. Drawing or painting can also do that, but I chose graffiti,' says the first runner-up of a graffiti contest organised by a fashion chain store last year.

'It's artwork, not vandalism,' he stresses. The laid-back artist has left his mark in places ranging from Kwun Tong Pier and Tai Wai to Tsim Sha Tsui.

Why did the artist opt for graffiti? 'It's hard to explain. I just have a passion for graffiti,' he says.

Spoon started drawing and painting at an early age.

He has been obsessed with graffiti ever since he first witnessed it in Sydney, Australia in 1997.

It was love at first sight.

'It was fascinating,' the artist recalls. 'I was really impressed.'

Attracted by the colour and composition of graffiti, he started to read books and magazines to find out how graffiti was done.

He practised his skills first on paper.

However, he did not try the real thing until three years ago when he and three other graffiti fans - Syan, aka MC Yan, from the local indie band LMF, Realm and 3dom - established the CEA graffiti crew.

Their first project was a mural in a shopping mall in Tsim Sha Tsui. His crew has since been asked to do interior design projects for pubs and boutiques.

It seems great that one can make a living doing what one is interested in, but in reality, life is far from perfect.

'Sometimes, people don't pay us because they think we are just playing. They do not see graffiti as an art,' Spoon says.

However, doing graffiti has given Spoon an opportunity to interact with people from around the world.

He communicates with graffiti artists in other countries, mostly from the United States, via his Web site.

'We share our experiences with each other, and I have learned a lot from them,' he says.

Graffiti, like hip-hop dancing, breakdancing and skateboarding, is becoming an important part of street culture.

Many young people see graffiti as cool and funky.

Spoon says it is understandable because new things catch on quickly in Hong Kong, but he hopes in the process, graffiti will not lose its artistic meaning.

His future plans include working on an art exhibition.

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