On 9 September 2017 the Montreal graffiti community lost one of its greatest writers, a “king” to use an expression from that world. The news of the death of the artist working under the aliases of Alex Scaner, Scaner or simply Scan, following a long battle with cancer, spread like wildfire.
In his mid-thirties, Scaner was one of Montreal’s first great graffiti artists. In the days following his death, hundreds of writers from Montreal and around the world as well as many street artists took to social media to pay homage and to express their respect for their brother, their chief, their king, the one who had been such a great influence on their own artistic development.
Scaner, alongside his brothers in the KG, DA and TFB crews (to name just a few), has helped shape the Montreal graffiti scene, give it its style and make it shine outside Montreal. Internationally known, he has worked alongside many of the greatest names of Canadian, American and European graffiti. He has also invited many of the best international writers to Montreal, thus creating networks for himself and his artistic family.
In just 20 years, this prolific artist has created hundreds, even thousands of burners, throws and tags. Given the ephemeral nature of the artform many are now gone but, thanks to the internet, they will live on and continue to influence the upcoming generations of graffiti artists. Only time and the elements will gradually chip away at what is left of his art in our streets, alleys, parks, offices, businesses and abandoned buildings, as the artist commands so much respect within the world of graffiti that no one would dare go over his work.
History will remember Scaner. When the negative taboos associated with the vandal origins of this artform drop and art historians study the artists who will have defined our era, Scaner will be remembered as the one who was taken too soon, but still left an immeasurable legacy.
The local and international artistic communities did not wait for Scaner’s passing to recognize his influence and express their love and respect. After the news broke out in the Spring of 2017 that the artist hadn’t much time left, his closest crewmates and friends got together and organized tribute productions (such as Scan You Rock). As well, hundreds of pieces created in Montreal, Toronto, New York, Barcelona, etc. have since been dedicated to him.
Following his departure tributes have been coming in even greater numbers. Scaner may be gone, but his star will go on shining brighter and brighter…
For more information on Scaner and for more photos of his work, check out his personal webpage as well as Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr.
Related posts:
Tributes to Scaner
Scan You Rock tribute wall
Scan You Rock production
Time Is Gold
Le 9 septembre 2017 la scène montréalaise du graffiti perdait un géant, un king, pour utiliser un terme du milieu. La nouvelle du décès de l’artiste connu sous les pseudonymes d’Alex Scaner, de Scaner ou Scan, suite à une longue bataille contre le cancer, s’est répandue comme une onde de choc.
Dans la mi-trentaine, l’artiste était un des premiers très grands noms du graffiti à Montréal. Les jours suivant son décès, des centaines de graffeurs montréalais et internationaux ainsi que plusieurs artistes du milieu du street art sont sortis dans les médias sociaux pour affirmer leur amour, leur respect et leur désarroi face à la perte de leur frère, de leur chef, de leur king, de celui qui avait été une de leurs plus grandes influences.
Scaner, aux côtés de ses frères dans les crews KG, DA ou TFB pour n’en nommer que quelques uns, a contribué à façonner la scène montréalaise du graffiti, à lui donner son style et la faire rayonner hors de Montréal. De notoriété internationale, il a exercé son art aux côtés des plus grands du monde du graff canadien, américain et européen. Il a aussi invité de nombreux graffeurs d’ailleurs à Montréal, établissant de ce fait de nombreux contacts et réseaux pour sa famille artistique.
En tout juste 20 ans, l’artiste prolifique a créé des centaines, voire des milliers de burners, de throws, de tags. Étant donnée la nature éphémère de cette forme d’art plusieurs de ces pièces sont maintenant disparues mais, grâce à l’internet, elles continueront d’influencer les générations de graffeurs à venir. Et il ne fait pas de doute que seul le temps et le climat auront raison de ce qui reste de sa main dans nos rues, ruelles, parcs, bureaux, commerces et édifices abandonnés, puisque l’artiste commande un tel respect que personne du milieu n’oserait repasser sur ses oeuvres.
L’histoire se rappellera de Scaner. Quand les préjugés négatifs dûs aux origines vandales de cette forme d’expression artistique tomberont et que les historiens d’art s’intéresseront aux artistes qui auront marqué notre époque, on se rappellera de Scaner comme celui qui est parti trop tôt mais qui a tout de même laissé un legs immense.
La communauté artistique locale et internationale n’a pas attendu son départ pour reconnaître son influence et lui exprimer son amour et son respect. Depuis que la nouvelle s’est répandue au printemps 2017 qu’il ne lui restait que très peu de temps, elle s’est mobilisée et a mis sur pieds quelques méga-productions (telles que Scan You Rock) en son honneur. De plus, des centaines de pièces créées par ses pairs à Montréal, Toronto, New York, Barcelone, etc., lui ont été dédiées.
Et depuis son départ ces hommages se sont multipliés. Scaner n’est plus, mais son étoile continuera de briller de plus en plus…
Pour plus d’information sur Scaner et pour voir plus de photos de son oeuvre, visitez sa page personnelle ainsi que ses pages Facebook, Instagram et Tumblr.
Articles connexes:
Hommages à Scaner
mur hommage Scan You Rock
production Scan You Rock
Time Is Gold
graffiti pieces
Scaner on letters, filled by Stare and Zek, with Harry Bones on the left. From the Time Is Gold prod
This was Scaner’s final piece. He left only an outline, it was filled in by his brothers in KG,
Stare and
Zek. Bear on the left is by
Harry Bones. From
Time Is Gold, Scaner’s last production.
Scaner in the Plateau
In the Plateau.
Scaner for a Mile End block party
This one was done during a block party in Mile End.
Scaner in Rosemont
In Rosemont.
Scaner in upper Plateau
In upper Plateau.
Scaner in Hochelaga
In Hochelaga.
Scaner’s part in the Scan You Rock jam celebrating him
Scaner’s part in the
Scan You Rock jam celebrating him.
Scaner in a central Montreal alley, for Art Gang.
In a central Montreal alley.
Scaner in the Plateau
In upper Plateau.
Scaner in Wynwood, Miami
In Wynwood, Miami.
Scaner piece in Hochelaga
In Hochelaga.
Scaner silver in upper Plateau
In upper Plateau.
Scaner on de Rouen
Next to the
legal graffiti tunnel on de Rouen.
Scaner (left) and Kemr (right) on Cabot graffiti wall
Scaner (left) and
Kemr (right) at the
Cabot x Gilmore walls.
Scaner near Aird
In Hochelaga.
Monk.e (left), Scaner (right letter) and Axe (right character) in Hochelaga
Monk.e (left), Scaner (right letters) and
Axe Lalime (right character) in Hochelaga.
Scaner chrome in Rosemont
In Rosemont.
Scan in Rosemont
Heating up Rosemont.
Scaner in Hochelaga alley
In a Hochelaga alley.
Scaner piece in Petite Patrie
Rooftop burner in Petite-Patrie.
Scaner piece in the Plateau
Well hidden in the Plateau.
Scaner piece in the Plateau
Well hidden in the Plateau.
Scaner in upper Plateau
Well hidden in the Plateau.
Scaner piece in upper Plateau
In upper Plateau.
Scaner at the JDM Silverjam
In Rosemont.
Scaner piece inside gym of an abandoned school
In the gym of an abandoned school.
Scaner piece inside gym of an abandoned school
In the gym of an abandoned school.
Scaner in Wynwood, Miami
This piece dated 2014 was found in Wynwood, Miami.
Scaner graffiti in Hochelaga
In Hochelaga.
Scaner piece found in NDG
In NDG.
Under Pressure Festival 2013 featuring Ether (middle letters), Scaner (bottom letters), Axe (bottom left), Serak (top letters) and Hsix (right)
Scaner (bottom centre),
Serak (top),
Ether (middle letters),
Axe (left characters), and
Hsix (right character) contributing to the
2013 edition of the Under Pressure Festival.
Scaner (top) and Hsix (bottom) graffiti in Hochelaga alley
Scaner (top 2) and
Hsix (bottom) in a Hochelaga alley.
Scaner graffiti on abandoned warehouse
On an abandoned warehouse.
Scaner graffiti in upper Hochelaga back alley
In a upper Hochelaga back alley.
Scaner in Town of Mount Royal
In Town of Mount Royal.
Scaner graffiti at Chromatic Festival 2015
At the 2015
Chromatic block party.
Scaner piece on Mont-Royal
On Mont-Royal.
Scaner piece above LNDMRK offices
Above the LNDMRK offices.
Scaner graffiti on Ontario. The cats may have been done by Scaner or Axe.
In Ville-Marie. The cats are by
Axe.
Scaner piece in Pointe St-Charles
In Pointe St-Charles.
Scaner piece in Pointe St-Charles
In Pointe St-Charles.
Scaner graffiti by train tracks
By train tracks.
Scaner inside abandoned building
Inside an abandoned building.
Scaner graffiti in back of industrial building
At the back of an industrial building.
Scaner graffiti on wheels
Scaner on wheels.
Scaner on truck side
Another truck side.
Scaner on side and Bryan Beyung on back
Another Scaner on truck. The back of the truck is by
Bryan Beyung.
Scaner on truck side
One more truck side.
truck painted by Scaner for the 2016 edition of Mural Festival
K-Way promo for the
2016 edition of Mural Festival.
truck painted by Scaner (doing Dodo Osé’s name) for the 2016 edition of Mural Festival
Opposite side of the above truck for K-Way at the
2016 edition of Mural Festival, doing the name of Dodo Osé (who did the back side of the truck).
En Masse’s contribution to the 2013 edition of Mural Festival featuring Dan Buller (tennis player), Five Eight (central letters), Scaner (top letters), Waxhead (head on the left), Beeforeo (below Five), Nixon (bottom)
En Masse‘s contribution to the
2013 edition of Mural Festival features Scaner (top letters) alongside
Dan Buller (tennis player),
Five Eight (central letters),
Waxhead (head on the left),
Beeforeo (below Five) and
Nixon (bottom, top and far right). Photo ©
Infant Wisdom.
Scaner graffiti by train tracks
By train tracks.
letters by Scaner (bottom) between hissing cats by Axe, Feka and Peur (middle) and wheatpaste by Lovebot (top), by train tracks.
Graffiti by Feka, Peur and Scaner, with a
Lovebot wheatpaste at the top and hissing beasts by
Axe.
Scaner (letters) and Axe (creatures) in Petite-Patrie
Scaner (letters) and
Axe (creatures) in Petite-Patrie.
Scaner in Petite-Patrie
Trackside piece in Petite-Patrie.
Scaner graffiti in Hochelaga park
In a Hochelaga park.
Scaner (text), Earth Crusher (central figure) and Axe (end figures) in abandoned industrial building
Scaner (writing),
Earth Crusher (central character) and
Axe (end figures) in an abandoned industrial building.
Scaner graffiti in Griffintown
In Griffintown.
Scaner graffiti on abandoned warehouse
On an abandoned warehouse.
Scaner doing Hoacs’ name at the PSC legal graffiti wall
Doing
Hoacs‘ name at the
PSC legal graffiti wall.
Scaner in an abandoned building
In an abandoned building.
Scaner in Mercier
In Mercier.
Scaner in a NDG / Cote des Neiges alley
In a NDG/Côte des Neiges alley.
Scaner in a NDG / Cote des Neiges parking lot
In a NDG/Côte des Neiges parking space.
Scaner in a NDG / Cote des Neiges alley
In a NDG/Côte des Neiges alley.
Scaner on the Plateau
In the Plateau.
Scaner graffiti on the Plateau
Another one in the Plateau.
Shok (below) and Scaner (above) in the Plateau
Above
Shok in the Plateau.
Scaner graffiti piece in Centre-Sud
In Centre-Sud.
partially covered piece by Scaner in TMR
Partially taken over by nature in TMR.
Scaner graffiti piece in Centre-Sud
In Centre-Sud.
Cems (top left), Scan (top right), Sage (bottom left) and Smak (bottom right) on this classic DA wall in Rosemont
Cems, before he switched to Ether (top left), Scan (top right),
Sage (bottom left) and
Smak (bottom right) on this classic DA wall in Rosemont.
SCaner in Old Montreal
In Old Montreal.
Scaner graffiti on Clark
This worn out piece off Clark was covered with something new in 2014.
Scaner graffiti within Astro mural. Visible in the middle is a wheatpaste by Graffiti Knight.
Scaner in the middle of a wall by
Astro and Zeus. The wheatpaste in the middle of all this is from
Graffiti Knight.
Scaner graffiti (detail) in NDG
Right half of a piece in NDG (sorry, left half is missing).
Scaner graffiti in Rosemont-Petite-Patrie
This piece in Rosemont-Petite-Patrie is dated 2004!
Scaner graffiti
On roof edge visible from Papineau.
Scaner graffiti on roof
Another roof edge, this one on St-Laurent.
Rooftop piece by Scaner at the abandoned Transco
More rooftop, this one at the
abandoned Transco.
Rooftop pieces by Scaner at the abandoned Transco
More rooftop action at the
abandoned Transco.
Scaner graffiti by train tracks
Next to train tracks in Mile-End. Also visible at the top is a paste-up by
Turtle Caps.
Scaner graffiti in Petite Patrie
In Petite-Patrie.
Scaner graffiti (top) and piece by unidentified artist (bottom) beneath expressway
Under an expressway. Artist at the bottom is unidentified.
Scaner & Sewk graffiti
Pieces by Scaner and
Sewk visible from train tracks in Rosemont.
Scaner graffiti
In Hochelaga.
Scaner in Parc-Ex
In Parc-Ex.
Scaner graffiti (top) beneath bridge
Under an overpass in Ville-Marie.
Scaner graffiti
In a Plateau back alley.
Scaner on St-Laurent mid-level roof
On a St-Laurent mid-level roof.
Scaner throw in upper Plateau
In upper Plateau.
Scaner in abandoned industrial building
In an abandoned industrial building.
Scaner graffiti
By train tracks.
Scan throw in Barcelona
This throw was found in Barcelona.
Scaner graffiti in Hochelaga
In Hochelaga.
Scaner graffiti
In Hochelaga.
rooftop throw by Scaner
Rooftop throw.
In Mile End.
Smak and Scaner graffiti
Smak and Scan over St-Laurent.
graffiti by Stare and Scaner on d’Iberville
Stare and Scaner on d’Iberville.
throw by Scaner in Mile End
In Mile End.
throw by Scaner in Mile End
Same Mile End spot as above.
Some train track work.
Scaner throwie
In Petite-Patrie.
