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 and Instagram. Production CanDo is in charge of the legacy of the artist.
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 et Instagram. Production CanDo est en charge de la promotion de l’héritage artistique de Scan.
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 chrome 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.
rooftop piece by Scan 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.
