To mark the launch of his Slave Made Brand, here is a spotlight on the artist Dré, better known as Earth Crusher, the character he created.

Even the people around me who pay no or very little attention to public art have noticed Earth Crusher, that odd character with a transmitter head found on a number of murals produced around Montreal over the past few years. Created by Dré, this character is inspired by the unscrupulous political and financial leaders of today’s world. In fact, Dré has pushed the concept further than the mere portrayal of Earth Crusher on murals. He has been known to make public appearances disguised as Earth Crusher, in suit, tie and transmitter head. He has also slipped into the skin of his character to give interviews. The marketing around his Slave Made Brand is also a caricature of aggressive capitalism.

The photo gallery below features mainly Earth Crusher murals and pieces, but because he comes from the world of graffiti, it also includes his work as Dré. To learn more about Dré and Earth Crusher, or to view many more photos than what is featured here (including studio/gallery and non-Montreal work), see earthcrusher.com, as well as the artist’s Instagram and Tumblr pages. As Dré/Earth Crusher is also a collaborator within the Ashop collective, you will find more material at ashop.ca and on the collective’s Instagram page.

Pour souligner le lancement de sa marque Slave Made Brand, voici un profil-photo de l’artiste montréalais Dré, mieux connu sous le nom de son personnage Earth Crusher.

Les gens autour de moi qui ne portent pas ou que très peu attention à l’art urbain ont tout de même remarqué ce curieux personnage à tête d’émetteur radio qu’est Earth Crusher, la vedette de plusieurs murales apparues à Montréal au cours des dernières années. Créé par l’artiste Dré, ce personnage est inspiré des leaders politiques et financiers sans scrupules qui mènent le monde d’aujourd’hui. L’artiste a poussé l’idée d’Earth Crusher plus loin que la simple représentation murale. Il apparait à l’occasion en public costumé en Earth Crusher, donc en veston-cravate et arborant cette tête d’émetteur radio. L’artiste donne aussi à l’occasion des entrevues dans la peau de son personnage. Le marketing autour du lancement de sa marque Slave Made Brand est aussi une caricature du capitalisme sauvage.

La galerie ci-dessous présente surtout les oeuvres d’Earth Crusher, mais comme Dré est issu du monde du graffiti, on y retrouve aussi quelques pièces sous son nom d’origine. Pour en apprendre plus sur Dré et Earth Crusher, et pour voir beaucoup plus de photos que ce qui est présenté ici (incluant des oeuvres de studio/gallerie ou son travail hors de Montréal), voir earthcrusher.com, ainsi que les pages Instagram et Tumblr de l’artiste. Et comme il fait partie du collectif d’Ashop, vous êtes aussi invités à jeter un coup d’oeil à ashop.ca et la page Instagram du collectif.

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murals and other painted pieces

Pieces in this section are shown in approximate reverse chronological order, so the most recent are at the top.

Les pièces de cette section de la galerie sont présentées en ordre chronologique inverse, de la plus récente à la plus vieille que j’ai photographiée.

In Rosemont.

With Serak on letters, from a big K6A crew jam in the South West.

On the side wall of a Plateau café/restaurant.

In an abandoned building.

For Ashop downtown Montreal.

In a recessed parking space in the Plateau.

From a K6A jam in St-Henri.

For the Scan You Rock mega-jam in April 2017 in the South West.

In upper Plateau, from the same production of the two below.

In upper Plateau, from the same production of the one above and the one below.

In upper Plateau, from the same production of the two above.

With letters by Senk in a central Montreal alley.

Five Eight (left) and Dré (right and reaper drone in the middle) for Plaza Walls.

On the side wall of a Plateau café/restaurant, with Ether.

An off-Muralfest piece in an alley.

See a brief making of video of the above piece by Greg Pistol.

In Rosemont, in anticipation of the release of his Slave Made Brand.

Earth Crusher’s contribution to the unofficial Silver Beach Jam in Rosemont.

Earth Crusher and Five Eight on a Plateau garage door.

Representing Ashop for one of the 2015 editions of the VHS – Van Horne Station block parties.

A door in Plateau End leading to the roof piece seen below.

Earth Crusher with letters by Five Eight doing Soma’s name (because the spot was originally his).

Earth Crusher between Five Eight (top) and Skor (bottom) for the 2015 edition of the Under Pressure Festival. Also visible above is an older piece by Serak.

Representing Ashop for the 2015 edition of Mural Festival.

On the side wall of a Plateau café/restaurant.

Earth Crusher’s contribution to a K6A wall in St-Henri.

Contribution to one of the 2015 Chromatic block parties.

Painted barrels made to look like Pabst beer cans for one of the 2015 Chromatic block parties.

Dré with Five Eight for the 2014 edition of the Under Pressure Festival.

Five Eight (letters) and Earth Crusher (character) in the basement of an abandoned industrial building.

At the legal graffiti tunnel on de Rouen with Zek to the left, and many others including Lyfer, Penar and Acro above.

Ashop wall downtown featuring Fleo and Dré.

Dré, Dodo Osé and Ankh One for Ashop in Ahuntsic.

Squeezed in between letters by Scaner and end characters by Axe Lalime.

At the Cabot x Gilmore walls.

Earth Crusher/Dré with Five Eight for the 2013 edition of the Under Pressure Festival.

One of two billboards for the 2013 edition of the Under Pressure Festival (see other below).

One of two billboards for the 2013 edition of the Under Pressure Festival (see other above).

Dré aka Earth Crusher and Five Eight in an abandoned building (left half).

Dré aka Earth Crusher and Five Eight in an abandoned building (right half).

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graffiti / letters

Pieces in this section are shown in approximate reverse chronological order, so the most recent are at the top.

Les pièces de cette section de la galerie sont présentées en ordre chronologique inverse, de la plus récente à la plus vieille que j’ai photographiée.

With Five Eight above for the Estival de Canes 2018.

Fiuser (left), Dré on letters and Nick Sweetman (right) in Hochelaga.

With Nick Sweetman on wasp in a Plateau alley.

With Fleo on the left, under an expressway (pieces unfortunately slightly damaged by machinery in this shot, sorry).

Back of truck for the 2017 edition of Hip Hop You Don’t Stop.

For the Chemin Vert block party.

In upper Plateau.

Dré (bottom centre) at the legal graffiti tunnel on de Rouen.

Dré’s contribution to the 2015 edition of the Lachine graffiti jam. Notice the litte Earth Crusher character on the right.

Dré (bottom left), Nems (bottom right) and Sec (above) at the legal graffiti tunnel on de Rouen.

In Parc-Ex.

In the alley between St-Laurent and Clark.

Pieces by Five Eight and Dré.

In an abandoned building.

In an abandoned building.

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throws and tags

Earth Crusher character on a temporary Ashop wall, surrounded by tags from both Earth Crusher and Dré, as well as Zek, Fluke, Ankh One, etc.

Tags by Earth Crusher, Dré and Nus III (?).

A flop on a building awaiting demolition.

These two tags were found next to his 2015 contribution to the Under Pressure festival. In between is a tag by Five Eight.

These tags were found on the same building awaiting demolition as the flop seen above.

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stickers

Although he is mentioned under both his monikers on this sticker, it is not clear if Dré/Earth Crusher had anything to do with its creation and distribution.