SOUTH KOREA: Busan Graffiti Writer - Spray Can Store, Art Bar & Creative Gallery - ENIGMA 13

Today we introduce you to a fantastic creative space in South Korea that functions as a spray can store, but also as art bar, graffiti gallery, vintage figurine museum and music space. Welcome to ENIGMA13, which is run by the eponymous artist ENIGMA13 from BURNING PLAYGROUND. Here you can get everything the graffiti heart desires, and like-minded people can meet up, design projects, be creative and have fun together.

Although Busan is the second largest city in the country with 3.4 million inhabitants, there is still very little graffiti and the scene is still in its development. This makes it all the more important that ENIGMA13, as one of the few urban art locations here, provides a social meeting point and a refuge, as well as equipment and knowledge. We visited the great artist and conducted an interview with him about the creation of the store, his passion for collecting and the graffiti scene in Busan.

Hello Enigma13, you run a creative space in Busan that’s a bar, social venue, toy store, and spray can shop all at once. You’re also a graffiti artist yourself. First, tell us how you got into graffiti and how long you’ve been painting.

First of all, I am honored to be given the opportunity to conduct this interview. I started doing graffiti in 2002 and was able to interact with writers for the first time through a community called G.I.P. by GRONE in Busan. It’s already been over 20 years. It was really big and they were very activity. But that’s long time ago, now it’s gone. Meanwhile I’m in a team called BURNING PLAYGROUND.

How did you get into your name and why the „13“?

Enigma means mystery and 13 means the first step into a new world. I just made up the meaning on my own and combined the name with the number. In some characters you can see the third eye, which can be seen as my signature. As I try to combine it in various forms, I get a lot of inspiration from religion, culture, and ancient murals. I also get a lot of inspiration from figures. I study another world that transcends reality and ideals.

Tell us more about your graffiti. You paint letters but also characters. Mostly hip hop guys or breakers in a gangster style, but not photorealistically, rather comically.

I love drawing original characters, distorting them and making fun of them. Of course, I also love drawing letters. Several graffiti on the walls are proper graffiti letters. Also I worked with markers and did artworks on canvas, but I do more poster work these days than canvas. Since the iPad became popular, I do a lot of work on it. For example the artwork below is a limited edition original poster named „The Third Eye“ with only 13 made pieces. It’s fine art watercolor on pager radiant with 22×33 inch and they were created in February 2025.

Now let’s talk about the great creative space „Enigma13,“ which has the same name like you as an artist. When did you decide to open this shop, and how did the idea come about?

Originally, I was running a graffiti studio and shop called „Burning Playground“ in another neighborhood. At that time, there were only about 5 graffiti writers in Busan because the graffiti environment in Busan was poor. I wanted to run a shop that dealt with subculture in general. So when I moved here, I was able to introduce graffiti to more people, sell alcohol and drinks, explain things to customers, and promote it by giving them stickers. As a result, young artists started to gather little by little, and although it is still poor, Busan’s graffiti scene is developing little by little.

Tell us a bit more about the product range. You don’t just have spray cans, but also a lot of equipment and everything related to graffiti. You have books and magazines, as well as a collection of artwork by well-known writers.

Yes, we sell graffiti-related spray paints and various nozzle markers, and Korean graffiti artists send us their drawings and exhibit them. We order from a large Korean importer. Mainly the spray cans are from MOLOTOW. But we only sell offline, and order books online. We also get help with magazines from the CMK CREW in Japan.

You also have record players in your store and you also play music there. So you’re also a DJ? And do you do this just for fun in the store or do you also play at other events?

ENIGMA13 is an open space where anyone can come in and play music. I play just for fun and not on events, so only in the bar. But sometimes my DJ friends come and play at evenings. It’s basically open to everyone, who want to do djing.

Collaboration: **ENIGMA13**, **MEET**, **GR1**, **BASARA235**, **JODAE**, **MAFEEL KIM** & **BOTES**

When I was in your bar, I also drank a beer from your range. And I noticed that you have special beers from different countries on your menu. So you also focus on good quality when it comes to drinks.

It’s just that I bring out my favorite drinks. So these are the beers which I also like. But if the customers want something different, I can change it up too. We have for example San Miguel from Spain or German Wheat Beer, but also good Whiskey and Gin.

You’re also a big fan of miniature figures and collectibles. Behind the counter is a large wall of shelves with countless figures of superheroes and comic book characters. Tell us more about that. Do you only collect these yourself, or can others also purchase them through you?

I started collecting figures at the same time when I also started doing graffiti. Figures have had a lot of inspiration and influence on my style of drawing, and I exhibit and sell figures designed by various figure artists. However, only a small portion of the figures are for sale.

I saw on your channel that you also take part in events and exhibitions from time to time.

When I receive suggestions or invitations for flea markets or group exhibitions, I tend to participate. That can be of different types, like artworks or about the figures.

Tell us a bit more about the graffiti scene in Busan. Where can you spray graffiti in Busan? Are there public spray locations? And what about the graffiti writers? So, is there a lot of demand for your spray cans?

Busan is considered a wasteland of subculture, so it is poor in terms of graffiti. However, young artists who are just starting out are gradually finding spots and drawing pictures, and the number of artists is increasing one by one. It is hard to find public spray spots, but they draw pictures at skateboard shops, redevelopment areas, or after consulting with the owner of the wall. The demand for spray cans is not high yet, but it is gradually increasing. Most graffiti artists from Busan are active in Seoul, but young artists are also slowly moving Busan.

Store Description: In Busan, a wasteland of graffiti culture, Burning Playground, which has been silently protecting the local graffiti scene, has opened a complex cultural space called Enigma13. In addition to exhibiting and selling various works of art, including graffiti-related products, we have prepared a variety of alcoholic beverages and music to enjoy along with the beautiful sound of your choice. We ask for your interest in Enigma13, which will stand tall as a wonderful community space with good people. – Enigma13