Suzanne
10-05-07, 02:47 PM
Let’s start by saying that there is a large difference between tagging (perhaps best defined as an adolescent show of self-existence through the writing of one’s name, initials or self-symbol in a thoughtless – temporal, not not thought out – manner with marker, whiteout, paints, etc, often defacing public space) and graffiti (comprehensive, skilled works of art – words or images – done most commonly with spray paint, though also brushes, on public and private spaces).
Nast (aka Ernaste, aka Naste, aka Nasimo) falls into the category of the latter, a graffiti artist, Bulgaria’s pre-eminent. He started becoming interested in paints and things back in 1995, when he was 15 or so. We first met in June 2006, at events surrounding the Gravix Street Art Session and Write4Gold, a weekend-long international graffiti jam (you know the wall surrounding the decrepit monument in front of NDK?) sponsored by a soft drink company.
He was born in Turgovishte, attended the Veliko Turnovo art academy, and after graduating, came to Sofia in 2003.
“Before learning to draw,” he said, “I did graffiti. After learning to draw, I did better things.”
Like have a book published of his works – the first such edition to be published about a Bulgarian graffiti artist, and the first book on the theme to be published here, period. It’s called Napalm Graffix, came out in late April 2007, and is a joint production of Nast and Spisanie 1 (Magazine Edno), with additional funding from Nissan.
Recently, at a cafe near Ploshtad Slaveikov, I ask him if it is not kind of against principle to have some mega-brand car company help publish a book on an alternative, if somewhat controversial, subject. He points out: “Who else would pay? And their billboards are also very artistic, with graffiti.”
The book (21cm x 14.5 cm x 1.5 cm, 144 pages, colour, soft cover, bilingual Bulgarian-English, 20 leva) came about as, among other things, a source of facilitating transport of images of Nast’s works.
“I made a catalogue of my works,” he says, “because it was too much to carry photographs of all my works in an album. I played with Photoshop and made a catalogue, but I wasn’t really happy with how it turned out, so it seemed better to have a book – with an introduction, sections. I proposed it to Spisanie 1 and they really liked it – I just showed it to them – and we decided to make a book of it. They wrote the text and did the design, and there it was.”
He hopes for the book to inspire other Bulgarian graffiti artists to do the same, or at least to continue in their artistic pursuits. In the past couple of years, he says, there has been an exodus from artistic graffiti in Bulgaria, reducing the number of streams (regional schools of graffiti). “If you don’t do anything,” he says, “it’ll die.”
Already having died out is most – if not all – use of the Cyrillic alphabet in Bulgarian graffiti. Almost no one uses it, Nast says.
Foreigners cannot read it, so many street artists use Latin letters, and, specifically, English. This does not disturb him. Some, though, blend the two alphabets.
He himself writes purely in Latin letters, save his name: “I like to confuse people,” he says. Hence the four or so monikers by which he has (so far) gone. In Bulgarian, the lower-case handwritten “t” looks like the lower-case handwritten Latin “m”: Naste (written Nasme, with the Bulgarian “t”) became, to some eyes, and then to all, Nasimo.
Drawing, painting, artistic expression make him happy, he said last June, because it comes from within himself. “Everything – characters, signatures, paysages – I like to paint everything, unlike others, who always paint the same thing, but with different colours. Graffiti is a very personal thing. It’s a way to release negative feelings, or when I see a pretty woman, I draw a pretty woman.
What I draw is a reflection of my character when I’m drawing.”
This medium preferred because of its visibility, Nast said that most of his works are legal, having turned from illegal spaces years ago. And, “it’s more powerful outside”. Good graffiti artists paint on deserted buildings, in motorway and other tunnels, on walls, on semi-constructed buildings where their images will not infringe. This is not tagging on a storefront, though some shopkeepers do commission projects for their facilities, or a scribbled signature on a bus shelter. “I don’t like thoughtless damage,” he said.
Apart from this, he also works in graphic design, illustrates, does canvases, participates in international festivals and jam sessions.
A number of private venues in Bulgaria and abroad – clubs, restaurants, shops and even a house or two – have invited him to decorate their interiors and/or exteriors. He does not search this out; people make an effort to find him. And he does not want to be recognised on the street.
This is a trained hand, and, talking to graffiti artists or aspirants, one sees that there is an understanding of the need for skill. Those dedicated to the art emphasis the training, practice and personal application required to become good.
He specifies that while there are many graffiti artists whom he respects, what is most important is to be authentic, without a mask.
Nast does not work alone. Part of the appeal of street art is its communal aspect. As part of the crew ND2ND, created in 2000 by Nast and NDOE, other street artists (Esteo, Funne, Mysa, Porn) and he create joint pieces. Trips abroad or visitors to Bulgaria provide other opportunities for co-operation. Looking, examining, one comes to recognise the different styles and interests of the artists. One of Nast’s motifs is a cat he has christened A-Mudeos. Even then, its appearances are erratic.
Napalm Graffix, the book with which to present that Bulgaria does have talented street artists and alternative culture, is here, though, and more constant than the spray of an aerosol can floating through the air.
Nast’s book is available at TripHouse on Tsar Assen, Rip Curl on Graf Ignatiev and Pengvinite bookstores. Its initial print run is 2500.
Magdalena Rahn
www.sofiaecho.com
Nast (aka Ernaste, aka Naste, aka Nasimo) falls into the category of the latter, a graffiti artist, Bulgaria’s pre-eminent. He started becoming interested in paints and things back in 1995, when he was 15 or so. We first met in June 2006, at events surrounding the Gravix Street Art Session and Write4Gold, a weekend-long international graffiti jam (you know the wall surrounding the decrepit monument in front of NDK?) sponsored by a soft drink company.
He was born in Turgovishte, attended the Veliko Turnovo art academy, and after graduating, came to Sofia in 2003.
“Before learning to draw,” he said, “I did graffiti. After learning to draw, I did better things.”
Like have a book published of his works – the first such edition to be published about a Bulgarian graffiti artist, and the first book on the theme to be published here, period. It’s called Napalm Graffix, came out in late April 2007, and is a joint production of Nast and Spisanie 1 (Magazine Edno), with additional funding from Nissan.
Recently, at a cafe near Ploshtad Slaveikov, I ask him if it is not kind of against principle to have some mega-brand car company help publish a book on an alternative, if somewhat controversial, subject. He points out: “Who else would pay? And their billboards are also very artistic, with graffiti.”
The book (21cm x 14.5 cm x 1.5 cm, 144 pages, colour, soft cover, bilingual Bulgarian-English, 20 leva) came about as, among other things, a source of facilitating transport of images of Nast’s works.
“I made a catalogue of my works,” he says, “because it was too much to carry photographs of all my works in an album. I played with Photoshop and made a catalogue, but I wasn’t really happy with how it turned out, so it seemed better to have a book – with an introduction, sections. I proposed it to Spisanie 1 and they really liked it – I just showed it to them – and we decided to make a book of it. They wrote the text and did the design, and there it was.”
He hopes for the book to inspire other Bulgarian graffiti artists to do the same, or at least to continue in their artistic pursuits. In the past couple of years, he says, there has been an exodus from artistic graffiti in Bulgaria, reducing the number of streams (regional schools of graffiti). “If you don’t do anything,” he says, “it’ll die.”
Already having died out is most – if not all – use of the Cyrillic alphabet in Bulgarian graffiti. Almost no one uses it, Nast says.
Foreigners cannot read it, so many street artists use Latin letters, and, specifically, English. This does not disturb him. Some, though, blend the two alphabets.
He himself writes purely in Latin letters, save his name: “I like to confuse people,” he says. Hence the four or so monikers by which he has (so far) gone. In Bulgarian, the lower-case handwritten “t” looks like the lower-case handwritten Latin “m”: Naste (written Nasme, with the Bulgarian “t”) became, to some eyes, and then to all, Nasimo.
Drawing, painting, artistic expression make him happy, he said last June, because it comes from within himself. “Everything – characters, signatures, paysages – I like to paint everything, unlike others, who always paint the same thing, but with different colours. Graffiti is a very personal thing. It’s a way to release negative feelings, or when I see a pretty woman, I draw a pretty woman.
What I draw is a reflection of my character when I’m drawing.”
This medium preferred because of its visibility, Nast said that most of his works are legal, having turned from illegal spaces years ago. And, “it’s more powerful outside”. Good graffiti artists paint on deserted buildings, in motorway and other tunnels, on walls, on semi-constructed buildings where their images will not infringe. This is not tagging on a storefront, though some shopkeepers do commission projects for their facilities, or a scribbled signature on a bus shelter. “I don’t like thoughtless damage,” he said.
Apart from this, he also works in graphic design, illustrates, does canvases, participates in international festivals and jam sessions.
A number of private venues in Bulgaria and abroad – clubs, restaurants, shops and even a house or two – have invited him to decorate their interiors and/or exteriors. He does not search this out; people make an effort to find him. And he does not want to be recognised on the street.
This is a trained hand, and, talking to graffiti artists or aspirants, one sees that there is an understanding of the need for skill. Those dedicated to the art emphasis the training, practice and personal application required to become good.
He specifies that while there are many graffiti artists whom he respects, what is most important is to be authentic, without a mask.
Nast does not work alone. Part of the appeal of street art is its communal aspect. As part of the crew ND2ND, created in 2000 by Nast and NDOE, other street artists (Esteo, Funne, Mysa, Porn) and he create joint pieces. Trips abroad or visitors to Bulgaria provide other opportunities for co-operation. Looking, examining, one comes to recognise the different styles and interests of the artists. One of Nast’s motifs is a cat he has christened A-Mudeos. Even then, its appearances are erratic.
Napalm Graffix, the book with which to present that Bulgaria does have talented street artists and alternative culture, is here, though, and more constant than the spray of an aerosol can floating through the air.
Nast’s book is available at TripHouse on Tsar Assen, Rip Curl on Graf Ignatiev and Pengvinite bookstores. Its initial print run is 2500.
Magdalena Rahn
www.sofiaecho.com