Interview with NOKA

NOKA is a visual artist and the owner of a gallery/tattoo studio
in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
His place is situated in the heart of the city,
in an area with gorgeous old houses called Kapana.

The scenes he creates are seriously influenced by his comics background
and they promise to lead your mind through new dimensions.
There is so much to show. See for yourself!

Tell our readers, where you live, what's your artistic name and what it is you do.

I live in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
I'm busy with visual arts - comics, street art, tattoos and all similar disciplines.
They are all interconnected.

I've had a variety of names. I've never chosen a specific one as I always experiment with different letters. The ones I use most are NOKA, MAQUE and SNORE.
Most people know me that way.

Why did you decide to stay and create in Plovdiv?

'Cuz I love it!
The city has it's own great spirit and I've felt connected to it since being a little kid.
The people here are wonderful and it is rich in cultural events.
The city will be an European Capital of Culture in 2019.

Sadly, lot of young talents graduate and then leave the city and there are no people to create and support the culture.

What's you opinion on the artistic scene in Plovdiv? Is it growing or shrinking?

Artists here need to push harder!
I feel as if 15 years ago there was way more graffiti in the streets of Plovdiv.
But it quickly died off a few years later.

Plenty of sick murals popped up recently but in general, I wouldn't say that the scene is great. It's one thing to see good street art on the facades of the buildings, it's completely different to walk down the street and experience the graffiti culture as a part of the street culture.

Does the local government sponsor the creation of those murals?

No, it results more from the support of the owners of those buildings.

When and how did you start doing graffiti?

I started in the beginning of the 2000s influenced by the big wave which crews like LBC, Street Zone, CBC and Nasimo created. NTN crew are actually that guys who motivated me to start painting and spraying and even to study art academically. It was a huge driving force for a confused teenager who was not aware of himself and what he wants. They helped a lot.

Can you remember the first time you had a can in your hand?

Not the first time but I remember the 2nd and 3rd. We would paint with the shittiest cans which are actually still being sold. The ones you get from hardware stores, from time to time you'd get some old, expired ones for a low price. There were no German and Spanish Montana. It was clear to us that the good paint will come one day, but it was a matter of time.

How often do you go out spraying now?

Not often really. I'm dedicating my time to illustrations, comics, tattoos, posters and exhibitions.

If you could bomb your dream spot, where would that be? Something like the local police department...

I've not thought on the subject but I've actually bombed the police department in my home city Pazardzhik 10-15 years ago. I gotta be honest, it wasn't a thrill. I expected it to be way more hardcore but it was -15 degrees outside so nobody could've said anything.

I see that in your work you use a lot of digital techniques. Is that your preferred method of working?

I have no preference. There are excellent tools and techniques to work with and it's easy to experiment. In the analogue world is likewise. I will never stop drawing on paper and canvas. Both approaches influence each other

How can people find you if they want to?

They are welcome here in studio Comma - Zagreb str. №18, Plovdiv, Bulgaria. On facebook NOKA's and Comma Gallery and on instagram comma_kapana