Tika
Year born, location, education?
1978, Switzerland, grown up in Zürich, Cologne, Bruxelles and Cairo. Lived for some time in Rio de Janeiro, New York, Mexico D.F. and Cape Town. I have a diploma in visual communication at HGK Zürich but learned most through friends, traveling, books, internet, by living in cultural squats and by D.I.Y.
How long have u been living there?
we always had a place to stay in Zürich, part of my family lives in Berlin since 2000. Since 2006 I'm traveling about 6 month a year.
Where do you get your inspiration?
When the sky is blue, it's 30°C or more, it has an ocean with waves to surf or a river to jump into or a shower with a nice view. Also to ride a bike opens my mind, or having a strong, black coffee. I like cooking for all my flatmates or dancing with friends at parties with heavy bass.The moment when you wake up tickled by the sun in a big bed with white sheets and you float between dreaming and being awake inspires me. When I have to run, fight, hide, fly, dive in my dreams so after waking up reality seems dull and boring. Anger drives me to paint. When you have to move out of your place for the xt- time because the gentrificationmonster is stamping down one hood after the other. Thinking and reading about how globalization creates loss of history, creates people being more nationalistic. The big fuss about boarders and visas. The savetyfear which makes people amenable to the securitymania. The possibility of still being able to fly fast around the world, seeing that globalization is like a plastic surgeon to the world which makes every place look very similar... but then to go and look for the alleys and corners which leisurely sleep their daily routine. Listen to myth, sagas and tales of nearly forgotten history that an old person tells you. I get inspired where life is slow and my loved ones are around….
What's your favourite color?
The colour of history that appears when you scratch away layers of old paint or dust. Combined with flourescent red or gold/copper.
When are you the most productive?
when I'm not sick
Where is your favourite vacation-spot?
where I'm inspired
What kind of music do you like?
heavy bass, Dubstep, Afrohouse, Kuduro, Kwaito, Baile Funk, Mashups, B-more, Rap, Dancehall, Ragga, Jungle, Samba, Blues, Jazz, ...
Any exhibitions planned
Papergirl, Istanbul, 26th of may
Soonart at Stroke, Munich, 26th of may
Write on Walls, Gambia, june
groupshow in a big factoryhall in Zürich, 25th of june
with Onur Dinc and Wes21, Neonchocolate, Berlin 9th of july
What is your favourite material to work on?
old walls, old wood, paper
What are your tools? (special pens, colors etc.)
My armyknife for scratching. A soldering iron for burning into wood, spraypaint, acrylic, tape, whatever comes along and inspires me.
