Quotes by Nuno Roque

I spent most of my life trying to specialize myself. I went to theater school, film school, music school, mime school ... Finally, I was able to gather enough knowledge to build the confidence to create my own work, that goes utterly against the sense of specialization.

All my images are self-portraits, even when Im not in them.

Pop is about speaking everybodys language. The imagery and iconography we instantly recognize. When you can rely on things that the public already knows, youre dealing with Pop.

I can certainly identify with The Villain. A Villain is someone who has a past, who is strongly opinionated, fearless, doesnt get intimated by anything, and went beyond suffering. Its an empowerment figure.

Sometimes people can be negative, especially about my confidence. I trust myself, I refuse to obey, and I noticed there is a need to punish me for it. But haters are important because they show you youre doing something right. Im scared of unanimity, artists who everybody likes. When you speak your mind and youre loud, you will attract negativity. But I have thick skin, I think the fact that I was severely bullied in my childhood helped me build strength and believe in my artistic vision. I deal with rejection very well. I have a lifelong vision and an unbreakable spirit.

Sometimes people are shocked by what I do, but Im not trying to be liked, I speak my mind and I dont care what people think. I truly do not compromise on who I am.

Im like a circus standing on two legs.

I love the idea of reincarnation, so just in case it doesnt exist, I decided to be different people in the same lifetime.

Im a Baroque person. More than Baroque, Im a Rococo person. I dont draw straight lines.

I think we live in a time where artists are very tidy and afraid of what others might think. They hesitate in expressing their views and opinions. So being original is rare. For me, its about living the life you create for yourself, to create your kingdom. I think we should work on being our unique selves and becoming our greatest versions. I like to remind people to take the power to live their life the way they wish.

I had artistic classical training, and when you learn the classics for so many years, you might gain audacity, power and confidence to subvert everything. I am like the originals buffoons. I love the rules because I can break them.

For me, every week is a fashion week.

My childhood was a drag show!

France, stop throwing awards at me! I have so many already, give them to people who need them.

A red nose is the clowns mask and my moustache is mine.

Realism is criminal.

Fascinated by the great symbols of the collective history, I use them as an alphabet to communicate.

The greatest thing about our times is that you dont need permission to express yourself the way you wish. Sometimes people tell themselves they cant do it, because theyre missing this or that, but historically, specialization is a recent convention. Most of us are born natural polymaths.

I have a tendency to break rules and shake things up. I would say that with me people never know what is real and what is fiction. And I like that because reality is relative.

I have a transgressive spirit, and Pop is transgressions best friend.