Nuno Roque Quotes

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.

~ Nuno Roque

All my images are self-portraits, even when I'm not in them.

~ Nuno Roque

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

~ Nuno Roque

I can certainly identify with The Villain. A Villain is someone who has a past, who is strongly opinionated, fearless, doesn't get intimated by anything, and went beyond suffering. It's an empowerment figure.

~ Nuno Roque

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 you're doing something right. I'm scared of unanimity, artists who everybody likes. When you speak your mind and you're 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.

~ Nuno Roque

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

~ Nuno Roque

I'm like a circus standing on two legs.

~ Nuno Roque

I love the idea of reincarnation, so just in case it doesn't exist, I decided to be different people in the same lifetime.

~ Nuno Roque

I'm a Baroque person. More than Baroque, I'm a Rococo person. I don't draw straight lines.

~ Nuno Roque

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, it's 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.

~ Nuno Roque

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.

~ Nuno Roque

For me, every week is a fashion week.

~ Nuno Roque

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

~ Nuno Roque

A red nose is the clown's mask and my moustache is mine.

~ Nuno Roque

Realism is criminal.

~ Nuno Roque

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

~ Nuno Roque

The greatest thing about our times is that you don't need permission to express yourself the way you wish. Sometimes people tell themselves they can't do it, because they're missing this or that, but historically, specialization is a recent convention. Most of us are born natural polymaths.

~ Nuno Roque

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.

~ Nuno Roque

I have a transgressive spirit, and Pop is transgression's best friend.

~ Nuno Roque

I might act like a rhinoceros, but I'm a unicorn.

~ Nuno Roque

Nothing I do is natural, realistic, organic or accidental. I'm never spontaneous, I'm completely premeditated.

~ Nuno Roque

I love to laugh. Specially at myself. Sometimes I spend hours doing it.

~ Nuno Roque

When I was young and I was forced to watch Disney films, I would fast forward the good guys, wasn't interested in princes and princesses, only by the villains.

~ Nuno Roque

What I wear on and off stage is my mask. You see, a mask doesn't hide you, it exposes you.

~ Nuno Roque

My only career goal is to be an halloween icon.

~ Nuno Roque

I'm a Joker. Dangerous and silly at the same time.

~ Nuno Roque

The first rule on breaking a rule is to know everything about the rule.

~ Nuno Roque