Street art, album covers, clothing, logo treatments, paintings, sneakers– what doesn’t Nasa* do? Nasa*, aka Hernan Mariano Lombardo, lives and works as a designer, store owner and creative collaborator in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Like so many of our favorites, Nasa*’s vast breadth of work is heavily influenced by street, skate and architecture. Pattern Pulp recently had the pleasure of catching up with this talented artist in his Palermo Hollywood boutique, Love You. The store, which doubles as an art gallery, was founded by both Nasa* and his partner Soma, and features work by several local artists. Check out our Q&A and get inspired by his endless energy!

*            *            *

PP:  Please describe your current work.

NASA: I just finished a solo exhibition called “Te Veo” in the Rojo Art Space in Rosario. It featured a series of my canvases and design objects from 2009. You can view the images here.

I am creating new cover art for the band Charlie3, a post punk band in Buenos Aires.

In collaboration with Vans, a sponsor of my art, I am designing a series of signature t-shirts.

Finally, I am branding and designing t-shirts for BlackFin, a street wear brand.

PP: What is your design process?

NASA: For me it begins as a mental process. I think of the message I want to convey and then I let it marinate in my head. Shapes, colors, textures and sounds start to appear. It is a very intimate process that can occur at any moment. It can happen drinking a coffee, skate boarding, showering, or at a concert. At all times I have paper and pencil with me. Depending on the specific project, the process changes. If it is a painting, the work is completely analog, if it is digital I scan drawings and work in Illustrator and Photoshop.

My tools are pencil, paper, markers, ink, camera, photos, scanner, wacom tablet and my laptop.

PP: You design artwork for so many different categories! What do you prefer and why?

NASA: I like to move throughout the creative realm. I really enjoy all that I do, so I can’t say I prefer one thing to another. I try to do projects that I enjoy and that will stimulate me as an artist. For example, I am beginning to work with motion graphics. I want to draw the movement with music.

PP: Describe your collaboration with other artists and how it impacts your work.

NASA: Working with other artists is always very interesting for me. It can take my work to a new level. Recently, I collaborated with Clorindo Testa a very important Argentine architect. He was a born into the local vanguard scene and is now 86 years old.

My assignment was a mural. We talked a lot about street art, Rome, and primitive painting. He gave me a sketch of his raw idea and allowed me to reinterpret it. That was very crazy for me. A real honor. I studied architecture and Clorindo Testa was always my idol. The mural can now be seen in the Buenos Aires Design Center in Recoleta.

PP: What challenges have you faced as an artist?

NASA: I see each work as a challenge. But of course some are more difficult than others. The mural I did together with Clorinda Testa was very important for me. It was a challenge.

Also, I consider it a challenge to show in galleries and cultural centers. Exhibiting my work I feel a lot of internal pressure, though I love it!

PP: What inspires you? Any specific websites or designers?

NASA: I am inspired by many artists of the past, such as Miro, Mondrian, Basquiat, Warhol, Perez Celis, Clorindo Testa, Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe and Pollock. I am inspired by the Bauhaus and the entire Modern European art movement of the 1940’s and 50’s.

Also, ancient art serves as a great source of inspiration, specifically from Egyptian, Chinese and Islamic cultures. Their calligraphy, alchemy, hidden sciences, and Freemasonry are extremely thought provoking.

I am addicted to music as an inspiration. The cure, stone roses, el punk, post punk, indie rock, record labels like warp records o fat cat records, French dub, etc.

I am inspired by skate and surf culture.

I am inspired by my 3-year-old daughter Donatella. She is such a source of pure energy.

I am fed up with the Internet. I try not to use the Internet as inspiration. It is difficult, but I try to look for inspiration in their roots, in old books, things of the past. Lately, I feel Internet is taking all my time with flickr and facebook. I spend too many hours online and it doesn’t inspire me at all.  However, I do recommend Rojo Magazine, where you can find high level emerging artists.

Compiled by: Rebecca Silver