Mehr als nur ein simples Schmunzeln, sondern vielmehr großen Applaus gab’s erst kürzlich bei unserem aktuellen Instagram-Liebling. Denn es gibt sie eben doch, die Illustrierten Zitate, die ihre Berechtigung zu 100 Prozent haben und sich schon längst im Quotes-Dschungel durchgesetzt haben. Ihr kennt sie längst, doch wer steckt eigentlich dahinter? Unser Girlcrush des Tages: Die furchtbar tolle Künstlerin: Rita Gomes aka Wasted Rita.

Credit: Joana Linda

Rita kreiert ihre eigenen typografischen Kunstwerke und bringt es einfach immer auf den Punkt. Ob es sich dabei um ganz persönliche Themen dreht oder sie gesellschaftliche Diskrepanzen aufgegreift: Alles findet Platz in Ritas wasted Welt und letztendlich auch in unserer!

Ritas Zitate sind humorvoll und gnadenlos ehrlich zugleich. Von Sarkasmus getragen, aber ganz tief aus dem Herzen. Rita bringt auf Papier, was man sich so oft denkt, aber oft nicht für so wertvoll empfindet, es selbst nieder zu schreiben. Dabei sind es die kleinen Gedanken, die Alltäglichen, die für eine Punktlandung sorgen und die man sich manchmal am liebsten auf die Stirn tätowieren will, damit sie auch wirklich jeder liest.

Aber nicht bloß wir sind verknallt, längst sind Marken wie Converse auf Ritas Talente aufmerksam geworden und kooperierten kurzerhand mit ihr. 

Ihr letztes Projekt:gemeinsam mit Bansky stellte sie im Dismaland aus, der derzeit wohl traurigste aber gleichzeitig auch medienwirksamtse Freizeitpark Englands. Ein Bansky-Themenpark der aktuelle und vergangene Missstände in unserer Gesellschaft aufzeigt und on point darauf aufmerksam macht.

Spätestens mit diesem Projekt dürfte ihre Kunst nun im in der breiten Masse angekommen sein. Und das ist alles andere als negativ, wie sie sagt: Die Gute kann nämlich nun endlich auch davon leben.

Wer glaubt, das war schon längst alles, der kennt Rita schlecht: Auch vor Beyoncé macht Rita nicht Halt, der Kult um die Sängerin wird kurzer Hand von Rita aufgegriffen und als “hypemism” oder “Beyoncémania” beschrieben. Was sie mit ihrer Illustration an einer Wand in Lissabon sagen möchte?

„The only thing I’m trying to say with ‘Be the Beyoncé’ is for people to be their own best, to be the things they adore to praise, to practice their values and to do it in their own lives,” sagte sie in einem Interview auf vocativ.com. “If she really is such an empowered, independent, talented and focused human being, then be it yourself.”

Rita selbst beschreibet sich als „visual artist, graphic designer, art director, part-time neologist“ und „agent provocateur.“ So scheint sie die Worte zum Leben zu brauchen, denn täglich erscheinen neue in ihrem Blog oder auf ihrem Instagram Account. Handgeschrieben, oft sehr derb, aber umso leidenschaftlicher .

In New Jersey geboren, lebt und arbeitet sie heute meist in Portugal. Sie braucht die verschiedenen Städte, die sie bereist und die Menschen aus den verschiedensten Kulturen, um selbst lebendig zu bleiben und kann heute über sich sagen:

„Living in a small town from where I always want to move out, being raised by overprotective parents, studying in a religious college and growing up listening to punk music. These four things made me explode into something I call Wasted Rita.“ 

Hi (Wasted) Rita! How are you?
Good and stressed. Happy and needing some alone time.

Why don’t you introduce yourself to our readers:
I am 27 year old artist from Portugal, self-styled “natural born agent provocateur”, l like to think, write, draw and pour forth little gems of sarcastic wisdom, reflecting an unconventional upbringing in a Catholic school to the sound of Black Flag.

Your work is full of humor, sometimes sarcastic but most of all always straight forward. What is it you take your „inspiration“ from? Where do you cross thoughts and situations which influences you and which you like to share with your readers / others.
Inspiration is a stupid word. I don’t take or walk around waiting for inspiration to fall down from the sky on me. My work is a reaction to the thing i let into my life – from people to bands or internet – and that’s what influences my work.
Its straight forwardness Gomes from and adolescence listening to punk music.

Tell us what it is that you try to communicate through your drawings? It seems they are mostly quite personal.
My work is a reaction, a commentary, a punch in the face or a reality slap. I spend my days mostly having debates inside my own head and I let it out on paper through drawings or words.

What made you the person who are you today and express in your work?
Living in a small town from where I always want to move out, being raised by overprotective parents, studying in a religious college and growing up listening to punk music. These four things made me explode into something I call Wasted Rita.

What is the favorite artwork, drawing you ever have created?
And the most craziest one?
The craziest is definitely a series of wall interventions I’ve done in Bochum, inside a bunker, using porn magazines and pop songs from Rihanna do Lana Del Rey as my main influence source. My favourite, I don’t know, they are all special in their own way. It’s almost like asking a parent what’s their favourite son.

You describe yourself as a part-time neologist and agent provocateur. Please explain what this means to you?
Part-time neologist means I think a lot and play with words and sometimes invent new ones that make sense inside my head. Agent provocateur stands for the need I have to tease people.

What are you ́re thoughts on romance and pop culture regarding arts. Is this what you ́re reflecting in your very own notebook aka your work?
Pop culture is so crap is good and romance is too pure to survive all the mess we live in. Yes, that’s exactly what I reflect in my notebook, if that’s what you see.

You ́re born and raised in Portugal to New Jersey-native parents and you studied visual art at the University of Porto’s fine arts school. You ́re previously lived in China and Germany, and now you ́re living in Lisbon, right?
Would you describe yourself as a “refugee”?

I am currently in Lisbon, soon heading to New York for two months. I am definitely not a refugee, I am just a person who thinks the world is to big to be stuck in just on place and that doesn’t know where she belongs so she keeps trying.

Sometimes it seems more like that your real home is on the Internet? There you ́re go by Wasted Rita. So is the internet the better place on earth?
It can be the best and the worst. Depending on who is behind the computer taking advantage of its infinite possibilites and what for. Besides, downloads, music, reaching things that are distant and promoting my work, I like to keep myself away from it. The best place on earth is my favourite deserted beach.

Why did you choose the name Wasted Rita? Is it more about you personal thing of being wasted or that your follower should wast some time to read what you have to say?
It’s about me. It’s always about me. It’s a note to self to stop wasting myself. And hopefully my attitude, enthusiasm and strength might get others to get themselves doing things.

You ́re latest pop-culture subject was the cult following of Beyoncé. In terms of Beyoncé “hypemism,” or “Beyoncémania.”
You ́re also transformed a wall in Lisbon into you ́re own billboard, transforming Gandhi’s quote, “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” to fit the pop star’s fame.
What are you ́re thoughts about this work?

I don’t believe in idolization. I find it sickening to blindly adore someone you don’t know. Specially we’re talking about a person who is a product carefully created by hundreds of people for you to adore. If you think that someone has good qualities, then try to bring more of those qualities into your life instead of being stuck fantasising with someone that does not exist. And, for your information, I love Beyoncé and all the other pop divas, I just like to keep in my mind they represent is not real life.

Is there a kind of design process? Please take us through your design process, where do you start?
I start by choosing a marker for its thickness, then the paper for its dimensions and/or color. Then I write or draw. I scan it. Sometimes I add some color, other times I adjust the contrast. Then I save and that’s it. I also use other supports such as neon, cardboard, trash, old painting, random objects, and the process is very similar.

Last question about basic stuff: How did you first get into illustration?
I had a teacher who told me I could use my references – punk, DIY, counterculture – as my own creative process, so I’ve always been the trashiest of the design students. Then I started making flyers for shows and merchandise bands, and illustration came up as my favourite technique.

After reading your awesome interview. What song(s) do you never get tired of hearing? Why
I’ll neve get tired of hearing TLC because they’re the best. I’ll never get tired of listening to Descendents because they’re the best.

Anything else you’d like to add/share or any person we should ask some question on thisisjanewayne.com?
Nop. It’s a wrap everybody.
Thank you for this fine interview.

Thanks for taking time out to talk with me Rita, hope to see you soon!

„Basically everything what I do ends up at the internet.“ – Kurz und knapp: Mehr von Wasted Rita könnt ihr euch auf ihrer Website anschauen. Nahezu jeden Tag teilt Rita eines ihrer neuen Werke über Instagram mit uns und auch Facebook und tumblr bleibt davon nicht unversehrt. Kleine Werke könnt ihr natürlich auch in Rita’s eigenem Online Shop kaufen. Rita all over – das sollte für den erstem Moment genug sein.

We already miss you wasted one! <3