Urban art tshirt legends Nonoloa have brought together their Koi carp collection into one place, and it’s a wicked selection of graffiti shirts with art by Pablo Lasheras. You won’t see these designs anywhere else, it’s a Nonoloa EXCLUSIVE!

Pablo Lasheras Urban Art Tshirt - Koi Carp Design

Pablo Lasheras Urban Art Tshirt - Koi Carp Design

Pablo Lasheras Urban Art Tshirt - Koi Carp Design

What does Wiki have to tell us about Koi?

Well, they’re a symbol of love and friendship to start off with. Also…

Carp were first bred for color mutations in China more than a thousand years ago, where selective breeding of the Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio) led to the development of the goldfish. Common carp were first introduced into Japan by way of China between 400 to 600 years ago. Common carp were first bred for color in Japan in the 1820s, initially in the town of Ojiya in the Niigata prefecture on the north eastern coast of Honshu island.

By the 20th century, a number of color patterns had been established, most notably the red-and-white Kohaku. The outside world was not aware of the development of color variations in koi until 1914, when the Niigata koi were exhibited in the annual exposition in Tokyo. At that point, interest in koi exploded throughout Japan.

Well I’ve learnt something new at least. Check out the wild graffiti tshirts from Nonoloa, with limited exclusive designs from worldwide artists.

Pablo Lasheras Urban Art Tshirt - Koi Carp Design

Pablo Lasheras Urban Art Tshirt - Koi Carp Design

Pablo Lasheras Urban Art Tshirt - Koi Carp Design

Here is a previous post with a sneak peak at some of the new Nonoloa designs, they’re going to look amazing…

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[illustration by Pablo Lasheras/color by Out(r)o]

Nonoloa produce some of the sickest urban art and graffiti tshirts featuring exclusive designs by artists from around the world. We had a chat with the founder, original designer and artistic director, Juanjo – AKA out(R)o.

[illustration by Pablo Lasheras/color by Out(r)o]

WG - When did you first discover you loved urban art?

out(R)o - In 1998 I moved to New York. I first got curious about stencils; I loved how and where they were placed in the street. After, I opened my mind to posted photocopies, stickers and tags. And finally, I guess I went backwards to the origins, I got to old school graffiti and In memoriams.

I was amazed to see how everything interacted together… that was the beginning of my growing respect to urban art.

[illustration by Pablo Lasheras/color by Out(r)o]

Nonoloa graffiti and urban art tshirts…

WG – What is it about urban and street art that you love?

out(R)o – I love it because it is POPULAR in the sense that it is alive and it is free and it is part of everyday life; it makes much more sense than museum art, that it looks to me just the opposite.

I find urban and street art concept to be ancient and contemporary at the same time.

WG – You’ve previously described New York as close to Hell, what was it that you found difficult about the place?

out(R)o – In New York I just felt that there were no rules at all, for better and for worse. That meant great freedom, but also great vulnerability.

Well, in fact, I could only feel one rule: call it money, call it ambition, call it succeed. The rest didn’t seem to matter that much.

Some time after I made a trip to L.A. and changed my mind about where hell was located

[Photo by Manu Cervantes]

WG – Was the graff scene in NY still pretty open and exciting? It’s been a bit strangled more recently since the Mayor got moody…

out(R)o – It was weird, because I got to learn and love urban art through New York walls, but at the same time I had the feeling that the bombing wildest age was gone somewhere else [specially in places like Soho and Williamsburg]

WG – Favourite trainers/sneakers?

out(R)o – I am not much of a sneaker fan, but if I have to say one, I guess I would choose old NIKEs.

WG – If you could use only 2 colours in your art/design for the rest of your life, what would you choose?

out(R)o – I love red and turquoise paint over dirty walls… or may be classic black and red ink over old and yellowish posted paper.

WG – Do you still paint much? Madrid is a cool place for new art at the moment…

out(R)o – I’ve been completetely absorbed by Nonoloa for a long time, but I’m planning to hit the streets very soon.

WG – When i visited Spain recently there was a lot more exciting and alternative urban art around than you would find on the average street in the UK, what do Spanish people think about it all?

out(R)o – Definitely Madrid has a great scene: You don’t have to look for very hard, just take a walk and for sure you will see new and good stuff all the time.

Barcelona graffiti used to be awesome, but since they changed the city regulation [and fines are so damned high], it is getting harder and harder to see interesting things on the street [or may be I am walking the wrong streets]. But if you take some time, there are still amazing things to see.

WG – Is it universally loved or looked at as a crime?

out(R)o – Most urban art is respected by most of the people, unless they are done in the wrong places [spots with historical value], which usually doesn’t happen.

All over tags are probably the most controversial part of urban art.

[illustration and color by Out(r)o]

WG – How long has your business Nonoloa existed for?

out(R)o – It all started in April 2004; nothing serious, no big plans. But at some point I just felt that streets and internet were full of awesome stuff that claimed to be printed on t-shirts. And that is what I started to do. Somehow I specialized in transfering from one medium [streets/net] to another [t-shirts]. Since now.

WG – What’s your favourite part about running your own business?

out(R)o – To tell you the truth, what I like the most is so simple as seeing somebody in the street with a Nonoloa t-shirt; Especially if it is Friday on Saturday night, because that usually means that it is their favourite t-shirt.

And another fact that I enjoy a lot is that I get to know many artists whose work I admire; and it would be hard to meet them otherwise.

WG – Worst part of running your own business?

out(R)o – All the time and energy that you have to devote to the business… and specially holidays [the lack of them, I mean].

WG – What artists out there excite you at the moment?

out(R)o – Outdoors: Eltono, Nuria, Nano4814, Borraska, Boris Hoppek…

Indoors: VRNO, Eduardo Recife, Fernando Vicente, Eva Solano, Gabriel Moreno, Chuso Ordi, José Manuel Hortelano…

The other day I got to know the work of an amzing photographer: Jose Ramon Bas.

All-time reference masters: OBEY and David Carson and probably Nan Golding, even if she is supposed to be far from urban art.

Also INOCUO, (Barcelona) started to bomb the streets a long time ago; he is so damned good that soon he got the respect he deserved, so at some point he started Inocuo design Studio, that is what you can see at the web don’t miss the illustration link; it is awesome!

Here are a couple of images Juanjo chose to feature in the new Winter 09/10 graffiti tshirt collection, too sick!!

[illustration by Chuso Ordi]

[illustration by Fernando Vicente]

[illustration by Pablo Lasheras collage by Out(r)o]

Cheers to out(R)o for talking to us, check out the Nonoloa exclusive graffiti tshirt designs! They’ll ship them anywhere too, you lucky people.

We’ll feature another of the Nonoloa artists soon, and bring you more shots from the new collection when they are available.

You might also like:

1. Pablo Lasheras Urban Art Tshirts – Koi Carp Collection
2. ARMO Gallery Opens in Berkeley, California – Wild New Graffiti/Graphic Art
3. Win A ‘The Krah’ T-Shirt – New Limited Edition Urban Art Tshirts