"...I just walked in and I fell in love with the atmosphere, with the products and with the attitude of the customers. I asked if they'd sell my art, and this is how it started..."
If you are out of ideas about what to give your loved ones for Christmas we’d like to present to you our resident artist, Péter Mészáros a.k.a. Moha. We interviewed him so you can meet the artist behind Moha design.
Tell me something about yourself! What can we know about you?
I live in Budapest, I’d call myself as an autodidact artist, originally I graduated as an agricultural engineer. In 2010, I have decided not to accept any other job in the civil sphere, I’m gonna earn the money from my graphics. It’s taken a few years, but i achived it succesfully by now.
What is the story behind the name?
Do you think of Moha? Well I had quite a few nicknames, pen names my whole life. In college, beside the painting, I wrote a lot, organised events so I often used different names. A lot of my friends know me as Zete Armenik and in Gyöngyös, they know me as Péter Sárga. I have picked the pen name Moha in 2005 while I was in New York City. I still use the others, but this has became the official one.
When did you started to draw?
I’vew been drawing since I was a young boy.I have loved arts and drawing my whole life, but I kept off the art schools. Still, I've had many exhibitions even from collage. I was drawning always in my spare time.
Moha design €10
How did you get connected to Szputnyik Shop?
It was accidental. I just walked in and I fell in love with the atmosphere, with the products and with the attitude of the customers. I asked if they'd sell my art, and this is how it started.
What is the source of your inspiration?
If we’re talking about my graphics, my biggest inspiration is people. Their stories, their fates and their characters. When I use public transport or just walk down the street, I observe people, the faces, the clothes and it gives me so much. Besides I love the fashion of old times, the style of the characters of old novels. .
Moha design €10
Which aritsts had an influence on your work?
The characters of András Bartos, the paintings of István ef Zámbó of Hungarians artist. My big love is from Berlin, Mateo Dinen and his "terrifying" world.
What’s your biggest achivement so far in your career?
That they are buying my pictures. I can earn my salary with the work i adore. That my arts are hanging on the walls all over the world. The best feeling is to make the customers smile.
What is difficulities do you meet during your work?
My relationship with time. I have plenty of ideas, plans, sketches but often I’m not able to start them. It can even take months or years. It’s a heartbreak that a day consists only of 24 hours and a year from 365 days while I still have many things to draw.
Which one is your favorite pictures?
I love each of them. If they are exhibited to the public, then i’m totally satisfied with them. If I don’t like them I’m not gonna multiply the pictures.
If I have to pick one then I would say Mustache Guard with bicycle, or the Couple of Mustache Guards, I prefer them the most from the series of Mustache Guards.
Your future plans?
I’m planning to create more unique, lovely characters. I’m also working on other art series. My another great plan is to paint the houses of Budapest in my own style and in a huge size to pay tribute to the awesome architecture of our city.
You can find the amazing Moha designs in our store at Dohány street, come and browse his likeable and fun works and find the ones that match you or your loved ones the most!