INTERVIEWS

What moves an artist?

What is art for artists?

How did they begin?

What tips would they like to share?

Andrej Kapor

Artist, writer, creative producer

February 8th, 2025

We’re sitting in Cafca on February 8th in Utrecht, the day winding down. We’ve just walked from Andrej’s home in Moira, a house full of creative people in the centre of the city. I had the chance to photograph him in his natural habitat - surrounded by books, his keyboard, a guitar, his new book, and numerous notebooks. As the day comes to a close, we take a walk through the colourful streets of Utrecht. I ask him about his favorite way of walking from his house to the café, and he leads me through it.

Andrej is an eccentric personality. Tall, with a consistent style - he wears a variant of the same outfit every day; Oxford shoes, high-waisted pants, a button-down shirt, a tailored sports coat with a breast-pocket handkerchief. Several silver and white-gold rings adorn his fingers, and he has well-kept slightly longer nails on his right hand; for playing classical guitar, he says. He has two large distinctive silver earrings and bright blue eyes, always watching the world around him with quiet attention. From the moment I met him, I could sense there was a depth to him, something hidden behind those observant eyes. I’m glad I got the chance to sit down with him and ask a few questions.

Firstly, can you share a bit about your background, Andrej?

I was born in Sarajevo in 1989, the same year the Berlin Wall fell, when Yugoslavia was still unified. The fact that the country I was born in no longer exists has had a huge impact on my understanding of concepts like belonging and home. It’s been a dramatic influence on my life - I've spent much of it in a kind of nomadic, transient state, moving between countries, cultures, and constantly traveling. I love engaging with anything that I find new and strange and different, not necessarily looking for anything specific, but living a life of chance and circumstance. It's about accepting that things happen and going with the flow.

I come from a very mixed background, my family history is a rich blend of nationalities, religions and ethnicities, so there’s already this blend of cultures. My ancestors were anti-fascists, organisers, unionists, smugglers, farmers, fishermen… Grandad on my father’s side joined Tito’s Partisans when he was around fifteen and fought the Nazis, then spent his life as a military official. My other grandfather, who is thankfully still with us, is an economist and a socialist, and has a tendency to launch family dinners with a discussion of why Marx was right and how the capitalists have ruined everything. Very amusing to those of us who can handle it. I also come from a very strong matriarchal tradition. My grandma is one of the fiercest people I’ve ever met, and her mother was an absolute legend who achieved many great things in her life that I couldn’t possibly get into now.

My mom was really active, she used to take me to protests, anti-war events, concerts, and cultural happenings. Some of it was dangerous, especially in the times leading up to and during the war, but the fact that I was raised in a socially and culturally aware environment has been a major influence. Mom worked in publishing, dad was an artist and musician, and although he passed away when I was a baby, I still feel like I got the best of both worlds.

How would you describe yourself as a kid?

I was extraverted, creative, and a bit weird. I had a great imagination and loved sharing stories with others. I was just as comfortable talking with adults as I was with other children.

I remember one time, mom and I were in a doctor’s waiting room, and I was talking to her about whatever I was currently obsessed with - some cartoon or plotline that was on my mind. You know, when kids retell things as if parents actually care. I was just going on and
on, and she was like, “Very good… very good”. That’s when I realized she wasn’t really paying attention, but every other person in the room was fully tuned in, listening to me. About 15 minutes later, I was standing in the middle of the waiting room, gesturing wildly and telling the story to my newfound audience. Mom was understandably mortified, hoping we weren’t the next to be called into the doctor’s office. A funny moment, looking back.

Andrej Kapor.

״I was standing in the middle of the waiting room, gesturing wildly and telling the story to my newfound audience. Mom was understandably mortified, hoping we weren't the next to be called into the doctor's office. A funny moment, looking back. ״

- Andrej Kapor

What was your home life like in terms of culture and your family's interests?

We had a pretty vibrant household. There were lots of books, magazines, a guitar, tapes, and records around. Learning and self-expression were always encouraged. Even the more lets say… “pragmatic” side of my family was always very appreciative of culture. My great- uncle who is a farmer, for example, is also a very talented multi-instrumentalist, while my very practical, down-to-earth economist grandfather also loves to read various novels and
listen to all types of music. He’s in his 80s now, and last year he asked me to show him some techno music because he “never really understood it”, so we listened to Moby together.

As a family we always spoke several languages - my grandparents spoke German, my other grandma spoke Italian, my mom and her sister speak French, and Bosnian uses a lot of Turkish words and phrases, so it was normal for us to use elements of other languages in our day-to-day vernacular. I learned a few languages as well. Aside from my native Serbo- Croat, I learned English at a very young age and it’s the language I’m most skilled with, especially in the creative sense. Here I have to mention that Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian are considered separate languages, but it’s really more about dialectical differences, with current categorization mostly politically motivated. I’m also pretty fluent in French, and currently learning Dutch and Spanish, the latter mostly because I want to read Borges in the original. I have a decent comprehension level of other Slavic languages like Russian, Slovak, Bulgarian, can read the Cyrillic alphabet fluently, and am able to read a little Italian too, mostly from my grandma and the comics that I grew up with. I can often pick up a book in a language I don’t necessarily speak and figure out what it’s about with relative ease.

Andrej Kapor.

You mentioned your love for books. How do you decide what to read?

My life has always been full of books. I spend a lot of time in bookstores and around fellow writers, and my reading list is constantly growing. It’s just a part of who I am, and it permeates my whole life. I work in arts, culture, media and publishing, and all my friends are all creators of some sort, so books and records and artworks are everywhere, just like when I was growing up. As a kid I lived in a pretty rough neighbourhood so going to the library or getting immersed in books or comics or music provided a bit of peace. Now I average about 3-5 books a week.

As for how I decide what to read? It’s mostly about following my interests. I always have one book by my bed, one in my jacket pocket, one in the bag I carry around, and often there’s also an audio-book or a PDF that I have on my phone. Usually, they are also very different genres: fiction, philosophy, poetry, comics, whatever. I’m the kind of person to walk into someone’s house, even when there’s a party going on, and waltz right over to the bookshelf for a deep dive into what they have. I have previously made decisions about who I might befriend, date or sleep with based on their bookshelf, or worse, lack thereof.

״I'm the kind of person to walk into someone's house, even when there's a party going on, and waltz right over to the bookshelf for a deep dive into what they have. I have previously made decisions about who I might befriend, date or sleep with based on their bookshelf, or worse, lack thereof. ״

- Andrej Kapor

Andrej Kapor.

You also mentioned music as a big part of your life. Can you tell me more about that?

Yes, music is a huge obsession. We were a radio household growing up: the radio was on first thing in the morning, and it would stay on in the kitchen all day long. We weren’t a TV household, though; the TV only came on if we were watching something specific and with intention. But the radio was always on in the background, playing music and sparking discussions.

I remember a specific moment when I was about 7 years old. The Croatian right-wing government tried to shut down a radio station that was actively critical of the political establishment. They suspended its license, but that very night 100,000 people showed up in the square to protest, and the government had to backtrack. I was just a kid at the time, but being there in that crowd with my mother, witnessing the people-power, it was a defining moment for me.

Later, when we moved to Dublin, I had the good fortune of being immersed in Ireland’s incredibly rich musical tradition as well. The likes of Sinéad O’Connor or Shane McGowan weren’t mythical figures and rock superstars there, but normal people you would run into at the cafe or the grocery store. The Irish are hilarious, too: a guy I met once said “oh I don’t really play” and then a few minutes later he joined the jam session that was happening in the corner of the bar and proceeded to play all seven instruments at virtuoso level like it’s nothing. And this was like, trad music, you know? Really difficult, technical stuff.

I also play several instruments; guitar, piano, some percussion, almost entirely self-taught. It’s a bit like the languages - I just like to dabble in the variety and develop an intuitive understanding of the skills and vocabulary involved. Many of my friends are world-class professional musicians, so I do have to humble myself and declare that I am a hobbyist, but I love to jam with others, work on compositions, and generally learn songs that I like on any instrument that takes my fancy in the moment. When I was learning piano it was mostly stuff from Nick Cave’s The Boatman’s Call album, whereas with percussion I picked up a lot from the Master Musicians of Joujouka, a legendary Sufi trance band from Morocco who I stayed with some years ago. The guitar has always been around, it’s the instrument I have played the longest. My father used to play when he was alive, and later my stepdad would show me some stuff from the Spanish classical and flamenco traditions, which helped me get my
bearings.

״I found solace in books and comics, and the librarians were always kind people. Even later, when we lived in Ireland, there was a local public library where the head librarian spotted my keen interest and used to give me books sort of under the counter like, "Here, kid, read this". We're still in touch, even though he retired some years ago. ״

- Andrej Kapor

Were there any other influences on you growing up, like you mentioned comics for example?

Oh yeah, comics definitely had an impact. It wasn’t just the typical stuff like Asterix or Spider-Man, although I liked those too. I was more drawn to European comics, like the French Bande Dessinée tradition and the Italian Sergio Bonelli Editore. These weren’t just pop culture comics; they were much more demanding and often had deep literary, historical, and political undertones. Comics like Corto Maltese told historical stories about a rogue sailor during the early 20th century, full of international intrigue and mythology. There were also the noir horror-detective Dylan Dog, or satirical works like Alan Ford. It was only later in life when I re-visited these, that I understood the extent of the impact they had on who I am today.

I also spent a lot of time in public libraries, reading whatever I could get my hands on. I grew up in Zagreb during the '90s, and the city was pretty tough - violence, drugs, a lot of tension. My neighbourhood, in particular, was one you stayed away from. Still is, apparently. But even then, I found solace in books and comics, and the librarians were always kind people. Even later, when we lived in Ireland, there was a local public library where the head librarian spotted my keen interest and used to give me books sort of under the counter like, “Here, kid, read this”. Really advanced stuff sometimes, but he clearly had a lot of faith in me. We’re still in touch, even though he retired some years ago.

Andrej Kapor.

Looking back, was there a deeper thing you were craving for in your life?

Well, there was always this passion for learning. I’ve always loved knowing things, experiencing new stuff. I think I was about 5 or 6 when I got gifts like the "Kids Encyclopedia of Science" and "The Big Book of Rock 'n Roll". I’ve always been an avid knowledge seeker, just trying to understand and experience the world around me, trying to seize every opportunity. The arts were everywhere in my life - they were a big part of that journey.

It was never really about fitting in; I was always different, but being different never bothered me. I was never bullied. In fact, other kids seemed pretty interested in me - I guess I was the weird, intriguing guy. Also, I guess I could fight. Being where I’m from, it was never an issue to stand up for myself, so that helped with the self-confidence, especially when moving schools or to a new country.

״I was always different, but being different never bothered me. I was never bullied. In fact, other kids seemed pretty interested in me. I guess I was the weird, intriguing guy. ״

- Andrej Kapor

Can you tell me more about your early interests and experiences?

I went to the Zagreb Theatre for the Young, where I took drama classes. I recently found out that my late drama teacher Zvjezdana Ladika, who passed away some 20 years ago, had a street named after her very near my old neighborhood. She was known for working with kids through drama and wrote books about theatre and pedagogy. She also used to tell us all these amazing stories, like myths and fairytales, which were also a major influence on me. I started there when I was around 6. It was my choice - I was an extroverted, attention- seeking kid, and my mom was happy to let me channel that energy somewhere else.

Even when I was doing things that other mothers might be hesitant about - like pursuing a career in poetry, for example - she never really doubted me. She occasionally questioned or challenged me, in a positive sense, but she was always supportive. It’s funny, my younger sister, who had a rather different upbringing than I did, and even had a great talent for subjects like maths and physics, also has a keen interest in music, theatre, and poetry. She actually works as the technical and set designer for theatre now and is doing really great work, I’m immensely proud of her.

At the theatre, I made a lot of friends, some of whom I am still close with, and it gave me the space to express myself. It was where I felt I could be myself, which was incredibly important. I loved arts, history, and literature in school, and was naturally communicative and inquisitive. From an early age, I had a strong sense of self.

״Even when I was doing things that other mothers might be hesitant about - like pursuing a career in poetry, for example - she never really doubted me. She occasionally questioned or challenged me, in a positive sense, but she was always supportive. ״

- Andrej Kapor

Andrej Kapor.

Was there a creative spark from a young age?

Oh, absolutely. When I was a toddler, for example, as soon as I could walk, my parents realized it was easier to repaint the walls every few months than to stop me from drawing on them with crayons. So they just painted over it every six months. For me, some sort of scribbling has always been essential. Writing and creating were just part of who I was.

״When I was a toddler, as soon as I could walk, my parents realized it was easier to repaint the walls every few months than to stop me from drawing on them with crayons. ״

- Andrej Kapor

When did you start writing?

I taught myself how to read and write when I was about 4. I used to watch Wheel of Fortune with my great-aunt and godmother, and I’d try to read the words on the screen. My first attempts at writing poetry were around 7 or 8 years old, when we got our first personal computer—Windows 95. I had a Word document where I’d write little fragments of stories and poems. I honestly thought it was lost, but last year, my aunt showed up at a family gathering with this stack of pages she had printed out. I couldn’t believe it!

What were those early writings about?

The first thing I wrote was a little book about two guys who are friends, playing chess, drinking coffee, and having random encounters. It was inspired by 19th and early 20th century social realism and early modernism - Emile Zola, Franz Kafka, that sort of stuff. I was weirdly aware of what I was doing, even at that age. The story wasn’t like the fairy tales I was used to; it felt more "real." It was a bit banal, maybe even a little condescending, but to me, it was about the “real world.”

In the book, one of the characters writes a poem about coffee, and there were fragments of poetry woven into the story. It also had references to other artforms and aspects of life; fashion, industry, politics. I was quite surprised, looking back over it, just how much my childhood self was aware of.

Do you think your upbringing influenced your writing or perspective on the world?

Definitely. Growing up in an environment that was sort of post-socialist, but in a family that still really held on to a lot of those ideals, and in the after-war years not having much money growing up, I developed a strong sense of community. Maybe that’s why I’ve always been drawn to it - there’s this deep need for connection. The world I was raised in wasn’t as individualistic as it is today. It was about collective effort, about belonging to something bigger. Now I live in this amazing creative community, I teach art to kids at a refugee centre, and a lot of my work as a curator and producer is focused on platforming marginalised voices - immigrants, people of colour, queer folk and the like. In many ways these are my people, living on the fringes but contributing in an immensely meaningful way.

You seem to find people interesting. What's your take on exceptional people?

I’ve always been fortunate to meet a lot of exceptional people throughout my life - people who stand out in ways that aren’t always easy to define. There’s an intuitive feeling you get about people, something that goes beyond words. You just get them. One of my very closest friends, Raven, who passed away a few years ago, is still someone who inspires me massively - he had this incredible way of being that would just elevate whatever space he was in. It was a strength of his powerful spirit. He taught me a lot about being creative and also just being authentically human, doing your best even when you’re not quite sure what that might look like. I can still feel his presence often.

I know a lot of people who fall outside of the “normal” spectrum, and always have. Now that I’ve been around the block once or twice, a lot of these are also people who are considered successful in various fields—you know, like A-listers, Grammy and Oscar winners, that sort of thing. But for me, the measure of success is completely arbitrary. What really matters is being true to yourself and following your calling. That’s what’s most important, the rest will come in due course.

״When I was younger, I had these grand ideas about changing the world. But as I've gotten older, I've realized that a big motivation for me now is just to make the space around me a little brigher. The better you get at that, the bigger the space you can illuminate .״

- Andrej Kapor

Why are you doing all of this?

When I was younger, I had these grand ideas about changing the world. You know, big buzzwords like "revolution" and "impact." But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that a big motivation for me now is just to make the space around me a little brighter. The better you get at that, the bigger the space you can illuminate. That’s how I rationalize it, anyway. With writing, it’s not a choice, not something I do consciously. I write because I have to, in this Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet sort of way, I must write. It’s a compulsion. But how that manifests, the form it takes, is more about how I want to affect the world around me. I’ll be writing regardless; it’s just how I express that energy. I’ve done a lot of things in life, worked as a graphic designer, art and creative writing teacher, sound and lighting technician, I’ve guided meditation sessions, organised music and arts festivals, and of course I waited tables to make ends meet way back in my student days. It has all led me here, I guess.

You mentioned the form of expression being arbitrary. Can you elaborate on that?

Yes, the form itself doesn’t matter much to me - whether it’s writing, painting, drawing, composing music, curating, or organizing an event. It’s the tools, the medium, that change, but the creative drive remains constant. I’m incredibly fortunate to be able to express myself in the ways I do, and the fact that it seems to draw audiences anywhere I go still baffles me.

The poetry especially, it’s been the most unlikely of all my interests to get me anywhere, yet it turned out to be the most successful one by far. It has literally taken me around the world. I did several big international tours in my twenties, performed and hosted a stage at the New York City Poetry Festival, which is attended by some fifteen thousand people, and I’ve shared stages with many artists whom I greatly admire.

When I started I was really keen on the publishing side, submitting my work to magazines and whatnot, but then I realised that the performance aspect is actually most interesting to me. I can integrate all sorts of elements - writing, music, visual components—into a single performance. There’s something magical about the immediacy and the ephemeral nature of performing. You’re either there for it or you miss it completely.

״What I would do if I weren't in the arts? Probably some kind of monk .״

- Andrej Kapor

What would you do if you weren't in the arts?

I guess I’d probably be some kind of monk. I’ve felt a strong spiritual calling - something that I’ve been nurturing for over 10 years through active meditation, maybe my entire life if I really think about it. I read a lot of spiritual texts—the Bible, the Upanishads, the Quran, the Yoga Sutras. Symbology has also been a major life-long interest and informs a lot of my work, and I study esotericism, tantra, the occult, even physics and quantum mechanics. I have a daily meditation practice and spent some time in India, including in a temple at the foothills of the Himalayas doing the eight-to-ten hours of yoga per day. All these practices bring me a little closer to the “source”, or however you want to define it. There’s something in all of that, some thread that connects everything. I love catching little glimpses of it, tiny slivers of illumination.

Is there a link between your spiritual journey and your creativity?

I don’t really know if there’s a clear link that I could articulate, but I feel like I’m moving towards something, and faith helps me pursue it. The creative act comes from within and goes out into the world, and the only reason it goes out is because there’s enough faith to keep moving in that direction. It’s this belief that if I keep swimming in a certain direction, I will eventually reach land. I keep asking myself that question: Where is it going? What does it mean? But the answer is irrelevant, it’s just that the question propels me forward. The experience of faith is quite similar, I think. Big questions, answers ever-elusive.

״The truth is also quite elusive. It's not something you can simply look for; it's something you enact. I try to behave in ways that make my actions feel like they matter, like they have consequence. Each moment is a binary choice - not right or wrong necessarily, but a choice .״

- Andrej Kapor

What's your perspective on truth?

The truth is also quite elusive. It’s not something you can simply look for; it’s something you enact. I try to behave in ways that make my actions feel like they matter, like they have consequence. Each moment is a binary choice - not right or wrong necessarily, but a choice. We have the capacity to discern between them, and we practice it like we practice an instrument. I try to live the way I believe, not just theorize about it. It’s very real to me. And some things that matter to me, I’m absolutely set on them. Like with writing, for instance - it’s a pillar in my life. If I didn’t have it, I’m not sure what I’d do. I might pick up a gun. It’s that essential to me. The creative and curious act is at the very core of my being.

״For me, the act of creation is about more than just art for art's sake. It's a way to engage with the world, to question it and interact with it. And the things that seem to come out of it, musings about truth, love, death, God - those concepts fascinate me because they're so-evert present but also deeply mysterious .״

- Andrej Kapor

How do you approach the creative process?

Well, I almost never do it with a clear pre-conceived intention, like “now I’m gonna sit down and create something” - unless there’s a commission that I’m being handsomely compensated for. I just wait for the inspiration to hit me and then I go for it. You have to carry the tools of the trade with you, of course. I always have a notebook and a pen with me, anywhere I go. The weapons are constantly loaded and ready. Then, it’s like a feedback loop; you create, you experience, and then you create again. It’s constantly evolving. I also feel that the sense of creative ownership is a farce, and this is something I’ve often discussed with my peers. We are merely conduits, channelling something higher.

For me, the act of creation is about more than just art for art’s sake. It’s a way to engage with the world, to question it and interact with it. And the things that seem to come out of it, musings about truth, love, death, God - those concepts fascinate me because they’re so ever-present but also deeply mysterious.

In my day job, I work in media, covering mostly political, environmental, and humanitarian issues. The aim there is to get at the truth, but it’s always a very quantifiable truth. People assume that’s the real truth, but it’s not. You get closer to the truth, maybe an ultimate truth, through poetic or spiritual endeavours, at least in my experience.

Can you tell me more about your day job and how it connects to your creative work?

My day job is as a publishing editor for a media intelligence company. We analyze the media landscape, follow major trends, and make highly-specialized reports. I often joke that it’s something between journalism and espionage. I did a research Master’s degree in media, which gave me the skillset to be able to do this, but also a lifetime of involvement in politics, activism, and environmental and humanitarian causes helped lay the groundwork.

It’s a full-time job. On top of that, I run my own media production company that is more focused on arts and culture. That’s where I organize events, curate, and manage projects. I love that balance - being involved in the creative side and also engaging with the real world through my work. It stops the creative act from becoming too self-serving or ego-driven.

I’m also chairperson of the board at a concert venue and art gallery where we work with counter-culture, underground and outsider art, community and activism. Just recently we had a big fundraiser for a group that works in supporting medical practitioners in war zones. War is my earliest memory so being able to work with and support projects like this is something that I feel a massive responsibility towards.

Anyway, doing all these things means that I can let the creative work, like poetry for example, come in a pure and uninhibited form. There’s no pressure or restraint, I don’t need to worry about making a buck, I can just do it, let it happen freely.

״When I was younger, I was an anarchist, protesting, throwing bricks, running away from cops. But over time, through introspection and spiritual seeking, I realized it's more important to create the world I want to live in than to try to destroy the one I don't like.״

- Andrej Kapor

You mentioned teaching refugee kids and working in the real world. Can you tell me more about that?

Absolutely. I currently teach art to kids in a refugee centre, once a week. Back in my twenties when I lived in Ireland I also used to teach creative writing, public speaking, and art to refugees, children with special needs, and sometimes adults. It’s something I feel deeply responsible for - doing something that actually makes a difference in the world. It’s when I feel that the work actually has meaning.

When I was younger, I was an anarchist, protesting, throwing bricks, running away from cops, that sort of thing. I also spent years in activism, squatting, and various black-block activities I’d rather not get into on-the-record, if you get me. But over time, through introspection and spiritual seeking, I realized it’s more important to create the world I want to live in than to try to destroy the one I don’t like. That’s been a huge shift for me. I stopped doing drugs, started meditating, traveling, and seeing the world in a more engaged way.

Now, I’m primarily driven by community-building. It’s easier, and I think much more important, to build a positive alternative than to carelessly try to dismantle what’s already there. And I think that’s what’s really empowering.

What's been a major realization for you on your journey?

Probably this sense of social and karmic responsibility. When I started out with performing for example, I was 16 and sneaking into open mics in bars, not even allowed to be there. But I practised my craft, and I got better through the pressure, and eventually had some moderate levels of success with it. And now, I feel a karmic responsibility to pass the baton to younger, inexperienced artists. I got my chance, and I want to offer that same opportunity to others. Watching people grow and develop has been one of the greatest joys of my career. I’m surrounded by incredibly talented, hardworking people who inspire me every day. That’s one of the greatest privileges of my life.

״Observation, being able to see things with a certain intelligence or unique perspective, that's talent, too. It's not about technique or skill; it's about the way you observe and engage with the world.״

- Andrej Kapor

What is a talented artist?

I used to think there is no such thing as a "talented artist" but now I’m not so sure. Let me tell you a story: there’s a 3-year-old in the refugee camp where I teach - this kid is completely traumatized, non-verbal, but creates these incredible finger paintings. One time she made a half-dozen incredible artworks in one short half-hour session. Honestly, as a curator, I’d proudly hang this stuff in my gallery. She took four colors, just mixing them and creating something that truly blew me away. That's talent in its purest form.

Another kid, even significantly older like an 8- or 9-year-old, might not have the same compositional skills or deep, natural sensitivity, but that observation - being able to see things with a certain intelligence or unique perspective - that's talent too. It's not about technique or skill; it’s about the way you observe and engage with the world. I think talent is that divine spark. It's not always something you can see immediately, but it’s there.

״Not everyone has the same spark. We're all here to fulfill different roles, and maybe your spark is for something other than the arts. The hand of God does not guide the paintbrush or pen alone.״

- Andrej Kapor

So, does everyone have talent?

Well, not everyone has the same spark. We’re all here to fulfil different roles, and maybe your spark is for something other than the arts. The hand of God does not guide the paintbrush or pen alone… I have a friend back in Dublin who's an electrician, and the pride and joy he takes in his work is also a true form of artistic sensitivity. I believe everyone has something they’re meant to do, whether it’s creating art, building things, or helping people. Even the dullest administrative tasks can be performed with a sense of divine inspiration. That stuff is what makes the world turn, after all. Sometimes just existing is okay too.

״Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.״

- Pablo Picasso

The Picasso quote about every child being an artist, that resonates with me. I think most people are being guided in a direction by their intuition, but they often willingly ignore the signs. Once you start paying attention, though, it’s hard to ignore the pull. It’s important to truly listen.

How do you get to that place of listening to yourself?

Fear holds people back. From a very young age, we're conditioned to be afraid. Why? Because there's so much to fear - sickness, death, decay, and the inevitable struggles of life. We’re aware of the futility of it all, but somehow, we still keep going. We persevere because there's something deeper that drives us, even if we can't quite put our finger on it.

You don’t need to stress about purpose or happiness, though. People spend so much time questioning these things. Sometimes, it’s about just living and letting things unfold. There’s no destination. I think life itself is a work in progress.

״Don't make big plans or set huge goals. Instead, just focus on what's in front of you right now. Work diligently at whatever task is at hand, and keep your horizons open. Don't get lost in the grand scheme. There's always something shiny, something that flickers in the distant corner. Pay attention to that, even if it feels insignificant in the moment, it might well change your life.״

- Andrej Kapor

What's your advice for a beginner artist?

Honestly, nothing groundbreaking, but here’s the thing: don’t make big plans or set huge goals. Instead, just focus on what’s in front of you right now. Work diligently at whatever task is at hand, and keep your horizons open. Don’t get lost in the grand scheme. There’s always something shiny, something that flickers in the distant corner. Pay attention to that, even if it feels insignificant in the moment, it might well change your life. Most things that have been the true game-changers in my life began as a spark out the corner of my eye.

And finally, what's next on the horizon?

Oh, a lot… I’ve been going through an incredibly creative period lately, the last few months especially. Last year I did some pretty intense therapy, to deal with the war trauma and whatnot, stuff dating back to Sarajevo but also things that have happened since, and it’s been massively healing. I have this new-found openness and sensitivity that have let me explore areas that were previously quite walled off. And there were an awful lot of walls there to break down. The results have been… surprising. By the end of the year I will have two books, a short film and an album out. At this stage it’s just clearing out a backlog because there’s a whole bunch more to come after that, including the much-dreaded novel. But this is just the creative side. I’m also developing several businesses in the meantime, although I’ll keep all that under wraps for now - I don’t like talking about things until they are at least somewhat ripened. Maybe by the time we chat again, I’ll have more to say about it.