Andre Tassano

Leaving state education behind me

I grew up in a British army officer’s family. While I was still a small boy, my mother had to cover our walls with sticky back plastic because I’d draw all over them. At seven I entered my first competition and got in at second place. However, years later when I was thirteen and living in Canada, the competition I had wanted to apply for, never received my painting; the headmaster of my school took it out of the competition and stuck it on the wall in his office behind him. Since then I haven’t tried any competitions and dropped out of school. I moved to (what was then early 80’s) west Berlin and at fourteen moved into a squat. That’s where my creativity really took off.

Artistic paradise

The punk scene was flourishing and there was no time to waste (or perhaps the opposite depending on your point of view). I sang in bands, made artwork for fanzines, bands and venues. After a while I realised that getting an education might be beneficial, however the (alternative) school I applied for laughed at my red hair thus reinforcing my view that perhaps society isn’t quite ready for me yet.


Adult and “The fall of the Wall”

Had to happen at some point - The fall of the Berlin Wall. This was...