Colour, football and design: RBL visit artist NAKA | OneFootball

As we drive through a colourful district in São Paulo, past colourful house walls and lively streets, our destination is a small studio that smells of creativity and that slightly acrid, but somehow also ingenious smell of spray cans. Colour can be found everywhere: on the floor, the walls, the furniture - even the fridge and armchairs are covered in a veil of grey paint. Brushes, palette knives and Eddings are piled up as the creative chaos of NAKA is evident.

NAKA's ideas come into fruition in this colourful room. The 39-year-old Brazilian is the creative mind behind the special printing on which adorns tour of Brazil. Along with Xaver Schlager and Nicolas Seiwald, we visited him in his studio with one key question in mind: how did this special design come about?

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Football and spray cans form NAKA's ideas

NAKA began to take an interest in art at the age of 13, first on paper before the walls in the centre of his home town of Osasco became his canvas, in typically urban fashion. "Of course, it wasn't allowed to simply spray walls with graffiti, but it provided a chance to let off steam," he tells us with a laugh. What began as a youthful urge for self-realisation quickly turned into sought-after commissioned art.

His art is not only visible on street walls, rather NAKA also began to work for Brazilian footballers, producing boot designs and goalkeeper gloves before, now, the special jersey printing for RB Leipzig and Red Bull Bragantino. "The enquiry came at somewhat short notice," he says. "However, it was immediately clear that I want to reflect my identity on the jersey - that which defines me, my country and our culture."

The spirit of the game

Football is more than just a sport in Brazil - it is part of the nation's identity. There are countless small-sided pitches in the cities where children flock with a ball under their arms, often barefoot, just going for it. "This time shaped me, both as a person and as an artist," reports NAKA. "Spending the whole day on the football pitch with my friends was the greatest thing for me. These experiences still inspire me today. That's the spirit of our game: diversity, joy and cohesion."

Nici Seiwald realised this immediately: "Every detail of this design holds meaning and originates from something deeper. That's when you realise how much work and inspiration goes into a project like this."

A place full of inspiration - and space to get involved

Anyone who even briefly looks around NAKA's studio gets a feel for his love of the game and diversity. The walls are full of photos of him in a Brazilian jersey, pictures from visits to stadiums and old football pitch motifs. His art is colourful, warm and inviting. "He's totally in his own world," says an impressed Xaver Schlager. "The walls and the atmosphere here have a very special flair."

NAKA proved that he not only handles colour on paper but can also perform spontaneously. He grabbed a sharpie and got underway. Of course, Xaver and Nici were also allowed to lend a hand and express themselves. "We still need a bit more practice," they admit with a laugh. "We're not the best of artists at this moment in time."

An emotional debut for our special printing

The project with RB Leipzig was a real highlight for NAKA: "I'm incredibly happy to have been given this opportunity. Yesterday, I was sitting on the couch and saw the posts on Instagram, which touched me deeply. The fact that Bragantino on Tuesday and Leipzig on Wednesday are bringing my art to the world makes me incredibly proud."

Xaver Schlager is also looking forward to the match in the special kit: "The atmosphere will certainly be as great as our jersey. People are very emotional here - on and off the pitch. I think the Brazilian style of play will be very different from our European one. I'm looking forward to it!"

In the end, it was an inspiring meeting, where football, art and what connects the two was discussed, including passion, creativity and the courage to create something unique.

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