Cacho

Cacho

Body painter, Clean, Big Dreamer

“I’ve been doing the body painting for years now. I want to give people a chance to share their story. In New York everybody’s trying to get ahead and nobody really listens because it’s a huge competition all the time. With me, I listen and they get to open up to a stranger. It’s easier to share secrets with a stranger than a family member or a psychologist. You see me one time and that’s it. It really is a place where people can express themselves freely, without judgments.”

“I ask you all these questions: ‘How long have you been here? Are you an only child? How has that affected you? What is your relationship to your mom or your dad?’ You start sharing, I paint the story on your body and keep pushing the vulnerability.”

“I had no set plan moving to New York. Just a question. How do I make myself noticed? There was no social media back then, so I started working on the street at Broadway and Prince, painting peoples stories on t-shirts and denims. You have to pay to have a stand there, but I had a clothing rack I had stolen, so whenever the police came I grabbed the rack and told the police I was just transporting clothes.”

“I see the similarities we have as New Yorkers. We all have our own little secrets and struggles. They stay here. After I’m done painting the story, we wash it off in the shower and the secrets go down the drain.”

“I’ve bodypainted a lot of straight guys who get aroused. I’m like ‘of course you get aroused. I’m touching your balls. Don’t worry about it. It’s fine.’ It’s such a connection when we work together, that it just happens sometimes. I’m not ignoring them, but ignoring that.”

“I’m a loner. I like to be alone, but I can still feel lonely here. It’s part of the baggage New York comes with. I make my relationships through these people that I meet. I have a super intense relationship with them for 3-4 hours, and then I feel empty afterwards. It’s like a drug.”

“The city has this energy that you can’t put into words. It’s dirty. It’s full of rats. The weather sucks. You don’t rest. It’s a pretty disgusting place really, but none of that matters. I’m a big dreamer, so I don’t see all the downsides. From here you can do anything, anywhere. People look at you differently when you make something here.”

Q&A

What neighborhood do you live in? Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Best thing about living there? The restaurants.

Favorite neighborhood in New York? In the city probably the Washington Square Park area. But still, I don’t think I’ll change my corner in Williamsburg unless I’m forced to.

Favorite street to stroll? Crosby Street.

Why? It was the first street I lived on when I moved to the city. It brings back good memories.

Favorite restaurant? The Four Horsemen, Williamsburg.

Favorite bar? Top of the Standard. It’s is the most beautiful bar in New York.

Hidden gem? Pepe Rosso on Sullivan Street.

How to be(come) a New Yorker? Walk faster, become immune to sirens and construction.

Your New York soundtrack? I want to break free by Queen.

“If you shoot for the stars, this is the city that you need to be in, but you need perseverance. You have to believe that you are good enough. Don’t move to New York if you don’t have a big dream. You’re going to suffer. It’s not worth it. Come visit.”

5 THINGS THAT TELL A STORY ABOUT CACHO

SUNGLASSES “These were my grandfathers. Before he died I asked him to leave these for me. We had this connection through the arts. He was a bit of an asshole and not very nice to the family, but he was always very nice to me.”

KEY CHAIN “This represents me getting clean and going to Narcotics Anonymous. I have a collection. Every 30 days they give you a new key chain. It’s special because it was a rough one. I have been clean since August 2017.”

NECK PILLOW “We had our 20 year high school reunion last year. Everyone but me live in Paraguay so they see each other regularly. I am kind of off, but meeting them again reminded me that good relationships never really changes. I felt like I was 15 again.”

MARATHON MEDAL “I always wanted to run the New York marathon since I saw Forrest Gump. I used to be the guy with hungover watching them. Part of me getting clean is related to me having the dream of running the marathon.”

RING “The ring represents union partnership and love. I am a loner, so I wanted to be by myself. This was given to me as a compromise.”