"The immersion of designing a large wall fascinated me right from the start"

Balthasar Bosshard, alias Wonky, is this year's winner of the street art competition. In his mural "Walk of Fame", the Winterthur artist interprets typical places in Winterthur. He used around 50 spray cans to create it. In this interview, he talks about what fascinates him about designing walls, what inspires him as an artist and where he likes to recharge his batteries in Winterthur.

Winterthur artist Balthasar Bosshard in Tokyo. He finds inspiration for his art while traveling.

Wonky creating his "Walk of Fame" mural.

How did your application for this wall come about?
BalthasarBosshard: I've been painting since I was about 13 years old. At some point, my body just wasn't up to it anymore. I now mostly draw and design in my studio - for example, posters or artwork, often for musicians. As I like the variety and my body is now able to do more, I wanted to design more walls again. So the call for entries came at just the right time.

What fascinates you about designing large walls?
Immersing myself in a picture. I forget everything around me. That has always fascinated me from the very beginning. And when you're finished, the whole thing looks completely different again in this dimension. I also like the fact that you're outside.  

Where do you get the inspiration for your art?
My ideas usually arise in my head - outside the studio. I think about it and then I start drawing pretty quickly. A lot of things develop directly through drawing itself. Everything is actually inspiring if you go through life with your eyes open. Going out, not sitting at home in front of your cell phone, experiencing something. Music, concerts or traveling to other countries - all of that inspires me massively.

What connects you to Winterthur?
It's my home town. I grew up a bit outside of it, but I've known Winterthur since I was a child. I moved here at some point and have stayed ever since. Because I couldn't think of anywhere better at the moment.

Where is your favorite place to be in Winterthur?
I really like going to the "Rosengärtli". Especially in the evening, to clear my head, have a beer and look into the distance. It's also nice by the Töss. You can also be in the forest so quickly. A very special place for me is the "Gamser". There are two benches right at the bottom, from where you can see Kyburg Castle. It's especially beautiful at night when the moon is out.

Interview: Alessia Baumgartner, August 2025