On June 29 2014 Galeria Fortes Vilaça opened the show A ópera da lua [The Opera of the Moon] by the artists OSGEMEOS. The artists present new works, in an immersive environment, where their narrative world takes on a new dimension.
Throughout their artistic career, OSGEMEOS have resorted to a variety of techniques and supports either concurrently or alternately, ranging from drawing to graffiti and mural paintings, from painting to kinetic images, sculptures and installations. The show A ópera da lua features about thirty paintings, three sculptures and a 3-D video installation. The works on display include the largest sculpture ever made by the artists, a secret project that was only revealed on the show’s opening day.
OSGEMEOS | A ópera da lua
Introduce yourself (what would you like people to know about
you, who you are, what you do etc…):
OG: We are Gustavo and Otávio Pandolfo, known as OSGEMEOS (“the twins” in Portuguese). We were born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and we are artists that live in between São Paulo and New York.
The current exhibition is a big departure from the previous work, how did you create the concept?
OG: We are working in the exhibition “Opera of the moon” for over 2 year now. For us, all our projects are developments from each other, always the next step, closer and closer to the world that exist in our minds. The concept of this exhibition has lots to do with the way our minds work – its an opera! A big opera composed by many different and special elements, such as the sound and the movement – that’s why we explored the movement more than ever in our work this time, playing with the concept of animation. Like the opera and the music, our show has a beginning and an end, but also lots of silences in the middle.
Who and what inspires you?
OG: We are inspired 24 hours per day, receiving and filtering everything we see, feel and experience. We get inspiration in life, dreams, travelling, people, cities, women, sex, music, love, hate, family, friends…
Who are your icons, past and present?
OG: In general, the nature, god and his creations. There are also lots of artists that inspire us, such as Slava Polunin (Russia), Roger Waters (UK), Aryz (Spain), Blu (Italy), Barry McGee (US), Doze Green (US), Martha Cooper (US), Henry Chalfant (US), VLOK Crew, JR (France), Todd James (US), Mark & Vaughn Bodé (US), TSK Crew, Banksy (UK), Montana Colors (Spain).
What did you think of the 2014 World Cup and Brazil’s performance, what impact will this have on the nation?
OG: We were never big soccer fans actually. When younger, we were always very excited for the world cup period – not because of the soccer, but because everyone else would be inside their homes watching the matches, leaving the streets empty! This meant that we could go out and explore our city to paint, and no one would bother us. We think that the nation shouldn’t feel impacted at all because of soccer, as we have more important issues to deal with this year – elections year.
I visited Sao Paulo in June and took a lot of pictures of the amazing street art. A lot of it had themes protesting against the World Cup and the amount of public money being spent – is the best art inspired by protest?
OG: The best art is the one that comes from your soul and from your truth. It doesn’t matter if the art is protesting or not. There is space for all kinds of art, and that’s the beauty of it. If the art can touch others, you did it.
What is the OSGEMEOS philosophy/mantra?
OG: Believe in your dreams and imagination.
What is your favourite lyric from a song?
OG: It is so hard to mention only one, because there are so many lyrics we love! But we will tell you one as a gift:
Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd
Hello
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me
Is there anyone at home?
Come on now
I hear you’re feeling down
Well, I can ease your pain
And get you on your feet again
Relax
I’ll need some information first
Just the basic facts
Can you show me where it hurts
There is no pain, you are receding
A distant ship’s smoke on the horizon
You are only coming through in waves
Your lips move but I can’t hear what you’re saying
When I was a child I had a fever
My hands felt just like two balloons
Now I’ve got that feeling once again
I can’t explain, you would not understand
This is not how I am
I have become comfortably numb
I have become comfortably numb
Ok
Just a little pin prick
There’ll be no more
Ah!
But you might feel a little sick
Can you stand up?
I do belive it’s working, good
That’ll keep you going, through the show
Come on it’s time to go.
There is no pain you are receding
A distant ship’s smoke on the horizon
You are only coming through in waves
Your lips move, but I can’t hear what you’re saying
When I was a child
I caught a fleeting glimpse
Out of the corner of my eye
I turned to look but it was gone
I cannot put my finger on it now
The child is grown
The dream is gone
And I have become
Comfortably numb
Will OSGEMEOS be coming to exhibit in London any time in the future?
OG: So far, we don’t have any projects planned for London in the near future, but we would love to go there soon!
FTS: Thank you so much for your time and inspired art. Very best wishes from all at Flip the Script.
OSGEMEOS A ópera da lua Photo: Eduardo Ortega
