Thinkspace is pleased to present Horizon Light featuring new work by duo Giorgiko.
Giorgiko’s latest body of work explores the transition and tension between seasons of life so often filled with uncertainty. What lies in the darkness when the sun fades behind the horizon? Will the darkness flee from the morning light? What will comfort us in times of desperation? Come enter a world where wonder dwells in the mystery between light and shadow.
In anticipation of Horizon Light, our interview with Giorgiko explores their collaborative relationship, creative process, and a romantic comedy starring Jack Black.
SH: For those that are not familiar with your work, can you give us a brief look at your individual artistic backgrounds and how you came to work together?
Darren: Both Trisha and I graduated from ArtCenter College of Design, which is also where we met and started dating. During school, Trisha took a children’s book illustration class, where she wrote a story about a wayfaring little girl. I loved the story, and we talked about possibly working together in the future. Post-grad, we worked separately as illustrators doing small commissions, shows, and freelance jobs. In 2014, we finally decided to collaborate on a few post-it note paintings for GR2’s “Post-it Show” and had so much fun with it. We continued to create and develop our joint style and in late 2018 we officially became “Giorgiko”.
SH: What’s the story behind the name you chose for your collaborative output?
G: Giorgiko started as a mashup of our middle names George and Songyi. We thought the name Georgie fit our collaborative style well, and sounded a little cuter than our other options: Darisha or Trisharren, haha. As we explored the name further, we found that “Giorgi” comes from the Greek word meaning “farmer” or “earth-worker”, and “-ko” is the Japanese suffix that means “child”. We feel that the resulting meaning of “earth-working child” represents our work very well, as we depict very human emotions and experiences through a childlike lens.
SH: What is the inspiration and themes you explored for this body of work?
G: The main theme we are exploring in this body of work is life transition, as well as the feelings of fear and hope associated with it, metaphorically depicted through the transition between light and dark. It explores the calm before the storm and the storm before the calm. We were inspired by our experiences in life of waiting hopefully for dawn to break in seasons of darkness, and the feelings of bracing for what is to come as the sun dips below the horizon.
SH: Is there a particular piece in this exhibition you feel really challenged the two of you? If so, why and what makes you proud of this piece.
G: In this body of work, we stretched ourselves with more involved and complex imagery, with some of the images featuring multiple characters and other images having diverse and imaginative backgrounds. Probably the most challenging piece for us was “Stampede,” which we redrew and repainted repeatedly as we tried to figure out the character’s pose and the feeling of the piece. In doing so, the image has changed substantially, and in the end we love how it turned out and feel it is a piece that really engages the viewer.
SH: What is your individual favorite and least favorite part of the creative process?
Darren: “My favorite part of the process would have to be ideation. When Trisha and I start talking about an image or series we want to create, it is exhilarating and we often find ourselves building on top of each other’s ideas, making them better and better. My least favorite part of the process is drawing.”
Trisha: “My favorite part of the creative process is when we get on the same page and get all pumped up about the piece or concept. My least favorite part is when we have clashing visions and get annoyed at each other.”
SH: Tell us what you feel is your partner’s artistic strength and how he/she helps you be a better artist (a reply from each would be great here)
Darren: “Trisha has an uncanny ability to create cuteness. It’s in her nature to know how to make everyday moments sweet and convey them in imagery. She can draw with effortlessness and capture these moments in a few simple strokes of her pen. I love this, and it inspires me to pay attention to subtleties in life and work.”
Trisha: “Darren is a total big-picture person, whereas I tend to get stuck in the small details. He is always dreaming, thinking ahead, and problem-solving. He is often the catalyst that sets our exhibitions and storylines into motion.
SH: Who is an artist; musician, director, any art form – who would be a dream collaboration for the two of you and what would you create?
G: The first thing that comes to mind is “Hedgehog in the Fog,” an animated short directed by Yuri Norstein. We’re not familiar with his other works, but we love this super mysterious, dreamy, and weird short of his. We’d love seeing our characters in stop-motion, encountering their fears as well as great beauty in the fog with the little hedgehog.
SH: A Netflix movie is being made about your life / partnership, who would be cast to play each of you (the actor does not need to look like you, more be able to capture your essence) and what kind of movie would it be?
G: Our Netflix movie would be a romantic comedy war movie, starring Ken Watanabe as Darren and Jack Black as Trisha.
SH: If you could download any skill into your brain, Matrix-style, what would you want to instantly learn?
Darren: “Piano. When I see a professional pianist playing, it feels like they are pushing the notes out of their body in the most satisfying way.”
Trisha: “How to sing like Celine Dion.”
SH: Would you rather be able to talk to animals or read people’s minds?
Darren: “Talk to animals. I feel if I could read people’s minds, every conversation would be too tempting to manipulate.”
Trisha: “Talk to animals. I’m pretty sure I don’t want to know what goes on in people’s minds. Plus, I would like to be able to convince animals to not eat me if the situation were ever to arise.”
SH: Fun Hypothetical: A world-renowned chef wants to make a dish inspired by your artwork and favorite food. What would be the dishes ingredients and what is it similar too?
Trisha: “That’s a hard question because I like things like cheeseburgers and pizza. Maybe something kind of earthy and bitter, with a hint of sweetness that isn’t overpowering, like a cherry on top. Something reminiscent of 87% dark chocolate cake that mostly tastes like dirt, a la mode. Darren likes Japanese food.”
Join us for the opening reception of Horizon Light Saturday, February 29th, from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm.
