By Sasha Bogojev
From humble beginnings in 1980s as graffiti writers in their São Paulo neighborhood of Cambuci, to museum and high end gallery shows worldwide, OSGEMEOS are preparing for another milestone event this year. On March 26th, Lehmann Maupin in Hong Kong will be opening Déjà Vu, the first solo exhibition by the Brazilian artists in Hong Kong.
Timed with Art Basel week in Hong Kong this exhibition will also be the first major showing for the twin brothers Gustavo and Otavio Pandolfo in Asia. With this showcase, OSGEMEOS will be introducing their approach to art exhibitions as immersive, multi-sensory experiences. Paying tribute to music, one of their greatest influences and sources of inspiration, the centerpiece of the show will likely be a mixed media sound installation, White Carnival (2016). Comprised of vintage speakers, painted to resemble their signature yellow characters in a choir formation, this piece is part of a continuing series of similar installations introduced at their earlier shows worldwide. Along with more traditional paintings, which pay homage to the golden age of hip-hop in late 1970s and early 1980s , the show is sort of a trip down memory lane for the artists themselves. Strongly influenced by everyday ingenuity and resourcefulness in their working class neighborhood, their works are multimedia creations consisting of intricately patterned designs, signature spray paint line work, and a wide range of vibrant colors as well as additional materials that emphasize these elements. Using an array of poetic, allegorical motifs such as water and the moon and stars, OSGEMEOS are creating their own universe in which real people and events mix with surreal fantasy, creating lucid dream imagery. Through their images, the brothers are expressing their unique shared intuition and subconscious experiences, aiming to empower their audience so that we will pay attention to our own innermost thoughts and emotions.