Electronic Eyes, 2011. spray paint and acrylic on panel 74 3/4 x 48 in. (190 x 122 cm)

PROVENANCE Prism Gallery, Los Angeles Private Collection
PREFACE BRAZILIAN
Os Gêmeos (Portuguese for “The Twins”) is the collaborative artistic venture of identical twin brothers Otavio and Gustavo Pandolfo. Born and raised in Sao Paulo, Os Gêmeos began their career twenty years ago as graffiti artists, working in local, urban neighborhoods. Since then they have expanded their practice into the realms of painting, sculpture, and installation, while continuing to draw inspiration from contemporary Brazilian life. Their body of work incorporates elements from the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazilian heritage, and popular culture, all of which feature prominently in their conceptual and aesthetic approaches.Otavio and Gustavo are equal participants in Os Gêmeos’ creative processes, often starting and finishing each other’s works as part of their artistic practice. While much of their imagery is derived from everyday scenes, a significant aspect originates in the imaginary land of Tritrez, a dream world created and experienced only by the brothers, where they have developed an innovative and sometimes surreal visual vocabulary. Os Gêmeos also rely on improvisation, believing it to be a stalwart of Latin American creative vision. Borrowing from surrealist philosophy, they give free reign to their imaginations and materials, enjoying the process of creation just as much as its result. Drawing from these influences, as well as from the artists’ personal impressions of day to day life in Brazil, Os Gêmeos have developed a unique aesthetic that is immediately recognizable as their own.Their style is characterized by vibrant color, rich detail, and quirky figures. The characters in their works are usually disproportionate in their two-dimensionality—they are flat and elongated, and always painted in a bright yellow hue. These distinctive figures often represent street performers and colorful characters of everyday life. They tend to have highly embellished garments, adding to their role as the lively hosts of the streets. By bringing elements of urban art and culture into the gallery space, Os Gêmeos’ work blurs the boundaries between street and fine art, effectively harmonizing the supposed disparities between counter-culture movements and more traditional aesthetics.Electronic Eyes is a prime example of Os Gêmeos’ signature style. The artists populate a fantastical, sparse setting with two figures rendered in skewed perspective. The primary figure— a musician— is strikingly emblematic of Os Gêmeos’ aesthetic. The bright yellow drummer is oddly proportioned, and his oversized head is in stark contrast with the gaunt legs that emerge from his colorful outfit. We sense a subtle grimace on his face, which is reflected in the anthropomorphous expressions of his drum and drumstick. A small child stands in the foreground, portrayed in a robot costume with a cut-out heart shape. The fire in his heart fuels his actions before our eyes, and we realize that he is both a traditional machine and metaphorical reference to a human being. Indeed, every figure in the painting—whether human or object— is given a life of its own. They are in the midst of a performance, a phenomenon that celebrates being alive, and as their audience we are invited to take part. Through its creative interplay and amalgam of influences, the present lot allows us to witness the communion between musician and instrument, and between artist and audience. Everything is energized and animated during the process of creation, resulting in a multi-sensorial feast of color and form.