Geoffrey is a well known artist. His personal site Okulart has rapidly becoming an art cult, while his commercial site champaignvalentine features work for clients like Diesel, Napster and VH1 can leave anyone puzzled on the question – where does real arts stop and commercial art start nowadays. Exile interviewed Geoffrey to find out where he is heading with his personal and commercial art.
ilya
What is animation?
Geoffrey
A movement that suggests a physical sensation through rhythm.
ilya
In your work you use a lot of creatures. Do you see them as characters?
Geoffrey
Not the word creatures! For heavens sake, these are lovers.
ilya
Mute lovers? Charming. I need to find one soon.
Geoffrey
My lovers speak a special language. But it's not words.
ilya
I think I am confused about what is considered animation and what is considered motion graphics. What’s going on? Please explain.
Geoffrey
I think there are two types of animation, one which is narrative (traditional), and animation that is a still piece of work but uses motion to provoke a further fantasy and work engagement. I think both are interesting, but I still feel more closely attached to the provocative still image.
ilya
Sounds fantastic but what your clients think about it?
Geoffrey
I don’t think it is the client’s responsibility to understand the work, it’s there job to expose it to the people that do.
ilya
Sounds right for anyone if only us. Meanwhile, where are your clients?
Geoffrey
I am more accepted by audiences in Asia and Europe. Detail is cute in Asia, cute is a detail in Europe – I have a good mixture for both.
ilya
Your work is brave and artistic, but very personal. In commercial realm it isn’t always accepted. Perhaps even more so in the modern Asian market. Any comment?
Geoffrey
I think my style would be American flags if I lived in a lush garden world of my own fantasy, but the fact is -- I live and strive in modern America. I think Asian culture would relate to my work not aesthetically, but in regards to it being an outlet for social repression becoming artistic absurdity. I think it’s possible to translate it though images.
ilya
Wow. Let’s hope you will translate it loud enough and soon. Meanwhile, one technical question: Are softwares adapting fast enough to your style?
Geoffrey
I like to keep the human flaw in artwork. Computers don’t need to have a heart beat, poor things.
ilya
Yup, but getting back to the future. Can an artwork be completely its own creation? Would it be an exciting or scary thought?
Geoffrey
Exciting, I am fascinated with art work with a Frankenstein life quality, create the base, the brain, and teach the art work to make its own music, and thus entertain its creator on the grand scale. I think art works should be the ultimate pets of the future. Although if I woke up in bed with my own artwork I would be a little bit concerned.
ilya
Is storytelling important anymore?
Geoffrey
Story telling is drastically changing shape, movies need to be shorter, or have 3 going on at the same time. Or perhaps not having a beginning or end of the story, just capturing a moment. I see the commercial world adopting momentaries to show a brand in slightly evolving voice. Subtly, not a loud scream of understanding. It’s like an intuitive conversation.
ilya
So, are we getting more intuitive? If so, abstract animation might be the next hot thing?
Geoffrey
Perhaps commercial work will become our new therapist, and allow us to lie on a couch next to it, engaging strong feelings of atmosphere, tasteful whispers. Oh well. I think the world is changing and we are getting to be more of a Creator type. Yet, passive leisure is not going away, so we just have to adapt to new types of human laziness.
Ilya, is that you?
If yes drop us a line.
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