THE NEW YORK ART LEAGUE vol.4: GIO BLACK PETER

31, wasn’t asked if he wanted to live in the U.S, he was brought there

media: drawing, painting, music, performance

Gio Black Peter (Giovani Paolo Andrade Guevara) was born in Guatemala and emigrated illegally to the United States with his family at the age of five. The name Black Peter is taken from the folkloric elf who delivers “bad” presents to bad children on Christmas.

I just have to start with that question: Are you somehow related to Che Guevara?

Yes in a way.

Your performances are crazy, witty and sharp – who are you addressing in them?

The people, the government ,my lovers, myself.

You sometimes just take off all of your clothes while performing – is it rehearsed or the rush of the performance?

One part of it is the rush of performing the songs that I have written, which contain my feelings and thoughts.  The second part is it allows me to communicate to my audience that I have nothing to hide and also that there is no judgment.  It also lets them know what I am about and that If they don’t like it then they can leave.  The third part is that I feel comfortable being naked.  I enjoy it.

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW AND VIEW THE ORIGINAL ARTWORK GALLERY