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

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.

Your art is mostly about the thin border separating reality from fiction and life from staged falsehood – do you think you can actually separate those?

3 years ago I would have said yes because it’s “my art” not “my life”.  Today I can’t say the same.  My life is my art.

Your new collection of drawings is called Pinocchio’s Revenge – tell me how did it come into being?

First I have to explain.  I’ve always sympathized with Pinocchio and his story because I can relate to it.  Pinocchio was brought to life and given an ultimatum of either becoming a “real” boy or going back to being a puppet.  I faced a similar tribulation as a young man and also as a young artist.  For a while I chose one option presented to me and when it became unbearable I chose the other. But the other option was just as bad.  Just like Pinocchio It never occurred to me that I don’t have to choose between these two archetypes.  I can live somewhere in the middle between truths and lies, between being awake and dreaming.  And that’s what the series is about.

You call yourself Black Peter (the bad xmas elf) and now Pinocchio – not a toy not yet a real boy – what’s wrong with just being Giovani Paolo Andrade Guevara?

They are all an extension of myself.  It’s a way of highlighting the parts of myself that I want you to see at that moment.

What has changed in the time between your subway and your CVs drawings?

I’ve learned that the art world is not run by people who like art but by people who like money.  Just like the Vatican.

How do you find the material you paint your drawings on – the subway maps etc. What are the slaves CVs? What did you need a slave CV for?

I like making art out of discarded objects I find on the street.  The subway maps are given out in the subway for free.  The reason I chose to paint on them is because they signify terrortory.    I also like the way the streets and subway lines looked like veins.  I am from NYC and have lived here for most of my life and this city is a part of me.  The slave CV is my old graphic design CV.  When I was a kid I was brainwashed into thinking it was the only way an artist could be successful.  It’s my fuck you to anyone who ever told me that growing up.

Does your mom come to see you live?

She’s come to a couple of my shows.  My parents were preteen runaways and lived in the streets for many years.  They’ve seen it all and I don’t think anything I can ever do would ever shock them.

Why did you emigrate: What do you get in the US that you could have never gotten in Guatemala?

I don’t know because I didn’t grow up in Guatemala.  I wasn’t asked if I wanted to live in the U.S, I was brought here.  Short version of a long story is we left because my father had been accused of murdering some guy.  My grandmother was worried that the family of the murdered guy would want revenge so she payed for a coyote to bring us over.

A new Gio Black Peter album is coming out this September – what is the story the tracks are telling?

The album is called Gio Black Peter; “THE VIRGIN SHUFFLE”.  Inspired by New York City, killers, the Pope (or like I like to call him Le Poop), Extraterrestrial life and ofcourse Virgins.  I am putting the final touches at the moment and I can’t wait to unleash it.  I will post more about the album in the coming weeks on gioblackpeter.blogspot.com so keep your ear to the ground.

Your drawings seem much more contained than your performances – what is your catalyst?

I would have to disagree.  My drawings might seem contained at first glance but If you look closer you’ll see something else.  Even my paintings which have been compared to Paul Gauguin are full of chaos through the characters facial expressions, hand gestures and also by my composition and color story.

How about your sexual fantasies? Are there some you want to realize very badly and still haven’t had the chance to?

Anything I wanted to do I’ve already done :)

What fetishes do you have?

I like it when someone cries right before sex.  It’s a real turn on.  Also if someone has a cold/flu.  It makes their body temperature rise so they’re extra warm inside.

Let’s talk about New York. How do you feel about the art scene in NYC?

I don’t know about “the New York art scene”.  I know about myself and my friends who are artist that also live in NY and I feel inspired to be here with them.  At the moment I think there are many great creative people living here. A sort of community is being established.  Hopefully it will grow into a movement which is what we really need.

Do you feel some fresh air coming in New York and East Village right now?

Yes.  It’s a small draft but I have faith it will turn into a white squall.

What are you fighting for in New York?

Freedom to be myself and not be prosecuted for it.

Do you earn enough as an artist or do you have to do something boring to earn extra money?

Sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t.  When I don’t I find a means. Sometimes it’s a fun job like go-going and sometimes it’s a bit boring like brick laying.

Is Berlin real competition of NYC in terms of independent art and creativity?

Berlin is an extension of NYC and vice-versa. Like an Ouroboros.  They share the same rebellious spirit!