Genetics are an odd factor. We all know there are specific traits which might be clearly handed down from our mother and father, however might inventive potential be considered one of them? Seunghyun and Younggi Jo, a pair of brothers from Seoul, South Korea, make a fairly robust argument that it’s. Because the older brother, Seunghyun took up the commerce first, and he at present resides in Toronto the place he wows purchasers together with his signature large-scale black-and-grey portraiture. Younggi, who sports activities a placing sleeve created by his brother, focuses on the black-and-grey micro-realism that’s so fashionable amongst Korean artists. There are similarities between every of their kinds, however every brother’s work clearly stands by itself.
We have been fortunate sufficient to affix a dialog between the 2 as they mentioned their inventive origins, how they encourage one another and extra.
Let’s begin off on the very starting. Inform us a little bit about rising up collectively and the way you every first found artwork.
Younggi: We went to the identical center college and highschool, so it was form of enjoyable. [My brother] actually cherished trend, so after we have been younger, we went to the shopping center day by day. We performed quite a bit. He’s 4 years older than me, however we have been nonetheless mates. He’s my brother however he’s additionally my finest pal. 4 years is sufficient of a spot the place you gained’t naturally hate one another and you may nonetheless be mates.
Seunghyun: We have been all the time good mates. I consider we have been fortunate, I’ve so many mates who don’t have excellent friendships with their siblings, ? I’m blissful about this [laughs].
Did you guys draw collectively if you have been youthful?
Seunghyun: Truthfully, we by no means actually drew or designed one thing collectively as a result of we by no means actually discovered tips on how to do sketching or portray [as kids]. We don’t have that form of background. I keep in mind after we have been younger we’d all the time copy manga or anime stuff, however that’s all we did.
Younggi: It’s unhappy to say, however we don’t have a creative background. He cherished trend, which is certainly an artwork. And I performed music, so we did various things, however there was artwork there.
We’re guessing that Seunghyun tattooed first, is that right?
Seunghyun: Sure, I began in all probability about 12 years in the past. My brother began tattooing about 5 years in the past. I’m 300 p.c older than him so… [laughs].So have been you impressed by your brother to change into a tattoo artist?
Younggi: Truly, yeah. I didn’t find out about tattoos earlier than he began tattooing. I noticed a few of his work, then I noticed his life-style, and I actually cherished his life-style. So proper after I completed up my navy service I requested my brother, can I tattoo? Will I be capable to tattoo even when I don’t have an artwork background? He advised me, “Yeah, after all you’ll be able to! I did it, so you’ll be able to too.” He launched me to Bran.D, my grasp who taught me.
Did you two train one another something over time?
Seunghyun: At first, clearly, I taught him greater than he taught me. However now that he’s change into an ideal artist, I study from him. We share info via SMS or Instagram.
I believe it’s attention-grabbing that each of you could have your personal signature kinds, notably in relation to scale. Was this a aware selection the place you every wished to face out by yourself, or was that simply how issues ended up?
Younggi: He didn’t inform me that I needed to do small issues as a result of he does huge issues [laughs]. I attempted to consider what my specialty can be. I actually love to precise the small print inside. After I noticed tattoos that have been tiny and reasonable I fell in love with it.
Seunghyun: Twelve years in the past we didn’t actually have this sort of micro-realism tattoo. Now our expertise has change into so a lot better, perhaps that’s why nowadays so many nice artists are doing such nice micro tattoos. However I by no means advised him what to do. I wasn’t attempting to say that you simply bullied him into his model [laughs]. I used to be questioning extra when you had a little bit of a sibling rivalry concerned.
Seunghyun: I believe it’s best to ask him since I began first!
Younggi: Truly, I actually love huge items additionally. [When I started] my brother was already fashionable, and I wished to have my very own model. On the time, I used to be considering that if I did huge items folks would assume, “Oh, he’s identical to his brother.” So I believe that’s why I selected a unique model.
Have the 2 of you tattooed one another?
Younggi: Yep. I’ve tattooed him and he tattooed me.
Seunghyun: Yeah, I completed considered one of his sleeves.
Younggi: Yeah… this one. It’s my favourite! How is it completely different tattooing your brother than it’s a regular shopper?
Seunghyun: The primary time after I tattooed him, it was my greatest tattoo ever. I used to be fearful about ending the piece in simply at some point as a result of it was tremendous huge. However he sat actually, rather well. He sat for in all probability 13 and a half hours. Straight.
Younggi: It was 14 hours [laughs].
Seunghyun: We talked quite a bit whereas tattooing. I preferred it. That is my job, proper? After which he began doing the identical job as me. So it’s form of bizarre however on the similar time it’s very particular.
Younggi: It was a lot enjoyable that point.
Fourteen hours? That’s such a very long time, each to tattoo and to be tattooed. Seunghyun: That’s loopy, proper? The subsequent day we couldn’t get up [laughs].
Tattooing is just not almost as accepted inside Korean tradition as it’s right here in America, a lot in order that tattooing is against the law for non-doctors in South Korea. How does your loved ones really feel about your chosen career?
Seunghyun: I used to be fearful about my first tattoo as a result of I knew my mother was going to be pissed off. I coated it up for about two months. After which at some point whereas I used to be asleep I might really feel one thing subsequent to me and it was my mother gazing me. She was like, “What the heck is that this?” I mentioned, “Oh, effectively, it is a sticker, it is a pretend tattoo.” I’m undecided if she really believed it or not, in order that’s why after I began my profession I used to be actually fearful about my mom’s response. However after that, truthfully, she didn’t actually give me a tough time. I believe, just about, we’re good. I don’t find out about my brother, however my scenario was high quality.
Younggi: Additionally, I began out after my brother, so I used to be OK. For now, she doesn’t care if I do tattoos, however she all the time hates after I get tattooed. For me.
Seunghyun: I believe it’s all about historical past. After I was younger I used to be all the time making issues. Issues in school… all the pieces was about issues. So I believe my mom hates tattoos due to our tradition. Korean tradition could be very far-off from this type of factor. However I believe she likes it in time. I work actually onerous, I believe that’s what she likes. She respects that her sons are working their asses off.
Younggi: I keep in mind the time my mom noticed my brother’s work, and was like, “OK, he’s doing effectively.” [laughs]
I determine because the youthful brother it’s simpler so that you can get away with it. Seunghyun’s already accomplished it…
Seunghyun: Yeah, I’m all the time the one which makes the larger issues. I believe my mom has simply gotten used to it.
Younggi: So true [laughs].
Given the tradition of South Korea, I’ve all the time been curious if artists have a tendency in the direction of micro-realism as a result of these tattoos are simpler to hide every day.
Younggi: Each Korean loves trend. So I believe micro tattoos are, like, the style nowadays. I believe they’re extra acceptable than huge items.
So it’s extra pushed in the direction of trend than the rest?
Seunghyun: We don’t have an excellent huge, hardcore tattoo tradition. In North America, everyone has tattoos, everyone has sleeves, generally face tattoos, neck tattoos, it’s not a bizarre factor. However in Korea it’s actually powerful if in case you have an enormous tattoo as a result of folks will probably be placing some filter on their eyes once they take a look at me. I believe that’s why they’re beginning to have smaller tattoos. Nowadays our tradition is getting [more accepting], so persons are beginning to have larger items too. Plus, I believe it’s about our persona. It’s not all Korea, however a lot of Koreans like to micromanage their lives, their meals, their finding out. So I believe that’s why the Korean artists turned such superb micro-realism artists. That’s how I view it.
Let’s end with probably the most tough query of all. Which considered one of you is the higher tattooer?
Younggi: In fact, my brother! I imply… to date [laughs]. I’m going to get higher and higher, however to date, it’s my brother. Simply my opinion.
Seunghyun: I wish to be higher than him. However I hope at some point, and even now, that he can beat me. That’s why I wait.
Younggi: I’m going to beat my brother! [Everybody laughs]
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