Starting May 26th, Pow Wow is at it again this time in Taipei as they kick things off for the inaugural Pow Wow Taiwan. Curated by Pow Wow Hawaii director Jasper Wong along with Lawrence Chen and Taiwanese artist Reach, Pow Wow Taiwan will again find the world’s best artists bringing their best to an international stage as only Pow Wow can do it.
We caught up with Sheryo + The Yok to talk about Pow Wow and their debut RUN to coincide with Pow Wow Taiwan.
1xRun Thru Interview
That’s Some Hotdawg! by Sheryo + The Yok
1xRun: Tell us a little bit about this piece, was this piece part of a recent theme or series you had?
Sheryo: We’ve been painting quite a few food themed murals in the US and around the world, so it only seemed fitting to finally release a print, something people could bring home with them.
1xRun: When was this piece created and with what materials?
Sheryo: This piece was created as a 4 color limited edition print on heavyweight paper. It started out as a couple of drawings which then made their way into Photoshop. A couple of pizzas later, it became awesome.
1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?
Sheryo: Our love for food and some putrid imagination plus #pizzas4lyfe #hotdogsinmybelleh.
1xRun: How long did this piece take?
Sheryo: A beer and 4 slices of pizza.
1xRun: What is unique about this piece?
Sheryo: Made it while eating pizza and drinking beer.
1xRun: Why should people buy this print?
Sheryo: Errbody in the house needs pizza.
1xRun: Describe the piece in one gut reaction word.
Sheryo: Dayum Gurl.
The Yok: ZANG.
1xRun: You two have worked together for a bit now, when did you two first meet?
Sheryo: We’ve been working for 2 and a half years (2011). the romance began when I gave Yok a rad zombie sticker that he mistook for something else.
The Yok: Yes, we have been working together for about 2.5 years. When we met Sheryo gave me one of her rad stickers and it was then we noticed our styles where kind of similar.
1xRun: What was the first piece that you both worked on together? How about your first pieces separately?
Sheryo: I used to only paint male chickens in Singapore. Then dragons. Then zombies. Together we paint everything and anything, that’s the power of joining forces like voltron!! I have made art since I had my first crayon.
The Yok: We painted our first piece together in Cambodia in around 2010, the process was super fun. After that we painted more and more around South East Asia. Over lunch or beers we would pass our sketch books back and forth in a game we latter named “You Start I Finish.” My first piece by my self was a horrible 3-headed disaster at the back of a factory by a stinky swamp in the 40 degree Australia heat.
1xRun: What artists inspired you early on?
Sheryo: Reg Mombassa, Basil Wolverton and The Simpsons. Yok copied my list…
The Yok: Mad Magazine Crew, Don Martin, Basil Wolverton, Reg Mombassa and Ren & Stimpy.
1xRun: What artists inspire you now?
Sheryo: Yokballs.
The Yok: Sheryo.
1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what?
Sheryo: Phil Collins, George Michael, you know…the usual suspects. But usually I let Yok do whatever he wants in the music department because I am a supportive girlfriend.
The Yok: Yes always need some music playing, we listen to a lot of variety to keep things fresh from Cambodia Psych Rock to Reggae, to some punk and old east coast Hip hop and trap music…a full mixed bag really.
1xRun: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why?
The Yok: Maybe a bridge designer so I could make a 500m dragon or some character that you drive in his mouth and go on a tour through his intestines and then out the other side and on your way to work or where ever it is you’re going.
1xRun: If you could collaborate with any deceased artists who would it be and why?
The Yok: I would love to build a sphinx. Yeah working with a sphinx artist would be pretty awesome. I would make it produce banana milkshakes, so you just go up to the sphinx and turn a tap and get a milkshake. Sounds good to me.
1xRun: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it?
Sheryo: Jeff soto. Yup
The Yok: I never had any money so it wasn’t until quite later on that I bought a piece from Japanese/Australia artist Two-One. Yes I still have it.
1xRun: Any big shows or events coming up that you’d like to share?
The Yok: A road trip from Detroit to New York and we have a show coming up in LES NY at Krause gallery in August and one in Los Angeles with Superchief in October.
1xRun: Where else can people find you?
Sheryo: Facebook – Tumblr@sheryo & sheryoart
The Yok: Website – Instagram@_theyok – Facebook
For the full lineup visit PowWowHawaii.com for English and PowWowTaiwan.com for Chinese.
-1xRUN