5 min read1 FriendsWithYou – Happy Rainbow, Tuen Mun Town Plaza, Hong Kong, 2012
Introduction
Highly interactive visual art has forged its way into the hearts and minds of the public. This new caliber of art is quirky, but it manages to so effortlessly fuse art, technology, and fashion in a trendy way that has us all captured.
One such collective is run by Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III, born in Florida and Havana, respectively. The Los Angeles-based duo is more commonly referred to by their moniker, FriendsWithYou1. The duo has collaborated since 2002 to produce joyful pieces of work intended to “spread Magic, Luck, and Friendship.”
About FriendsWithYou
FriendsWithYou brings a flair of kid-friendly fun to any proceeding with its bouncy castles, smiling and, at times, glowing celestial2 bodies, brightly colored balloons and blow up structures. The pair uses a broad range of pop-infused media, including extensive experiential installations, sculptures, paintings, playgrounds, published artwork, as well as live performances to exhibit their installations.
The two collaborative artists embrace play while subtly highlighting themes of technological innovation, iconography and religion. Their works challenge the progression of mechanical innovation while effectively juxtaposing human feelings such as delight and gratification. This art is effectively bringing change to how people socially experience places, spaces and other people around them, therefore supplying individuals with an enriching experience every time.
Often, Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval have been aptly described as progenies of Takashi Murakami3 and Yayoi Kusama4. Since their work is so calculatingly playful, it might be difficult for some people to classify it as fine art. Instead, the artists represent their art disguised as bouncy castles or as anthropomorphized items. Recently, the crew introduced the first wave of a virtual reality experience to allow people to explore their emotions. For instance, their virtual reality ‘Light Spirit’ piece occurs in a metaphysical plane designed to affect people’s sentiments.
Conclusion
When asked why the size of their installations matter, the pair feels that size is essential as it dwarfs the audience, which helps cultivate a sense of serenity and peace. At the end of it all, their pieces are intended to inspire emotions such as love, magic, and peace into the hearts of the audience. The pair continues to produce art that creates a blur between reality and imagination. Their focus remains to supply people with an active experience that is also interactive at the same time. So if you feel the need to undergo a calming and delightful experience that makes you yearn for light and love, watch out for the duo’s next installation.
Selected works
Seokchon Lake, Seoul, 2016
2 FriendsWithYou – Super Moon, 2016, Seokchon Lake, Seoul, South Korea3 FriendsWithYou – Super Moon, 2016, Seokchon Lake, Seoul, South Korea
Brookfield Place Toronto, Canada, 2013
4 FriendsWithYou – Starburst, 2011, inflatable sculpture, ripstop nylon, 300 inch diameter, Brookfield Place Toronto, Canada, 2013, photo: Ernesto DiStefano5 FriendsWithYou – Starburst, 2011, inflatable sculpture, ripstop nylon, 300 inch diameter, Brookfield Place Toronto, Canada, 2013, photo: Ernesto DiStefano
Art Basel Miami Beach
6 FriendsWithYou – Starburst, 2011, inflatable sculpture, ripstop nylon, 300 inch diameter, Art Basel Miami Beach7 FriendsWithYou – Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Art Basel Miami Beach, USA, 20138 FriendsWithYou – Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Art Basel Miami Beach, USA, 20139 FriendsWithYou – Rainbow city, Art Basel Miami Beach, USA10 FriendsWithYou – Rainbow city, Art Basel Miami Beach, USA
Highline, New York
11 FriendsWithYou – Rainbow city, Highline, NYC, USA12 FriendsWithYou – Light Cave, 2014, inflatable, 55ft x 25ft x 14ft, The Standard High Line Plaza, NYC, USA, photo: Markus Marty13 FriendsWithYou – Light Cave, 2014, inflatable, 55ft x 25ft x 14ft, The Standard High Line Plaza, NYC, USA, photo: Alyssa Ringler14 FriendsWithYou – Light Cave, 2014, inflatable, 55ft x 25ft x 14ft, The Standard High Line Plaza, NYC, USA, photo: Alyssa Ringler15 FriendsWithYou – Light Cave, 2014, inflatable, 55ft x 25ft x 14ft, The Standard High Line Plaza, NYC, USA, photo: Markus Marty
Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo
16 FriendsWithYou – Light Cave, 2014, inflatable, 55ft x 25ft x 14ft, The Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY, USA17 FriendsWithYou – Light Cave, 2014, inflatable, 55ft x 25ft x 14ft, photo: Alyssa Ringler
21 FriendsWithYou – Installation view, This is not a toy exhibition, Design Exchange, Toronto, Canada, 201422 FriendsWithYou – Starry Eyes, 2006, inflatable, 15 feet H x 10 feet W23 FriendsWithYou – Mafli heads, 2006, inflatable, 8 feet x 8 feet24 FriendsWithYou – 2006, inflatable, 10 feet x 8 feet25 FriendsWithYou – Installation view, This is not a toy exhibition, Design Exchange, Toronto, Canada, 2014
All images by FriendsWithYou unless otherwise noted.
