Mister Black Peter comes to Berlin!
Gio Black Peter was born to be an artist. He will be in Berlin for an exhibition and some party – - April 19 – May 2. 2012. Read our interview below.
Gio Black Peter (*Giovani Paolo Andrade Guevara) was born in Guatemala and is now based in New York, after he illegally immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of 5. Gio is a performance artist, musician, actor and painter. A couple of weeks ago he published his new song: Don’t tell me nothing. He is a muse to Bruce La Bruce and very well known for his live performances. The man is an underground rockstar!
Gio in Berlin:
April 19 2012 / 9PM
DARK MATTER-Selected Work by Gio Black Peter & Artboydancing
Opening reception
ZMF BERLIN -Brunnenstr
April 20
He will perform at Vaginal Davis Speaking from the Diaphragm for Camp/Anti Camp@ Hau2
April 26 Chantal´s House of Shame
May 2 PUSSY FAGGOT! NYC talent comes to Berlin featuring Gio Black Peter, Lady Miss Kier (Deee-lite!) , Shane Shane. Plus last show in Berlin for 2012
www.facebook.com/events/170137489772599/
KALTBLUT had a little chat with Gio Black Peter
KALTBLUT: Hello Gio! How are you doing these days?
GIO: All is good in the hood. Feeling inspired and getting a lot crossed out on my to do list. I am Guatemalan and a descendant of the Mayan civilization so I know 2012 will be significant! Thanks for asking..
KALTBLUT: I am a fan of your work! You are a performance artist, musician, painter, actor. Who is Gio Black Peter?
GIO: Gio Black Peter is a fighter a cry baby a lover of people, animals and plants, a lost boy and a baby daddy. A happy nomad and an explorer. A pussy a dick and a four dimensional real live human being animal full of feelings, thoughts, love, anger, tears, shit and blood in search of the truth and meaning and himself.
KALTBLUT: Where is the name – Black Peter – coming from?
GIO: It was a nickname an ex lover gave me.
KALTBLUT: When did you realized that art is your business?
GIO: Never and that is why my art still comes from my heart. I make art to express myself, explore my feelings and thoughts. And to share my views. Yes I also sell my art but that is not what drives me to making art. I will never make art for the sake of making money. And I will never look at my art as a money making product.
KALTBLUT: Your are born in Guatemala and emigrated illegally to the United States with your family at the age of five. Do you feel like an american now? Are the States your home?
GIO: Yes I can. After feeling like an unwanted child for most of my life I can finally say I feel some love. It’s not a perfect family but I am hopeful it will get better. Yes I can get married now and also join the army but I still don’t have health insurance and let’s not talk about my uncle in wall street.
KALTBLUT: How is an ordinary day looking in Gio Black Peter´s life?
GIO: There is no such thing as an “ordinary” day. My life depends on my work. So my day depends on what I am working on. I can only paint or draw at night when the city is quiet and the moon is smiling down on me. Currently I am working on a series of paintings so my day starts in the late afternoon. I paint all night and end up going to bed in the morning. If I am in the zone then I will stay awake until my eyes burn. When I was recording “The Virgin Shuffle” album it was the complete opposite. I was up early writing songs so they would be ready for the studio. There is always lot of coffee in my day. If your reading this and are in New York City you can always bring me a coffee, it doesn’t matter how late it is. The last two summers I’ve worked at a plant nursery. So when I am working there I get up early. I spend the day planting and playing in dirt. Which is why there is a lot of plant references in my new drawings and paintings. It’s a direct reflection of how I’ve spent my time. You want to see what I’ve been up to just look at my work.
I love being naked. I’m a Naturist.
KALTBLUT: Looking at your performances and your music videos. We can see you always naked or in underwear. Is this part of your work? Or is this just you? And you just like to be naked?
GIO: I love being naked. I’m a Naturist. It is part of my work because my work is autobiographical. I would rather wear my foreskin than a fashion label any day.
KALTBLUT: Do you have a boyfriend or girlfriend? And if so, how is he/she handling your half naked work? Any problems cause of that in the past?
GIO: I’ve been dating a guy for 7 years now. He’s cool with it because he knows it’s who I am. When I was dating a girl there was no problem either. It’s the benefit of letting it all hang out from the beginning.
KALTBLUT: Here in Berlin an artist can´t “shock“ the people anymore with being naked on stage. How is that in the USA?
GIO: I love Berlin because of that. Specially since I don’t perform to shock. In the USA there has been more apprehension about my performance than there has been in other parts of the world. I think this is because a large percentage of Americans either don’t question the rules of society or are not comfortable with their own bodies, so off course they are going to be shocked by seeing me on stage with my dick swinging around. Society places these imaginary boundaries on us. At the end of the day that is what it’s all about. Look at the indigenous people of the Rainforest. They are in touch with nature and with themselves and therefore they have no issues with nudity.
KALTBLUT: Did you ever think about making porn?
GIO: I’m obviously not against it – I’ve just never been interested. I guess it’s because I explore my sexuality through my art. You can say I’ve made some art which had pornographic elements.
KALTBLUT: Music or painting. What do you like more?
Gio: Right now I like to paint. I am going to dedicate the next 3 years making visual art as well as video projects. Don’t hold me to that though since I write a new song every other day.
KALTBLUT: How would you describe your own music?
GIO: Loud and obnoxious.
KALTBLUT: Which music is on the top 5 in your Ipod right now?
GIO: I don’t own an Ipod. On my laptop the most currently listened to are : The Gossip, Crystal Catles, Amy Winehouse, Patti Smith, Nirvana and Daniel Johnston. (i know that’s 6)
KALTBLUT: You are working a lot with Bruce La Bruce. You had a part in his movie „ Otto, or up with dead people“ . He is directing music videos for you. Is he like a mentor for you?
GIO: He is my friend. I enjoy working with him and I respect his body of work. He sticks to his guns and I like that. I wrote “Revolving Door (New Fuck New York)” when I was in Berlin with Bruce shooting “Otto..”. In fact the opening line is “We spent summer raising the dead” referring to the zombie in the film. So it was perfect when Bruce agreed to do the video. We shot the 
video in one night with the help of some friends and a bottle of jack and it was a fucking great time!
KALTBLUT: Is there any artist you would die for to work with ?
GIO: David Wojnarowicz. I love his mind. Everyone needs to read “Close to the knives”
KALTBLUT: What are your plans for 2012? Where can we see you on stage? And will you be back in Europe?
GIO: Literally right now I am finishing my new music video for the song “Don’t Tell Me Nothing” featuring Strobo Monsters. The video is directed by CyCy Sanders and it’s a really great follow up to “Revolving Door”. I’m really proud of this video because CyCy has managed to capture both the aggressive side to my personality and also the sensitive side. In February I have an exhibition of paintings on canvas in NYC at Brian Riley Project Space. I will also be shooting a video project with Slava Mogutin and Brian Kenny. I have a couple of other projects I am working on but it’s too early in the game. I think I will return to Europe in April. For my schedule check out my spiderwebsite www.gioblackpeter.com.
Besides that I am going to drink more coffee, make more art and write more songs!
Interview by Marcel Schlutt
For KALTBLUT Collection 1
Contact:
www.gioblackpeter.com
www.facebook.com/
[...] Black Peter. He will perform at Vaginal Davis Speaking from the Diaphragm on Friday and Saturday. Read an Interview with him over at Kaltblut Magazin or watch these two quite shocking music/porn videos. People who are bigots might be [...]