Fridae

æ: Welcome to Singapore and on behalf of Fridae, let me thank the both of you for supplying gay men everywhere with an endless source of photographic eye-candy.

pierre et gilles: You're most welcome. We are very touched by the number of people who appreciate or are inspired by our work here in Singapore and who have asked us for autographs. It's been a pleasure for us and it's a great joy for any artiste to be able to bring love, happiness and liberty.

æ: Beautiful Dragon is the first Pierre et Gilles exhibition to be held in Southeast Asia which focuses on iconic images of Asia. Could you tell us more about the exhibition?

pierre et gilles: We chose to show paintings that span 27 years of our work. They are mostly images of friends posing as models, and people we met during trips to countries like Laos or Thailand. Each model has a different personality and it is this difference that we like and hope to capture.

æ: In any Pierre et Gilles created image, there is usually a strong undercurrent of homoeroticism, masculine beauty and otherworldly sensuality. From what sources do the both of you draw artistic inspiration?

pierre et gilles: It's our sensibility - and the beauty of the models serves to magnify that sensibility. Having said that, our inspiration comes from diverse sources including our childhood, history, images, the sea and boats. Our trips have also been inspirational and allowed us to reinvent our dreams.

æ: On that same topic, most Pierre et Gilles photo-art often feature impossibly beautiful male models with perfect physiques as subjects. Tell us why!

pierre et gilles: It's all part of our work - to recreate the images of stars or religious figures. In doing so, we have to idealise our models, see their most beautiful aspects and then invent a beautiful and lively world in which they inhabit.

æ: And what is the intention or rationale behind juxtaposing these hyper-masculine images with ultra-feminine elements such as heavy make-up, flamboyant costumes and over-the-top styling?

pierre et gilles: In every human being, there is a mixture of masculinity and femininity. We dress and make up our models like idols because they are precious to us and we feel a need to protect them.

æ: As internationally renowned gay artists, how do you feel your artwork has influenced or is influenced by gay culture?

pierre et gilles: It's not up to us to answer but it's true that the gay community needs some kind of association in order to discover themselves. Rather, our work is for everyone - so that they better understand each other and their differences.

æ: So what's the secret behind your success and longevity as artistic collaborators and as a loving couple?

pierre et gilles: We never know what tomorrow will bring, and together with this, our passion and love for our art are what keep us going.

æ: And finally, what's the difference between making art together and making love together?

pierre et gilles: To us, our art is love, and working together making art is the most beautiful way to make love.

æ: Thank you for your time and best of luck for Beautiful Dragon!

Pierre & Gilles - Beautiful Dragon is exhibiting at the Singapore Art Musem (71 Bras Basah Road) from 17 June to 18 July. Museum Hours: Mon - Sun: 10am-7pm. Extended Hours on Fri: 6pm-9pm (Admission: $3; free after 6pm on Fridays.)