Who are artists Sandford & Gosti? Share with us a few things about you and your work in general.
We are a couple in life and in our art. Our work is always coupled with scientific research on color: color interaction, color constancy, color perception, color in language, on one hand, and on architectural: geometrics and structure and sustainability on the other hand. We have merged our work for single artistic events. Having worked side by side since 1976, we decided to present our work under a single signature in 2000. The works are produced by both of us, finding in the other motivation and stimulus, inventive, and dialogue from the first phases of ideation and realization.
As SANDFORD&GOSTI we enact our project titled ACTIONS PER in/FINITE FORMS, carry forward the idea of RECURRENT FLUCTUATION OF EVENTS (WAVES OF re/ACTION), and the periodicity of actions hypothesis. A basic concept at the roots of our work is ecotone: which means the border area, the space between two things, the boundary between in and out. An ecotone is a transition area between two adjacent ecological communities (ecosystems). It may appear on the ground as a gradual blending of the two communities across a broad area, or it may manifest itself as a sharp boundary line. The word was coined from a combination of eco(logy) plus -tone, from the Greek tonos or tension – in other words, a place where ecologies are in tension. We work on developing frontier areas where artistic actions are used to communicate through cultural actions, thoughts, forms, materials, and colors.
Our artistic media include installation, performance, video and digital photography. We have held artistic events in Argentina, Australia, Croatia, Cyprus, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Scotland, Spain, USA. Please see our work at sandfordgosti.com, on Vimeo and YouTube -sandfordgosti.Jodi Sandford –San Josè, California (USA), 1955, research professor in cognitive color semantics; Valter Gosti –Perugia (IT), 1955, architect and urban planner; live and work in Perugia, Italy.
What was your reaction when you heard that you where awarded?
We were pleasantly surprised, and felt honored to be selected for the award. We were happy to realize that the encounter with your organization and the other artists was successful and pleased to know that our appreciation of the others was reciprocated. As artists, art is not a competition, but it is definitely a great satisfaction to be recognized by the international community.
Tell us a few words about your awarded work.
“Container, Content, Collocation: Ring Series” Sandford&Gosti – 2018. This work was particular for us in that we made it following the traditional technique of silkscreening. A medium we have recently come back to. This allowed us to work with a three part image and to be reproduce it with a wide variation of color. It evolved from our more recent experimentation with overlaying of color prints.
Though we had 39 prints total, in the end we modified our project and constructed the performance installation on a 25 print square, of 5 by 5 prints. This was due the space and the interaction with the other artists. The change of plan was a challenge, but we feel that the work was all the better because it respected the site. This is something we try to always keep in mind, that is, how the work interacts in the space we install it in.The performance installation consisted in moving the images that had initially been set on the wall in a casual order. The artistic action is playing with and searching for a balanced collocation of the image —content —containers — by hanging them on the previously set up nails, on the wall / in the room —container—.
The numerous modes of combination concluded in the moment that a harmony had been established among the images. The final composition was not totally pre-established, though we had practiced with the images and knew that certain combinations were more balanced than others.
Finalist Award Larnaca Biennale 2018
What is your impression about this first Biennial in Cyprus?
As usual, the first time is always an incognito. We had never imagined participating in an international show in the distant corner of the Eastern Mediterranean. We were positively impressed with the quality of the work. We were also particularly content to participate in a show that included outstanding works by artists who deal with performance art while constructing pieces and environments for thought and growth. The expression of the Cypriot artists who work to unite their country was poetic and had great impact.To be more detailed, we felt a certain affinity, for different reasons, with: Elena Adamou, Elisia Atnanatos, Esther Naor, Gesamtatelier, Guillermo Basagoiti, Iris Kollida, Maria Despina Kyriakou, Phil Riley, Siru Wen, among others.
Tell us about your experience during your visit in Larnaca.
The experience of visiting Larnaca was absolutely intense and wonderful. The combination of the people, the environment, and the climate was as intriguing and welcoming as we had hoped. We took time to go to the salt lake, the mountains, and travel down the coast in both directions from Larnaca; the wealth of beauty and changes of the land were truly spellbinding. The sites to see, the museums, the archeological ruins, the history of the island, and the beaches made it an incredible choice each day. Plus, the hospitality and kindness of the people we met, together with good food and wine made our stay totally memorable.
A message you would like to send to artists that will apply in the future for participation in Larnaca Biennale.
We would like to encourage the artists to visit and install their work, to enjoy the whole experience of the Biennale. As one could imagine from this first initiative there is certainly an exciting future for the Biennale. The organization, the place, the people, the challenge of working with so many professionals is an experience that helps grow as artists, and contributes to the international community at large. The presence of a curious and numerous public at the opening and later during the exhibition was a great surprise. The organizers truly do a fantastic job.
Great interview and beautiful world of art.