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Two Men, One Artist
Before Gilbert & George there were almost no artist collaborators. After them, there have been a few more, but perhaps none who work so closely together or for such an extended length of time.
Often, art is thought of as a particularly solitary occupation; the single-minded imagination of an individual creative genius, working to represent a unique world view.
How can inspiration be shared?
Artistic collaboration is difficult not only because it means giving up these and other common ideas about the nature of the artist, but also because visual art comes as a single product, with a need for compositional unity and internal coherence. It isn’t like film, which almost requires a team. It is also different from a piece of music, which more easily allows for harmonious parts, alternating tempo, etc. Gilbert and George are not Lennon & McCartney.
Yet G&G have such a close understanding that they work as one. Like many long-established couples (it is getting on for forty years now) they can complete each other’s sentences: but there is more to it than familiarity. From the beginning of their career, they have been able to share ideas and processes to present a seamlessly unified vision: they are two quite different men, but they combine to make one artist. It is impossible – for me, at least – to identify George’s input or separate out Gilbert’s bit.
Does anyone out there think they can?
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