Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/956460
top. Luckily, we both did some major work on our studio, ourselves, and our relationship, and we are now closer than ever. Our work is coming from a place of more love and maturity. And we understand better how to speak to each other and get our message across to our audience. We speak our language of art more eloquently than we did before we went through our trials and tribulations. I believe the work is better. But come check it out at the fair and see for yourself. CHANGING MINDS. It's not exactly explainable. Our practice relies upon the harmony between the two of us and our outlook as individuals. Together we make a greater whole, and we understand that better than we did before. Our approach has less ego, and our collaborative moments are more precise. We are less hindered by the battle of control of expression in the work. It's freer, and I think we've found our pocket. ON LIFE AND WORK. My mantra for several years was "Adversity brings clarity." Maturity comes from learning from the fun times but oftentimes more potently from the hard things in life. I think embracing those things with the knowledge that they will be your greatest teachers makes them easier to bear in the moment. I look forward to my hard moments, because I am happy for the growth they teach me. MOVING FORWARD. We have always made a point of including rigorous material development in our studio, and that will continue. Our ceramics have changed a lot, as have our beasts and large-scale works. We're excited to be working with less familiar materials, like velvet, wood, and more beads. Our direction is a very happy one. I have a new son who is my reason for living. I care much more deeply about everything in life. My view of the future and my own life is now through the filter of his perspective. There is no doubt that this has, and will continue, to change my outlook inside of our studio. I love my family and twin brother so much, I feel I could pop. And this is all part of how we move forward as a studio. There's much to come for us. It's impossible to say exactly what, but I feel it's going to be good. King Dong, 2016 Spike Lee, 2017