Save the date
MANILA, Philippines - It’s always nice when two people deemed perfect for each other, end up together. Such is the case for Ryan Vergara and Garovs Garovillo, whose meet-cute moment started in a corner fast-food joint that lined the streets of Taft. In between classes and stealthily stalking on Friendster, it was evident that Ryan’s ironic sense of humor and interest in photography matched well with Garovs’ keen sense for styling and all things hip, thus Everywhere We Shoot! (EWWS) was born.
With their inimitable style, the EWWS duo has almost a decade-worth of material from magazine, newspaper, and brand campaigns, to look books and album covers. For the first time ever, they’re exhibiting all their work in their yet untitled show at The Fort’s Pablo Gallery, which opens tonight. Supreme sits down with the eclectically cool husband-and -wife team of artists to know more about their first solo show as well as their love for work and each other.
PHILIPPINE STAR: You’ve been working together for more than a decade, yet this would be your first exhibit.
RYAN VERGARA: We’ve actually had a couple of exhibits from way before we started, but they were mostly group exhibits.
Is there an underlying theme with the works that you’re going to exhibit or is it going to be more like a hodge podge of the things you’ve accomplished over the years?
GAROVS GAROVILLO: May theme! Isang theme na “Mga Super Favorite Things Namin in the World.†Nakakatawa siya sa totoo lang! Hahaha!
R: We don’t want to give ideas about the exhibit kasi pag nalaman niyo ang real title, alam niyo na agad. Mababaw lang siya! “As-is, Where-is†sabi nga sa mga online resellers, haha! #Labo
Over the years that you’ve worked together, was it hard maintaining a personal relationship and then keeping a professional relationship all at the same time?
R: It’s hard to work together, pero sa lahat ng away niyo — at the end of the day parang ang sarap mag-away kasi hindi mababaw ang away niyo.
G: At least hindi babae or lalaki ang pinag-aawayan namin. We usually fight about kung anong magandang lighting, at saka ang tamad ni Ryan mag-lakad. Wahahaha!
A lot of your photos are centered on pop and street culture, what is it about Manila’s scene that makes it so interesting for you guys?
R: I dunno! Super interested kami sa Manila. Laging outdoors shoot namin. When we shoot lagi namin iniisip na hindi kami nakatira dito and nag-fi-feeling tourist! Para iba yung tingin mo kahit sa mga normal places na nakikita mo.
Which artists inspire you the most? Go crazy.
R: Andy Warhol, Terry Richardson, David Lynch, Michel Gondry, Stanley Kubrick, Daft Punk, Helmut Newton, Taschen, Peter Saville, Bjork, Inez & Vinoodh, Nick Knight—
G: Sige pa, name drop pa! Hahahahhaha!!!
You’ve done a lot of collaborations in the past, is there someone in the future that you would love to shoot or collaborate with?
G: Madami kaming gusto ka-collaborate ang hirap isa-isahin!
R: Lahat ng favorite friends namin sa fashion, art, and music scene gusto talaga namin ka-collab! Ang sarap ma-inspire sa ibang tao! :)
After this exhibit, where do you plan on going next?
R: I dunno, baka i-exhibit namin sa HK Art Fair or sa Art Basel yung artworks! Hahahahah! Joke lang!
A baby perhaps?
G: Wow ang ganda ng tanong mo! Pang-tita! Oo minsan naiisip namin kung ano kaya names ng baby namin.... pero wait, nakaisip na pala kami!
R: If it’s a girl, Campbell. Kapag boy, Brillo!
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Everywhere We Shoot’s First Solo Exhibit opens tonight at 6 p.m. at the Pablo Art Gallery, Unit C-11, South of Market Condominium, 9th corner 11th streets, Fort Global City, Taguig.
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