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04/28/08

Text: Nik Mercer

Pop Pervert recently caught our eye (again!) with Pattern Tales, a immaculate collection of their Spring/Summer 2008 patterns. Wanting to know everything about the Spanish collective, we of course dropped them a few questions.

I know artists tend to hate this questions, but you're asking for it! Why did you name yourselves Pop Pervert?

Our original name is Itte Studio (Japanese for a move in a strategy game), but after three years of existence found that we were just creating “safe” concepts; few clients, specially in Spain are open to new and bold ideas. We tried pushing them into it, but in the end [they kept] coming back with contradictory briefs, most due to budget restrains or lack of vision. A couple of months ago decided to create our own brand Pop Pervert and letting all that creativity flow... what a relief! For us the true definition of pervert is "to alter something from its original course, meaning, or state... to misapply or twist something from what it was first intended” and Pop is just Ana's (creative partner) passion; she is a true music expert. She came back with the name and we love it! It’s like an self-referential joke; Ana is totally crazy about music, all the time listening to different records and reading music theme books and so on... Passion sometimes becomes an addiction, and addiction sometimes becomes a perversion... Pop Pervert is the dark ironic side of our beloved Itte.

On a related note, who comprises the company, what backgrounds do you come from, and what drew you together?

Ana Montiel A.K.A. the Artist comes from the Fine Arts School, and with only 23 years was not only the Art Director at a small agency in Barcelona, but also had won several artistic awards and exhibited/performed at the Barcelona Contemporary Center of Art. She has a vast knowledge of arts, crafts, glass works, engraving, ceramics, cinema, trends... knows how to see the big picture of it all and to predict, forecast and create with her own voice... Alex Bedoya comes from the publishing side, doing business development for more than 10 years in the U.S., working with Time Inc. in N.Y.C. until landing in Barcelona 7 years ago, looking for a more creative approach in life. We both met while working at an ad agency, [and immediately] found true similarities in terms of passions; our love for food, endless curiosity and, of course, wine appreciation (giggles). One night, under a good Rioja spell, our imagination started working and in one week we had the studio running, crazy! It's been non-stop since there... a good combination of both talents. It has been a ride, we even wrote a Barcelona guide in our spare time, the best way to relax and get our creativity rolling around incredible gourmet dishes.

Why patterns? What inspires you to churn out the [absolutely stunning] designs?

We've been fascinated with patterns all along... antique ornaments, arts & crafts history... it’s like a natural move from our creation activities. We are both curious, fast, and thirsty for developing all kind of different things, experimenting with several activities and formats... so, if we are crazy in love about patterns, why not develop our own brand? It made lots of sense... we imagine seeing fabulous wallpaper at home or just transforming basic boring appliances into your own individuality sense of personal style items. Inspiration comes from everywhere, creative work is like an obsession/sickness in daily life... you are not aware but you are absorbing millions of different things that inspires you, from nature documentaries to a new music album, for us comes naturally living in colorful Barcelona, we must admit.

If you can, please tell me a little about your forthcoming "Historic Fashion" project.

We are working on a illustration series based on the combination of handmade drawings inspired on fashion pictures, re-worked with historic ornamental timeless images to create an “imperial antique look”... as opposed to questioning the ephemeral of trends... They will be for sale on limited edition series soon.

What outlets have you applied your work to and how do you make the connections?

We launched our new line of patterns, Pattern Tales® collection just a week ago, and received an incredible response. At this initial phase we want to look for manufacturers to produce our stuff, and take it from there. We did our research and think partnerships is the best way to go and start getting your work around, specially with small design studios like ours. There are several companies interested at the moment... let's see what happens in the upcoming months. But patience is not our forté, so we decided to have our own e-shop in the meantime, where we can present our original artwork and limited edition illustrations like “Historic Fashion”, will be our first project for sale. Wait till you see the gadgets! So much fun!