São Paulo based graffiti artists Os Gemeos (The Twins) are internationally known for their vivid, surrealistic painting style and its playful political commentary. Before they began painting, Os Gemeos were active in their neighborhood's b-boy scene, where hip hop culture had reached by the late 1980s and gained a particularly strong presence. With limited contact to hip hop's origins in New York, Os Gemeos began developing their own technique and style, eventually infusing Brazilian cultural elements and imagery into their work. Since then, Otavio and Gustavo Pandolfo have gained worldwide notoriety and an influential fan base. The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston recently invited Os Gemeos to have their first solo museum exhibition in the United States, where the pair showed paintings and mixed media pieces. In conjunction with the eponymous exhibition, Os Gemeos painted a large mural -- one of the first of its scale in Boston -- as a gift to the city.

 

Produced by Ethel Seno and Alexandria Stapleton

Filmed by Ernesto Galan

Edited by Cindy Yeh

 

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