Sean Go is a Filipino pop appropriation artist. Go uses Disney characters and comic book heroes and villains to comment on societal themes including the emptiness of capitalism, perceptions of beauty, and how coloniality persists in the Philippines.[1]
Prior to becoming a pop artist, Go completed seven degrees from UC Berkeley, Emory, Columbia, and the Fashion Institute of Technology.[2][3][4] He has four master's degrees and three bachelor's degrees.[5] His bachelor's degrees were completed in 2015, and he completed his Law and MBA degrees in 2019.[6][7] His bachelor's degrees are in Business Administration, Economics, and Geography.[8][9] Go finished his Master's in Real Estate Development from Columbia in 2021 and his Master of Arts in Art Market Studies from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2022.[10][11][12][13] Go is currently a Master's of Art in Fashion student at Parson's School of Design in Paris.[14]
Go has studied film at USC.[15] Go is a graduate of the International School of Manila.[16]
Go started a hedge fund, HGR Digital Asset Group in 2018.[8] Prior to becoming an artist, Go worked at Ernst and Young, Techstars, and HSBC.[17]
Go has shared that coming from a conservative family, art was not a field that was approved by his elders. However, the passing of his close friend to cancer shifted his perspective on what one should prioritize in life, even if it means questioning the status quo.[18][19] Go has spoken about the importance of Asian representation in the arts, as creativity is not often a career track that is encouraged in traditional households.[20] Go also hopes to use his platform to destigmatize anime and cartoon fandom culture, as childish animations was often seen as "uncool" growing up.[21]
Career
Go's work was included in the inaugural MOCAF (Modern and Contemporary Arts Festival) in Manila in 2022, by art agent Derek Flores. Go's art was also featured in Art Moments Jakarta and Indoseni's "Wave to the Moon" exhibition in 2022.[1][22]
In April 2023, Go was included as a featured artist at "Agos" an exhibit on environmental conservation in the Philippines.[23] The show was held in Power Plant Mall in Rockwell.[24] His works in that show featured recycled materials and paints.[25]
In June 2024, Go held a solo show titled "Victory Road" in Secret Fresh Gallery, which has a Pokemon based theme.[26] “Victory Road” takes on the themes of triumph, perseverance, and the resilience of the human spirit.[27] The exhibit celebrates the unique paths people take.[28][29] Go was included in the exhibit titled Pearls of Color in London at the D Contemporary Gallery in September 2024. It was an event partnering with the Philippine Embassy in the UK.[30]
Work
Sean Go's Humpty the Iron Egg at The Manila Hotel in March of 2024Sean Go's Disco Bolt Dragon the Jakarta Art Moments Art Festival of 2024
Go was based in New York City from 2020 to 2022 while pursuing his Master's degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology and Columbia University, and is now based in Paris, where he is studying at the Parson's School of Design.[20][38] Due to his background in finance, Go often inserts capitalist critiques in his art.[39] Go has used reference materials from Marvel, Pokémon, and Star Wars, using a satirical style.[40] Go has often been cited to be inspired by childhood parables, popular television and movies, and Bible stories.[41]
Go's works deal with the themes of how beauty is ephemeral and how the way perceptions and reality interplay together affect society.[42][43] Go's work also studies the fetishization of women’s bodies and the dangers of a commercial system that heavily markets sexuality and sensuality.[44]
Go uses spray paint, colors, and crayons to communicate a child-like tone in his paintings.[45] In 2024, Go launched art toys with platform Toki.[46]
Go's collaboration with PickUP Coffee was released in December 2023, featuring the PickUP Dragon.[49] Go has also collaborated with Manila Hotel and with JAG Jeans.[15]
Personal life
Go has a vestibular balance disorder which meant that his balance was often severely off growing up, and some commentators cite how that condition impacted the nature of his art.[50] Go is a fan of martial arts and combat sports. Go has trained with UFC and Bellator champion Lyman Good, and four time Champion and Olympic boxer Brian Viloria.[18] Go sponsors MMA and boxing fighters, among them former WBC Latino Champion Ron "Diablo" Cruz and WBA Intercontinental champion Kareem Hackett.[18][51]
Go is the founder of the UC Berkeley Club of the Philippines and serves in the executive committee.[9]
Gallery
Sean Go displayed his works at MOCAF in 2022
Sean Go's Playmouse variations at Cat-Eye Creative Gallery in Atlanta, Georgia
Sean Go's Lucky Mandalorian at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Manila, Philippines
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
