Our Space - Miso And Ghost Patrol

The Age

Saturday November 1, 2008

Interview: Frances Atkinson

Weak, city light pours in through the windows. Artists Ghost Patrol and Miso are bent over their work; Miso dips her pen in black ink while Ghost Patrol, seated at the other end of their hand-made table, delicately cuts out a paper stag. They are surrounded by images, books and objects that inspire their eclectic work. For Miso, that might mean a three-metre-tall paste-up that will find a home on a laneway wall at 3am on a Sunday, or for Ghost Patrol, a tiny figure drawn directly on to a set of wooden pencils.

How did you find this place?

GP: We had to move out of our old studio in Northcote and for a while we didn't have one. I went overseas, came back and noticed a sign in the window. Our old studio was a massive warehouse and we shared it with a couple of other people.

Miso: We'd always loved the look of the building. We thought we probably wouldn't get it, but at least we might get to see what it looks like on the inside. It was built in the 1890s.

Do you comment on each other's work?

Miso: We're really honest with each other. We're not that cautious of each other's feelings. I feel free to say, "That's not your best work. You've done better." He says the same to me at times - I think that's important.

GP: We're working on the same level - it's even, so it's easier to be critical.

Miso: We're so acquainted with each other's work but it's important to be able to take a step back. I suppose we challenge each other in that regard.

How did you set up the space?

GP: We need a big desk so we had to build it in the room and then we just started working and the rest just came together. We probably have too much stuff in here now.

Miso: But we live close by so if we need to get a book or something, we can get it.

Does working in the centre of town impact on your work?

GP: Not really. It's nice to be able to go out and get one pencil from the art store and if we're all going to an opening, we can just meet here.

Miso: I think it does for me. We live not far from here so everything we do happens in this big block in the CBD.

Do you draw all the time?

GP: Yeah. Even when I'm at home I'm sketching. Drawing is so portable so I'm always doing something. Almost everything I do is related to drawing.

Miso: Sometimes I want to just cook dinner and switch off for a few hours.

The other space you work in is the streets ...

Miso: We never work on a Friday or Saturday night because people want to pick fights. We usually go out really late mid-week and there's no one around. It's like a giant playground - everyone's gone.

GP: We don't want to annoy people or piss anyone off so we aim to be stealthy. We've never had any trouble with police but lots of people do (cause trouble) because they are either stupid or drunk.

What do you like about working and living in the city?

GP: There's a big network of people who have other studios in town. Everything's kind of hidden, little galleries and quirky places and other studios.

Sometimes someone will find an abandoned space and a group of artists will go in and deck the whole place out. Everyone turns up and paints and whatever and then everybody leaves. There are some huge spaces, like half a block.

Miso: There used to be a huge place near Southern Cross Station - just amazing spaces.

Describe the ideal working space.

Miso: I'd like huge windows. But being in the city - it's strange because we're level with office windows and sometimes I'll just notice someone staring at me, and that makes me feel a bit weird. I don't like the idea of everyone watching each other.

GP: I think I'd prefer a really neat desk but more comfortable with a computer and a couch but then also having a place in the country that's open and quiet with big windows.

You don't have a lot of natural light. Is that a problem?

GP: It's OK. It could be better. We don't have heating so it's really cold in winter.

Miso: But it's really nice in summer.

Miso, some of your work takes up a lot of space.

Yeah. The paste-ups are quite big. I make huge drawings and then I make my own glue and put them up with a big brush.

GP: But it's only a small part of what you do - a lot of your work is very small, detailed drawings.

How often are you in this space?

GP: This is our only job so we work from 9am to 9pm, six days a week. We have Sundays off, but only because they close the building on that day. If it was open, I think we'd be here working.

Miso: Which is why I'm glad it's not open.

Do lots of people drop by?

Miso: I always like it when friends stop by but if I'm working really hard, people understand and are really courteous.

GP: We also have drawing nights where everyone comes over and we all draw so people come around from out of town or whatever, and people might want to buy one and they'll just draw something there and then. We trade drawings too, which is great because you end up with a catalogue of work from people you admire.

What are you working on now?

Miso: We are finishing off pieces for Nesting and Dying.

GP: There's going to be a book, too. A friend of ours who writes for Wooden Toy Magazine is putting together a collection of photos and pages from sketchbooks. It's quite small but I think it will look good.

Nesting and Dying: Miso and Ghost Patrol, Metro 5 Gallery, 1214 High Street, Armadale until Sunday, November 9. There will be a Q&A tomorrow at 2pm.