Deutsche Pinocchio

DrilOne is a New Yorker at heart and a San Franciscan by location. On the East Coast, he painted only 2d work; on the west coast, toys and other 3D objects are his preferred canvas. He began working with vinyl in 2005, and soon after stumbled upon the formula that would serve as his signature style. By taking a playful object and distressing it to, quite literally, its breaking point, Dril comments on oblivion, transience, and re-birth. Dril says simply: “I love rust, decay, history, ruins, military, skulls, vintage, and all this makes me who I am.” Art is in Dril’s blood. The son of a painter, he cannot imagine or remember life without drawing. He is a veteran of the New York City public school system and spent most of his life amidst the city’s chaos and creativity. His upbringing and admiration for contemporary, pop and graffiti artists are reflected in his work. The many inspirations that inform his art include abandoned amusement parks, insane asylums and old military bunkers. Dril has made a name for himself with his instantly recognizable visual expression, and his sought-after figures can be seen in art galleries and collections around the world. Standouts among KAWS’ Companion is one of the most iconic figures created by the artist Brian Donnelly, known as KAWS. The Companion character features a cartoon-like figure with a skull-shaped head, crossed-out eyes, and gloved hands, resembling classic animation characters but with a distinct melancholic and introspective expression. Since its debut in the late 1990s, Companion has been released in various forms, including vinyl toys, large-scale sculptures, and limited-edition collaborations. The character is often depicted in different poses, such as covering its face in distress, reclining, floating, or standing tall, reflecting themes of isolation, vulnerability, and contemplation.