City Slicker:
Greg Darroll Greg Darroll, better known as Tokyo-Go-Go in SA’s illustration circles, took part in the City Slickers exhibition in Cape Town and was presented with an award of excellence by one small seed for his artworks. His intricately detailed linework and often subdued palette brings forth characters that bristle with life, humour and a carefully considered sense of power.
Based in Durban, Greg works at renowned design agency Disturbance Studio alongside Richard Hart, Roger Jardine and Matt Kay. Despite his African roots, his pen name professes a deep love and respect for Asian design. “‘Tokyo’ signifies my beginnings,” he explains. “Japanese art and design is — and always will be — a huge inspiration, whether it’s traditional work or the more modern pop culture examples. The first ‘Go’ represents my progression since I was a naïve young doodler, and how my illustration style has developed over time. And the second ‘Go’ expresses what's still to come: how I will continue to grow as an artist, continue to learn, experiment and create.” It was while studying at Durban University of Technology (DUT) that Greg had his proverbial ‘ah-ha!’ moment. “When I began my Graphic Design course in 2006 at DUT, I quite frankly wasn't entirely sure what this ‘Graphic Design’ thing was all about,” he says. “However, soon it clicked and I realised how powerful images and type can be as a form of communication.” After this, Greg dedicated every moment he could to nurturing his innate talent into carefully honed skill and style. He quickly became noticed, creating a series of t-shirt graphics and amassing several major clients while completing his fourth year at DUT. Later that same year he won a Bronze Loerie in the Digital Media category. Powerful beginnings for the young illustrator. Combining acute detail with slick layers of pastel or neon bright slashes of colour, each of Greg’s pieces is thoroughly thought through from conception to execution. Despite the regular appearance of skulls, bones and the occasional gratuitous dollop of blood, his work remains buoyantly light, almost cheeky in its more bizarrely morbid moments. At just 23 years old, Tokyo-Go-Go is undoubtedly a name that’s here to stay. www.behance.net/tokyo-go-go