Exclusive Interview with the Erotic Artist Pigo Lin on His Sensual View on Art

In two earlier articles we already paid attention to the fascinating art of Pigo Lin (1984). His unique visual language is in line with the aesthetic mission of Shunga Gallery and the type of art that we want to give a stage. That is why it was about time we sat down with the prolific Taiwanese artist and ask him about his motives, interests and influences.

SG:  Was art already part of your life from an early age?

PL:  Yes, I have been drawing since childhood, especially manga, mostly fight and action scenes. Drawing comics is quite popular among elementary and middle school students in Taiwan, but they are not taught, unless you are going to the specialized departments at the university.

‘How to shower with your snake‘ (May 2020)

‘Eagle‘ (May 2020)

SG:   Toshio Saeki, who died earlier this year and the graphic manga artist Suehiro Maruo are important influences for you. What are specific aspects that appeal to you about their art, and is this reflected in your own art?

PL: Yes, these two Japanese artists influenced me a lot, especially Toshio Saeki. To my shame, I only discovered Saeki’s works for the first time when I was in college, but it instantly gave me great excitement. Unfortunately, the university and research institute only teach to become an illustrator of children’s picture books, and therefore my aspirations to become an erotic artist in the future had to be postponed. After graduating from the institute, I worked full-time as a child illustrator for two years. But my income was unstable, and it took a lot of time to make a book. Finally in 2010, I decided to give up the children’s picture books and go to work at the watch company to change my mood. Working at a watch company not only gave me a stable income, but also offered me time to think and breathe, and to look again at my possibilities as an artist. My erotic art also dates from this period (from 2015).

‘Bike‘ (2020)

‘Plumage‘ (2020) 

SG:  I assume that your are familiar with shunga. What are the aspects of shunga that appeal to you?  What are the characteristics of shunga that you find special?

PL:  Shunga erotic paintings are influential in Asian culture, especially in China and Japan. My artistic creation is also inspired on it. I like this art form a lot. The designs in shunga mainly show characters having sex in a private space. I think this is in line with how people think about sex in all Asian cultures, people are curious about it but cannot express it. In my own work, I try to modify and adjust the content to be more in line with the modern concept of sex, for example: sexual and female autonomy.

‘Iceberg‘ (2020)

‘Crystal ball‘ (2020)

SG: In some paintings you depict a cross over the private parts (genitals). I assume this is a nod to censorship?  Is there censorship on eroticism in Taiwan?

PL: Because the work is mainly published on Instagram, in some cases, it needs to meet the Instagram censorship system, so I put a cross on the private parts. The publishing platforms in Taiwan are more stringent. Although it is more free than other Asian countries. Sexual culture is more conservative across Asia, that is why I chose to post on Instagram.

SG: Oh I see, I incorrectly assumed the crosses were intentional.

‘High tide‘ (2017) – Censored

‘High tide‘ (2017) – Uncensored

‘Open wave (censored)‘ (2020)

‘Open wave (uncensored)‘ (2020)

SG: I love the films of your compatriot and filmmaker Tsai Ming Liang. What is your favorite movie (s)? I mean in general?

PL: I also like movies, and Tsai Ming Liang’s movies are really great !! Asian directors, My personal favorites are Ang Lee and Kore-eda Hirokazu. Their work not only captures the hearts of Asians, but also allows moviegoers in Europe and the United States to understand it. My favorite American movie is Richard Linklater’s trilogy ‘Before Sunrise‘ (1995), ‘Before Sunset‘ (2004), ‘Before Midnight‘ (2013)…very romantic !!

‘Ready to descent‘ (2019)

‘Where are my pets‘ (2019) 

SG:  One of our co-producers (Darya) remarked that some of your works ideologically have very much in common with European culture, meaning plots like The Birth of Venus and Daphne’s transformation. Do you recognize this?

PL:  Thanks for your compliments Darya, The Birth of Venus and Daphne’s transformation are beautiful works, but in fact I am not inspired by these works. Most of my inspiration comes from “Ukiyo-e”. When it concerns European culture I have been mainly influenced by the illustrations in fairy tale books from Kinder-und Hausmarchen (KHM) * and Hans Christian Andersen.

‘Hear the Conch’s voice‘ (2019)

‘Broken angel‘ (2019)

SG:  Up to now I bought three of your pieces (Thriller Novel,  Blouse and Whale). Can you tell use a little about their background?

Thriller Novel

PL:  I personally do not watch horror movies or read horror novels because I am scared quickly. If I accidentally see a clip, the horrible picture will stay in my mind and I can’t sleep well. Reading text is sometimes more powerful than the picture. I imagine reading horror novels as if sticky tentacles are sticking out of the book. As long as you are stuck, you cannot move and cannot escape.

‘Thriller novel‘ (2020)

Blouse

PL:  I like the sense of fit and formality of the shirt, especially the pictures of the buttons pulling the clothes tightly, making me feel very erotic.

‘Blouse‘ (2020)

Whale

PL:  Whales are mammals. This setting alone makes my passions rise. Am I weird?

‘Whale‘ (April 2020)

SG: Are you still watchmaker by day? Or can you live from your art at this point?

PL:  I have become a full-time artist since the end of 2018. I am very happy to support my life through the income of art. My dreams have come true.

Thanks a lot for your candor Pigo!

For those who, like us, can’t get enough…

'The Norns ' (Jan 2023)

'The Call of the Mountains ' (22 Jan 2023)

'Sunburn ' (4 Jan 2023)

'Welcome to join my lunch party ' (26 Dec 2022)

'Psilocybin Mushroom ' (21 Dec 2022) 

'Lovelorn ' (18 Dec 2022)

'WiFi ' (11 Dec 2022)

' Wooden Fish ' (22 Nov 2022)

'Current ' (20 Nov 2022)

'Cigar ' (17 Nov 2022)

'Strike ' (13 Nov 2022)

'Come To Mum Boys, Let Me Take You To Heaven ' (Nov 2022)

'Free Your Brain ' (25 Oct 2022)

'Three Flying Heads' (18 Oct 2022)

'Night of the living dead ' (16 Oct 2022)

'Chinese Vampires' (12 Oct 2022)

This painting was part of the exhibition《Future Nostalgia》in LA on October 22, 2022

'Candle ' (Aug 2022)

'Lust Rain' (Aug 2022)

'Tiger Wrestler ' (Aug 2022)

'Predatory mouth' (26 April 2022) 

'Slug ' (21 April 2022)

' Live with Cat ' (14 April 2022) 

'Wetting Head ' (12 April 2022)

'Blue Whale '  (10 April 2022)'Heart Attack ' (8 Apr 2022)

'Bump Bump ' (7 Apr 2022)

'Two-mouthed Woman' (6 April 2022)

'Vomit' (4 April 2022)

'Cat Gym' (23 March 2022)

'Wild Dancing ' (12 March 2022)

'Volcanic ' (8 March 2022)

'Woman With a Straw Hat ' (3 March 2022)

'Washing Machine ' (24 Feb 2022)

Detail 'Washing Machine '

'Goomba ' (19 Feb 2022)

"Deep Blue ' (18 Feb 2022)

'Hot Wind ' (13 Feb 2022)

'Catwoman ' (Feb 2022)

'Çatwoman (another version) ' (12 Feb 2022)

'Yabu no Naka' (28 Dec 2021)

'Merry Christmas' (24 Dec 2021)

'No Animals Were Harmed' (18 Dec 2021)

'Yolk' (14 Dec 2021)

'Oasis' (11 Dec 2021)

'Green Light ' (8 Dec 2021)

'Swan Lake' (4 Dec 2021)

'Winds ' (2 Dec 2021)'Find the Key' (30 Nov 2021)

'Murmur' (23 Nov 2021)

'The Curtain Rise' (21 Nov 2021)

'Catching Fire' (10 Nov 2021)

'Sı̣ɐ' (4 Nov 2021)

'Bowknot' (29 Oct 2021)

'Night Reading' (27 Oct 2021)

'Melt' (24 Oct 2021)

'Cosmopolis' (20 Oct 2021)

‘After Orgasm‘ (17 Oct 2021)

‘Shake hands‘ (2021)

‘Shake hands‘ (2016)

‘Ready for Sport‘ (7 Oct 2021)

‘New Devil‘ (Oct 2021)

‘Throne‘ (29 Sept 2021)

‘Sundew‘ (26 Sept 2021)

‘Allure‘ (24 Sept 2021)

‘Ghostbastard‘ (20 Sept 2021)

‘In Making Love Tea‘ (13 Sept 2021)

‘Warm me like a Fur‘ (10 Sept 2021)

‘Life with Cat‘ (10 Sept 2021)

‘Move Inside I‘ (8 Sept 2021)

‘Move Inside II‘ (8 Sept 2021)

‘Bump‘ (7 Sept 2021)

‘Hands Up‘ (6 Sept 2021)

‘Mario‘ (4 September 2021)

‘Under World‘ (2 Sept 2021)

‘Universe‘ (29 August 2021)

‘After Shower‘ (25 August 2021)

‘Miami ‘ (16 August 2021)

‘Hot Latte‘ (15 August 2021)

‘Circle‘ (10 August 2021)

‘Tight tight‘ (6 August 2021)

‘Milk‘ (29 July 2021)

‘Kappa Needs Water (Censored)‘ (25 July 2021)

‘Playing with Waves‘ (24 July 2021)

‘Revolution‘ (19 July 2021)

‘Candle‘ (15 July 2021)

‘Ophelia (shiny edition)‘ (12 July 2021)

‘Ophelia‘ (10 July 2021)

‘Deep Show‘ (9 July 2021)

‘Festival‘ (1 July 2021)

‘Lady Dimitrescu‘ (27 June 2021)

‘How to Train Your Shark (Revised edition)‘ (20 June 2021)

‘Play with the Body‘ (14 June 2021)

‘The call of the mountain-shiny edition‘ (3 May 2021)

‘Laocoon‘ (1 May 2021)

‘The call of the mountain‘ (28 April 2021)

‘Web Woman‘ (23 April 2021)

‘Immerse‘ (3 April 2021)

‘Mailbox‘ (30 March 2021)

‘Sea anemone‘ (25 March 2021)

‘Ice Age‘ (21 March 2021)

‘Cat eyes‘ (19 March 2021)

‘Love eruption‘ (16 March 2021)

‘Hair shaving‘ (4 March 2021)

‘Crossing the line to find you‘ (2 March 2021)

‘Immerse‘ (28 Feb 2021)

‘Mating Feet‘ (19 Feb 2021)

Close up ‘Mating Feet’ (19 Feb 2021)

‘The Birth of Venus‘ (10 Feb 2021)

‘Drop down with the current‘ (8 Feb 2021)

‘Mind‘ (5 Feb 2021)

‘Festival‘ (31 Jan 2021)

‘Shiva‘ (26 Jan 2021)

‘New Devil‘ (24 Jan 2021)

‘Mushroom Hunting‘ (21 Jan 2021)

‘The Fly‘ (19 Jan 2021)

‘Work at Office‘ (14 Jan 2021)

‘Cat‘ (4 January 2021)

‘Green‘ (29 Dec 2020)

‘AKIRA‘ (26 Dec 2021)

‘Shake Hands‘ (23 Dec 2020)

‘Wet Rose‘ (21 Dec. 2020)

‘Japan Oni‘ (17 Dec 2020)

‘Hide-and-Seek‘ (15 Dec 2020)

‘Kasa jizou‘ (8 Dec 2020)

‘High Cut‘ (5 Dec 2020)

‘Before Sunrise‘ (28 Nov 2020)

‘Legs‘ (24 Nov 2020)

‘Deep in Thought‘ (22 Nov 2020)

‘Red Riding Hood‘ (18 Nov 2020)

‘Tremor‘ (16 Nov 2020)

‘Carry me with the current‘ (2 Nov 2020) by Pigo Lin

‘Midsummer night‘ (30 Oct. 2020)

‘Goldfish‘ (26 October 2020)

‘New York‘ (15 October 2020)

‘Rider‘ (8 Oct. 2020)

‘Queen Cobra‘ (4 Oct 2020)

‘To water the long dry‘ (October 2020)

Click HERE for more engaging art of Pigo Lin….!!

Or visit the site of the artist or follow him on Instagram…..!!

Besides his unique paintings you can also obtain his limited edition (signed) giclée prints in his Shopify store…!!

*Grimms’ Fairy Tales

Let us know what you think about this interview in the comment box below…..!!

Some of the reactions on Instagram on the interview:

“Good read! I didn’t know you were scared off horror stuff! The more you know ✨”
“Very cool that u worked your way to becoming an artist. Keep the vision.”
“i’m so glad i took the time to visit the website!! so ducking cool!! “