Anto Christ

Text JF. Pierets   

Her calling card in life is to explore and to experiment with different mediums in order to create something new. Creating is her obsession and passion and she refuses to put herself in a bubble by sticking to one thing only. Next to being a designer, artist and performer, she’s also the leading lady of one of the happiest parades in the world. The Sydney Colour Parade.

On dreams
My mother taught me how to crochet when I was eight but everything started when I saw work by the The Icelandic Love Corporation. The crocheted work they did for Björk was so amazing and mind blowing that I knew what I was heading for. I believe that you can be whatever you want to be in this world as long as you do it every day. Let’s say practice makes perfect!

On inspiration
I get my inspiration from plants, insects and the ocean. The ocean is the main place I draw from. My world situates underwater, in the depths of the sea that has not yet been explored. I would like to create an entire world of fluorescent beauty and inspire future creatives to go along with their own endeavors. I want to remind the world that there are no limits.

On fashion
There’s definitely a niche market out there that would be up for some wardrobe jazz-up. Once a year I do a solo exhibition, and I have displayed in galleries in Berlin. I’ve been involved in collaborative fashion shows such as the ‘Being Born Again’ couture show in Sydney. Along with my partner in crime, Casio Ono, we have done commissioned work for a label called Emerald Couture but we’re not really into the commercial fashion industry. Our pieces take so long to assemble that it would be impossible to mass produce. Also, I see myself as more of an artist than as someone who’s working for a giant monster. But don’t get me wrong, we are always open for collaborations.  If it means that fashion would be more inspiring to look at, then everyone should have a pair of pom pom gloves!

On the colour parade
The Colour Parade is an artistic statement that celebrates creativity, self-expression and freedom. It’s an opportunity to meet like-minded characters. We created the parade to show people that you don’t need money to have a good time. It’s a reminder that the human spirit is still very optimistic, even in this day and age. For four years now we have lit up Sydney’s streets with a cacophony of colour and music. The people who are part of the parade express themselves in whatever craziness they like. They bring music makers, hoops, glitter, streamers, flowers and signs they created themselves. Not to mention the incredible outfits. It’s just plain celebration.

On mission statements
The Colour Parade is not a political parade but the more “closed” our society becomes, the more “controversy” we create. The setting around us is so grey and confirmative that we want to inspire everybody to be whom they want to be. It’s about bringing together like-minded people so you can certainly expect to expand your circle of friends with all the activated, inspired, explosive and expressive individuals you will encounter.

On Sydney
The Colour Parade is about opening Sydney’s vision and to let its beautiful, open-minded people out on the streets to connect and make some noise. Sydney is very commercial and mundane and that automatically influences some artists to the extreme. The public always reacts different when they see the parade. Some people are confused, some are scared, but some get inspired and even join us. And why not, because at the end of the day, we are just a bunch of people walking down the streets expressing ourselves with colour and adornment.

On the future
Casio Ono and I are moving to Berlin. We went there for seven months last year and met some amazing people I’m excited to work with. I want to be able to travel and show my work around the world, perhaps even Japan.  That place is like another planet! And who knows, at the end that might be the place where I belong.