The Art of Assisting: Gilbert, George, Jake, and Dinos

While enrolled together at the Royal College of Art, Jake and Dinos Chapman served an apprenticeship under another influential British art duo: Gilbert & George. “It was hard labour by any measure,” Jake told The Guardianthis spring. “There was absolutely no creative input at all. They were very polite and it was interesting to hear them talking—as we did our daily penance.”

When asked what what their work involved, Jake replied: “Colouring in their prints. We coloured in Gilbert and George’s penises for eight hours a day.” Though they might be less than excited with the comparison, at right check out a few works that demonstrate both pairs’ shared interest in the dark subversion of mass media and popular imagery.