


by s7ing and Mop of Alcatraz

They have both left the active part of the scene quite some
years ago, but their name still thunders in the graphician
ghettos.

They have been part of many known Amiga groups from the old
scene years. They are most probably the most known
graphics duo we ever had on Amiga.

We of Mudia Art are more than ecstatic to undust their
sketch books. Meet Calvin and Artur, better known as the 
GFX Twins.

We had the pleasure to speak to both of them when
researching our background story. The main interview and the
samples which we present in this issue where supplied
by Calvin.

As a bonus gift to all Mudia Art readers, Artur set us up
with a very special exclusive gift; pages from one of his
early sketch books. (Which you could find as an added bonus)

The GFX Twins started out in Ruhrgebiet, in a town called
Dortmund. This was the place where Artur and Calvin grew up.
They were very close friends and did most things good friends
do together in their youth years.

Hence it was quite normal that they both started pixeling on
the Amiga at the same time, and hence developed the same
pixel style, which they kindled and expanded. To many they
seemed an  in-extractable duo, and most probably that
was the main reason for their scene name of choice. Out of
enviousness many sceners interpreted this closeness as
gayness, even though this was not the case with the two.
GFX-Twins has been a symbol for real friendship and
teamwork. Indeed we cannot remember so many graphician
duo from the Amiga days... apart from them!

Artur's first computer was a "plus4", a gift from his parents.
Like many others in those days, Arthur wanted a C64, so it
did not take long until he bought the wonder machine most
sceners started on. Artur preferred to be creative rather
than play games all day. Coding was not his forte, but making
music or graphics looked interesting. The Amiga followed. He
tries Fasttracker but that doesn't fit his style. One day he
came across Deluxe Paint, and found himself very
comfortable pixeling the good old way.

Whilst his friends played games or skated, Artur spent
day and night with his dpaint. He just enjoyed it, had fun,
and developed his creative skills.

Whilst other kids were spraying or scribbling graffiti,
Arthur was looking in dpaint's zoom window to pixel copper, 
shadings or figures. Shortly after he found his way drawing
with pencil on paper and created logos, signs and more
intricate figures.

Calvin and Artur found their way into the demo scene when
they saw the European Top 20 magazine from Equinox. It was
not a game, it was new and different in an exquisite way.
There was a bright flash in their eyes and that was the
beginning of a journey into a new world. They wanted to be
part of the demo scene and through it they saw a way to
share their creative skills with other sceners, and
publish their work worldwide.

Their very first steps were in an unknown demo group, who's
name they cannot even remember. But soon after they
had the opportunity to join IRIS, without any idea if
that would be a good or bad choice. They just wanted to
have fun, learn and get better in what they did.

Their scene journey continues, and they join more known
groups like Dual Crew Shining and then Nuance. In Nuance
they found a place with real friendship and enjoyed the time
with all the crazy members.

Their experience grew and they developed their own pixelling
style in all their pictures and logos. After Nuance they
worked for the french group Digital, even though they had the
possibility to join Melon Design. Finding back their German
roots they joined Essence, which at the time was a very
active group mainly because of the brilliant coder Touchstone.
Their knowledge of the scene grew as they befriended
sceners like Chromag, Virgill, Redman, Touchstone and
various members of Haujobb. After Essence they joined
Scoopex, considered by many as one of the most known
groups in demo scene history.

They had a great time in this legendary group. But with
Scoopex, the scene story of the GFX Twins sadly comes to
an end.

What are they doing now? Calvin moved to England to work for
the game company Eurocom, just like many of his peers.
He has plans to come back to Germany some time or another.

Artur always had the dream to have his own graphics agency
but his studies lead him to a position of an industrial clerk.
Boring? Not really, as after years of hard work, Artur
finally manged to make his dream come true.
Nowadays he owns two media agencies -
www.creartur.de and www.motekk.de

The GFX Twins say that they have no particular deal with
today's demo scene. They liked the old school scene and still
reminisce some great old demos and intros from time to time.
Every scener is prone to have melancholy flashbacks
once in a while.

The GFX Twins miss the spirit of the old scene and would
like to come back but they think that today's scene is not
so exciting any more. "We were so uncommercial in the past",
told us Artur.

And somehow he might be right as one can`t compare the old
times with the new way we are scening today. One thing is for
sure; who has ever expected the demo scene to be still alive
after the great fall of Amiga, and to have so many active
groups more than ever than we have today?

We come to an end to this sentimental walkthrough, through
the scene past. We have to thank the GFX-Twins for the good
work they have always presented to the scene, and we are
sure they will be never forgotten. The spirit and art they
created so lovingly is still around and will hopefully live
for a long time to come, now also on PC through this
issue of Mudia Art.
