Pagnol X Troy Galluzzi

Today we have one of our most interesting Pagnol creative features in different levels, Illustrator-Designer Troy Galluzzi, son of the legendary Argentinian motorcycles designer Miguel Galluzzi. For those of you who don't know who Miguel is, for starters, he designed the Ducati Monster! and the Ducati 900 Supersport, Aprilia RSV4 and Tuono, and Moto Guzzi V7 racer to name a few. He is currently the head of design for the Piaggio group (Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Derbi, and Gilera) Check out Troy's gallery here

Having met Miguel in the industry and becoming good friends, it was inevitable to hit it off with Troy as well, not just because of motorcycles and the M2 jacket he/she wanted, but because of digging his artwork-illustrations and it was very refreshing to see the son of a legend designer carve his/her own creative path and do well as well.

But what is like to grow up with a famous designer? How do you create your own path in this scenario? why "he/she"? Keep reading!

How did you get interested in motorcycles? Of course from having a major moto designer as a father had to do with it! but how much and other than that? Your brother is not into it as much, for example, correct? 

To me, motorcycles were synonymous with freedom, speed and in a way meditation.  Motorcycles have always been present because of my dad, so to me, they were part of the scenery so to speak. My dad had a Ducati 750ss in his garage, it was always in half disrepair but it was part of the family. I started with bicycles and couldn't wait to graduate to motorcycles. When we were kids, we would go to France for the summer, my father would join us later when work was out. Every time he would ride one of the Ducatis on hand and be hearing the noise of those beautiful machines signaled the arrival of my dad. Good memories. I've gotten progressively more interested over the years because it has allowed me to relate to my father in at least one BIG way. With cars and motorcycles, we speak the same language even when with other things we might not see eye to eye.

P: The last part of what you just said alone sounds like the treatment for a whole movie!

Of course, we all have gone through wanting to click with our parents. Even though I loved my father to death, awesome guy etc, we did not particularly have any of the "same interests" growing up, later in life photography, but that was it, so I feel you 100%! 

And interesting to hear about what it was like growing up around a moto designer dad and how that shaped how YOU are today :)

How did you get into the kind of design that YOU do? Illustration, etc

The music, art, and movies my dad likes have been the scaffolding that I have built my aesthetic upon. If I had to choose only one thing: Blade Runner is probably the one piece of media that has had the biggest impact on my life. Syd Mead's designs, Ridley Scott's eye for composition and the amazing music of Vangelis, those things should pretty much tell you anything you need to know about me and therefore inspired me to create the things that I do. 

P: No wonder why you mentioned you like the “Blade Runner” like location where we did your photo shoot! BR is a MUST, on any creative's inspiration and influence, I think :)

Were you ever interested in designing motorcycles like your father?

Yes and I still am. I did not because I'm hard-headed and proud. I never wanted to be compared to my dad or be accused of riding my father's coattail so I decided against it very early on. My passion was broader and went beyond just motorcycles. I chose my own path for better or worse and while I wonder how things would have turned out if I had followed in his footsteps, I'm glad that I did not.

P: WE are not glad! I see more here of what is it like to grow up with a very successful father, but you are still very young to give it a shot! yet still old enough to put that pride aside! You know damn well life is about “what if?”, what if you did give it a shot!? I think then the pursuit of being different than your dad would be in "the designs-ideas themselves!" 

I started Pagnol at 48! And I still plan on doing different things until I die!

What relationship do you see in being a creative and a motorcycle rider?

Like I said earlier motorcycles to me are meditation, I use it as a way to focus on this one specific task at hand which is riding. When I'm on the motorcycle I have to give it my undivided attention, if I don't or I take it for granted I get hurt. So in a way, it's a very pure experience, untainted by the larger issues that come attached to life and the world. It's survival. When I drive my car I don't get the same satisfaction, I'm at the mercy of the rest of the world and the rest of the world doesn't value driving or riding. In that aspect, riding has a lot more risks involved but you also have a greater degree of freedom. I don't know if it wholly relates to me as a creative in the strictest sense. Motorcycles are a component of my life that adds to the puzzle that makes up who I am and in that respect, it is also related to my art but one doesn't inform the other and vice-versa.

P: In short, a pure freeing and meditative experience, love it!

Can you tell me a bit more about what is like to have one of the top moto designers in the world as a father? proud of course, but a pressure to match him, or not, etc

It's never been a case of my dad being anyone other than him, I don't see a different person from the designer. I am of course incredibly proud of him and what he's achieved (I do ride a Monster after all and I had a 900SL). He's brilliant but I never put him on a pedestal like some people do. He's my father first so for me it's different. Yes, I've felt like I needed to be like him or better but I've made my peace with being a different person than him. I have my own trajectory and I've learned from his successes and his mistakes one way or another while making my own.

P: I can see how dad is a dad! I am a father too and you are doing a good job at not only carving your own path but learning from him as well?

What have you learned from him as a designer? Both things he wanted to teach you and things you might have learned from watching him etc

The biggest lesson has had to be about work ethic both positively and negatively in that regard. On one hand, giving my work my best effort and never settling for 'ok' is the one thing that I really truly appreciate learning from him. On the flip-side of that, work balance is something that I learned very quickly about, experiencing firsthand the effects of a father that both is extremely passionate about his job (You have to be to be great at anything) and had and still has to answer the calls of the commitment it takes to his position in a company like the Piaggio Grp. My dad sacrificed a lot to get to where he is, mainly 20+ years ago in the Cagiva/Ducati days, so we as a family did as well. I believe in hard work, but I also believe there is a way to make life/work balance happen.

P: I have heard this story over and over and I am living it my self with Pagnol and my family right now! On the one hand, we want to be and do the best we can, THAT takes a lot of time, dedication and passion! And on the other, we want to be a good parent, but is it possible!? I like you, believe so, but I am sort of not there yet! But impossible to balance 100% :)

And as far as "ok is NOT great", THAT is one of the main Pagnol business philosophies!

What are your personal goals as a designer?

I used to think I had an answer to this question. Truth be told, I don't. The only remotely tangible goal I have is freedom to pursue my life the way I want it to.

Being a designer and an artist are two different things. As a designer, I want to be successful and prolific so as to make a good living, but this is all so that I can do pretty much everything else in my life without having to stress.

As an artist my goals are more self-centered around satisfying the itch to create. Sure, if I were to be recognized for my art and also for my design that would be great. I like my ego being stroked, but I'd rather have food on the table than ideals.

P: Here is that work-life balance again! I think you are on track!

You mentioned on our photoshoot that you are transsexual, which to me is like saying "I have black hair"...ok, and? :), all I care about people is if A- They are good people and B-If they ride motorcycles! The rest is like on our "The road doesn't care" video, but of course, not everybody feels the same way, similar to how some people might not see a Mexican with a positive image, and as dumb as we know these prejudices are and we don't really care, I as a Mexican for example, still feel a responsibility to create a positive Mexican image by example.

Is there anything you like to add about this?

The reason that I brought it up is because of visibility and to lead by example. I don't necessarily see myself as a role model but if I can give someone hope or a future or even an idea of what it means to be trans and not just what most people think of being trans, then it's all worth it. Being proud of who you are, your roots, culture, etc, can't be too overlooked. 

If you put the information out there and people remain willfully ignorant then that's their responsibility and burden. We get into conflict because we don't want to talk to each or more importantly listen. If we shut the fuck up for 5 minutes and listen maybe we can learn something about other people and how different or the same their life is compared to ours.

And while common sense says that yeah people should be judged by their actions and intentions rather than who they are, we all know that that's not the case.

 

P: SO well said, to lead by a good example in our little ways and not just for our own but for others that might have a different image of who we are, perhaps this way they will be a bit more willing to learn about others, and this goes for other countries, cultures, etc as you mention here, but I still could not have said it better:

If you put the information out there and people remain willfully ignorant then that's their responsibility and burden. We get into conflict because we don't want to talk to each or more importantly listen. If we shut the fuck up for 5 minutes and listen maybe we can learn something about other people and how different or the same their life is compared to ours.

And while common sense says that yeah people should be judged by their actions and intentions rather than who they are, we all know that that's not the case.

P: It is VERY hard for humans to "see" more than what they externally see, color, gender, appearance, stories, media, etc, so again, I rather then "lead by example" so this is what they "see", but as you said, if they still remain willfully ignorant or prejudice then it is THEIR problem/burden.

Lastly, what drew you to wanting Pagnol gear!?

Leather jackets! I love leather jackets. The gear that Pagnol makes is so great, there isn't much else to say. Even after a nasty low side, the M2 is still in one piece and saved my skin, which I can't say the same for some of the "bigger brands", *cough* D#%*& *cough*. Not only that but it looks damn good, scuffs and all.

I'm not one to give recommendations about gear, but yeah I tell people to look at Pagnol because I ride with it myself.

P: I also love how you personalize/customized it with all them patches! So rocker :)

Well this interview has been so great and refreshing! Thank you SO much for liking the idea of being a Pagnol creative rider, ride on!

Paulo.