Semi-Permanent is heading back to Perth, and it’s bringing with it a swag of fantastic speakers. Among them is Jasper Goodall, arguably one of the most influential graphic designers of his generation.

Goodall’s distinct style has been commissioned to promote the likes of Nike, Gucci, Adidas and Dazed & Confused. He’s also begun a collaboration with Louis Middleton to create an amazing range of swimwear, JG4B, a range where art moulds to the curves and contours of the feminine form.

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Throughout Goodall’s work – from the swimwear to the illustration – is a concern with desire and how it manifests itself. ‘I think my work in this area started as me simply perpetuating these ideas of beauty/sexiness,’ Goodall explained down the line from Brighton.

‘But as I become more aware and questioning of myself, my work has begun to explore these issues a little deeper. That’s not to say I want to challenge the current idea of what is sexy, I just want to think about it and make work that subtly nods towards it.’

Goodall’s most poignant image to date is of Bad Bambi, a fusion of illustration and photography which mixes innocence with hardcore fetish. ‘I wanted to find a new symbol of innocence to corrupt…who better than Bambi?

‘The holding up of the print in front of the real person further comments on the dressing up/fetish idea. When you dress up you stop being you, and you become an exotic stranger for a while, and there are few things more potent for piquing our desires than sex with a stranger.

‘The world can stop being real for a period and you can live inside a fantasy. Dressing up is about fantasy becoming reality, the lines are blurred. I wanted to combine a real person with an illustration fantasy but not in a photoshopped way, in a real way.’

The themes of temptation and corruption manifest themselves in other areas of Goodall’s work. With inspiration taken from Aubrey Beardsley, Goodall recreates iconic moments in Greek mythology, some of his work being used to adorn previous album releases by the band Muse.

‘(Greek mythology) is a great source of inspiration and provides an amazing framework of ideas and morals to base work upon. I think the stories behind all the gods and goddesses are all so haunting or beautiful or funny, it’s a great thing to base work on. I’m sure artists will be doing so for many many years to come in one way or another.’

Semi-Permanent happens October 13 at The Perth Convention Exhibition Centre’s Riverside Theatre. Goodall will be joined by the likes of Tara McPherson, Keith Schofield and Hammer & Tong. Tickets are available now. www.semipermanent.com

Scott-Patrick Mitchell