The duo comprising One Truth Brothers, also known as Pase and Dr. Drax, began their success story as illegal graffiti sprayers. Today, the brothers are internationally recognized street artists whose works are auctioned with the likes of Banksy, Keith Haring, Obey, Cope2, and Kaws.
A distinctive feature of One Truth's art is the «One Truth Dog», a symbol that emerged from personal experience - the dog Daisy. It is an image that serves as the inspiration for the faithful companion in their work, inferring humanity, personality, and quirks.
In the paintings, humorous depictions of the «farting dog» charmingly showcase human flaws. «We don’t paint beautiful beach scenes; instead, our characters tell personal stories. It’s about relationships, experiences, and our dogs, who are our constant companions,» explains Dr. Drax.
One Truth, «Love Story,» 2023, Spray Paint (Freehand), Acrylic on Canvas, 80 x 100 cm. (Image: One Truth)
High-Quality Street Art
These works are often combined with backgrounds reminiscent of graffiti lettering and a recurring dog motif. They are entirely hand-painted or created with spray cans – without the use of projections or «stencils,» giving their works authentic and technically sophisticated characteristics.
One Truth, Mural, «Dog Heaven» in Memory of «Queen Daisy,» 2003-2020, Sihlcity (Image: One Truth)
From Chef to Artist
Pase, originally a trained chef, and Dr. Drax, who has a background in theatre prop making, have come a long way, with their artworks fetching prices up to and beyond 50,000 francs.
For 14 years, they have been able to live entirely off their art, something that further underlines their breakthrough into the world of art. A stroll through Zurich puts many of their works front center, enlivening the predominantly urban vistas. That includes the large-scale mural «Dog Heaven» placed on a long facade beside the Sihl River, near the Sihlcity shopping center, the piece being dedicated to their late dog Daisy and all other earthly beings.
finews.art met One Truth in a relaxed atmosphere at the Art Dinner 2024 (Image: One Truth)
Dinner in the Style of Street Art
In addition to those kinds of public projects, the brothers also work to create intimate experiences with so-called Art Dinners in their studio and gallery on the Baendlistrasse in Zurich-Altstetten, where they exclusively invite ten to twelve selected guests twice a year.
These evenings offer not just the opportunity to dine and drink surrounded by art but also for stimulating conversations in a relaxed atmosphere – often accompanied by their dogs and those of the guests.
It Doesn’t Always Have to Be Banksy
The culinary selection ranges from Tibetan buffets (thanks to Shangrila this year) to more local specialties such as Turicum Gin, a distillery that is also a fan of their art. The One Truth brothers example clearly shows that Streetart has its rightful place in the art market, reminding us that it doesn’t always have to come from the likes of a Banksy.
One Truth (Pase on the left and Dr. Drax on the right) with Prince Albert II of Monaco (center), at the auction in Monaco for the benefit of the Prince Albert II Foundation. (Image: Upaint/One Truth)
International Success
The One Truth Brothers duo has made a name for themselves internationally through collaborations with major clients like UBS, Fifa, Google, Red Bull, and Reebok, as well as holding exhibitions in Berlin, Hamburg, Basel, Gothenburg, and Chicago.
Their works are represented worldwide in private collections, underscoring their significant success in the street art scene. Furthermore, One Truth has been invited in the past to contribute to public art by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) for significant occasions such as the 2012 Olympics and the Expo Milano 2015.
A Royal Dog for the Principality of Monaco
In 2022, the city of Zurich acquired six artworks for its collection, followed by a graffiti exhibition at the Kunsthalle Bern. That year, the brothers also launched the NFT collection «500er Dog,» with tickets selling out in two hours.
Last year was marked by a special art project and auction in Monaco under the patronage of the Prince Albert Foundation and another art auction at the Kampa Museum in Prague. That same year, the brothers celebrated their 20th anniversary as artists with a documentary film. It is clear that The One Truth Dogs has become a hallmark, and is now known worldwide under the hashtag #onetruthdog.
Exceptional Art Close By
The story of One Truth Brothers proves that exceptional art is often found close to us – a realization aptly formulated by the eponymous German writer Goethe. «Why wander far and wide when the good is so close at hand?»
