The holidays are upon us and 2016 is nipping at our heels. The only decision harder than what gift to get your grandmother is what GIF to attach to inter-office emails and Slack threads. We've gathered some of the most festive GIF artists on the net for a series called 12 Days of GIFmas. We'll shine a red and green spotlight on the creative process behind these shareable bites of holiday cheer.Specializing in bringing street art to life in his animated GIFs, Spanish artist A.L. Crego is always sure to infuse his razor-sharp wit into his work. For the holidaze he takes this aspect of his work literally by decking his GIF Christmas lights with razor wire, as well as singeing Santa Claus in a fireplace and placing fetuses in Christmas ornaments. He takes true glee in his controversial take on the holidays, proof that even the cynics can take part in the jolly season.We asked A.L. Crego about the ideas and process behind his festive new GIF series.The Creators Project: Can you briefly explain the idea behind each GIF?A.L. Crego: Burning Santa: I like the idea of this icon being burned because it represents the consumerism system we are living in and the religious figure we are supposed to praise. In winter we must suffer the big lie.Barbed Holidays: I wanted to melt the opposite concepts of a fence and christmas lights. We usually forget everything that happens in the world. We are on "holy" days, although these are not really "holy" days. Our attention is like a blinking light but is only enabled when those lights are on. If we do not see, we hardly can feel.Womb and Bomb: All the ornaments we use on this holidays are just to create a huge stage where the companies are the directors and we are just extras doing our job. Since the day we are born we grow with this lie around and since we are young, we collaborate each year doing the same ritual.Run me through the process of creating the GIFs. What tools/techniques did you use?The first thing I usually do is to write a sentence, a quote, a thought about a theme and then translate it into images. I look for the "ingredients" I need. I usually take photos/videos of what I need, other times I use some 3D software, time lapse, or stop motion, and other times I swim on the net looking for something helpful to compose a still image. Once I have it, I work on it in a video editor to give motion and create the loop. Then I add all special effects and details I want, and export it!What do you have planned for 2016?I'll keep on creating street art GIFs because I have a lot of them that want to come alive. The idea is to keep on this and take it to the next level with an augmented reality app. We are working on it. I talk about "we" because for months I've been working side by side with Mutante Creativo. They are two street artists and musicians (Sokram and Mou) who also commission street art festivals (like Desordes Creativas in their hometown of Ordes, Galicia). I am animating all the murals in these festivals and doing the videos with them. We have some huge ideas!At the same time I am working on some commissioned works, I was invited to some exhibitions in Mexico, Moscow, London, Istanbul. I am doing animated GIF music covers too. GIF "is the new pic", so I can almost guess that we'll see a GIF where there is a photo. I am collaborating with a company that created Meural, a digital canvas to have a GIF in your room. I trust this format so much.How are you celebrating the holidays?I do not understand my job as "work" so I don't understand holidays in its "standard concept". I don't usually celebrate holidays. They are days thought by "somebody" for people to fill their time. I prefer to fill my time with my own things so I celebrate the holidays doing what I like most! I live in eternal holidays.Check out more of A.L. Crego's work on his website.Related:[1st Day of GIFmas] Watch Santa Kick it PoolsideShia LaBeouf and Drake Amongst Most-Searched GIFs of 2015New Futurism Shines in Group Show, 'IRIDESCENCE'A Virtual Art Community Is Thriving on Google Docs
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