(Chris Martin, Untitled, 2006)
I’m preparing for the most prominent visitor to date to set foot into my studio. Ever since we settled on a day and time – next Monday, noon, I wrote it into my calendar, as if I would forget – I’ve been drawing like a mad woman, the idea being that I will reinvent the wheel by next week in order to make an impression. One thing is for certain: a public does motivate me.
Word has it that said visitor is not much of a talker. My urge will be to ask him questions about him and what he does, a tactic I’ve developed to deal with my discomfort during social interactions. But this is not a social interaction. This is a meeting of mutual self-interest, and I have to think about a cache of things to say – not over-say – regarding what I’m up to.
At T-6 days 9 hours, here are talking points I can draw on if necessary:
1. A few years ago, I was focusing primarily on text-based art, and became increasingly interested in the line forming the words – its vitality, movement, personal-ness - eventually dropping the word altogether. Now I’m interested in line and/versus color as ways to present the rawest, non-verbal forms I can make. Heads and rock forms are the primary result.
2. I don’t want to be enchanted by a facile primitivism, though. While I really enjoy Chris Martin and Huma Bhabha and their disciples, I’m not into imitation.
3. I’d like to move beyond the pale of new primitive art, and definitely beyond abstract expressionism. That’s why I look at a lot of landscapes, Asian ones in particular, and also the solid forms of Mantegna, the color of Giotto, and I’d like to unleash some more of my inner-Kippenberger. Yes, I’d like to be more insolent, but not ironic.
4. Yeah, these do have a sculptural quality.
5. No, where would I put it! I have a problem already storing flat paper.
6. Ah, good question. You know, I’m not a good tester, so why don’t I get back to you once I’ve thought about that.
7. Are there other people you think I should show this body of work to? For example, I’d love to invite XXX.
8. Really! That’s just great. Thanks so much.
Posts
2 comments:
Cool,but I don't get the part about being a good tester. Would your visitor be asking you to take some kind of test?
Well, there may be questions about my work that I don't know how to answer.But, interesting point: I do feel in general that I will either pass or fail with this person.
Post a Comment