“I force myself to contradict myself in order to avoid conforming to my own taste.”
-Marcel Duchamp
In his book, Duchamp’s Last Day, Donald Shambroom examines questions surrounding Marcel Duchamp’s death in 1968. One of these questions – based on a photograph of Duchamp taken by his friend Man Ray moments after he died – is whether his death can be considered an extension of his artistic work. What a fascinating concept. The very idea that an artist’s work can carry on even after they have taken their last breath brings up so many more questions and ideas – where does an artistic practice begin and end? Does it begin or end at all? Perhaps every aspect of an artist’s life, including the end of it, can be considered practice.
Judith Simonian joined us to talk about The Human Element, Huddled and Still, her show that ran through June 21 at JJ Murphy Gallery. The works are still lifes rendered in bold, vibrant colors, and the title comes from a comment made to her years ago at MacDowell Colony, saying, “the human element in your work is huddled and still.” For Simonian, who had been reflecting of late that she does not use the human figure in her art, the comment resonated and resurfaced. To learn more, listen to the complete interview.
Hoda Kashiha talked with us about her show, The Doubt Between Us Sways Like Hung Mirrored Eyes, which was on view at Episode Gallery until June 27. The gallery itself is two windows facing the street, and Kashiha decided to show two different bodies of work, one in each window. To hear about the processes of creating these works, listen to the complete interview.
A Few Words to Keep in Your Pocket.
Where do you think artistic practice begins and ends?
Outings.
Join me at Ki Smith Gallery for Prince Pre-Fame by Roger Whitman
Interviews are available on iTunes as podcasts, and for Android, please click here. All weekly essay pieces are here in a shareable format. The full archive of interviews is here.
More Books to Read.
Ours is a community of readers. Tell us what books you’re reading now by adding your titles to our reading list here. Praxis user Anna Zvyagintseva is reading A Treatise on Efficacy: Between Western and Chinese Thinking by François Jullien.
Opportunities.
The Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants offer up to $5,000 for artists facing recent medical, dental, or mental health emergencies. Open to eligible visual, media, and choreographic artists in financial need. To learn more, visit the website. Application deadline is July 8.