MARCH 2002

DAZED & CONFUSED JAPAN

WHAT IS THE CONCEPT/INSPIRATION SOURCE FOR THIS ART VISUAL? 

I'VE BEEN WORKING IN MY HOUSE WITH CONCRETE AND MAKING CAST CONCRETE LAMPS. CONCRETE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE MATERIALS TO WORK WITH. IT SUGGESTS IMMOVABILITY, BLUNTNESS AND SILENCE. IT'S MY REACTION TO EXCESSIVE HYPERBOLIC INFORMATION. I WORKED WITH MY AMULETS AND FETISHES: HAIR, ANTLERS AND CRYSTALS. I DON'T BELIEVE IN THEM, OR IN ANYTHING, REALLY. I JUST LIKE THE CEREMONY AND SUPERSTITION ATTACHED TO THEM. A NEED FOR FAITH. 

DO YOU READ ART BOOKS? IF SO, ARE YOU INSPIRED BY THEM? 

I LOVE LOOKING THROUGH BOOKS ON BRANCUSI, LUIGI COLANI AND STEVEN PARRINO, TO NAME A FEW. TWO OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS ARE “ON THE WAY TO WORK” BY DAMIEN HIRST AND “THE BAT AND THE BUTTERFLY” ABOUT ROBERT DE MONTESQUIOU. THE HIRST BOOK IS A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH HIRST THAT ARE CHARMING BUT VERY DIRECT AND INTIMATE REGARDING HIS CREATIVE PROCESS. THE MONTESQUIOU BOOK IS ALMOST THE OPPOSITE. MONTESQUIOU IS AN EXTREMELY AFFECTED AND SUPERFICIAL CREATURE. IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY.