I was inspired by Janine Antoni as she spoke at NAEA this week. Please view her segment on Art:21 in Season 2. She described a recent work where she focused on the artist's relationship to the viewer and the art object to the viewer. After reading below please choose an art object of desire and write a letter from the perspective of the object and post both an image of the object and the letter on your blog.
Antoni said:
Janine Antoni: I wanted to start with a recent piece I made for a show that opened at the Hayward gallery and is presently at the Haus der Kunst in Munich. The show is called Move: Choreographing You and its theme explores how the art object choreographs the movement of the viewer. The piece I made for this context is a love letter written from the perspective of an artwork to its viewer. It is written on a torn-out floor plan from the gallery guide, and is slipped into people’s personal belongings when they check their stuff at the coat check. The letter reads:
The minute you saw me, you came straight over and then stopped. As if you couldn’t think and move at the same time, it seemed that you’d come to some conclusion because your thoughts started to lead you with such intensity. It was as though you had taken me into your body, I remained still, quietly absorbing my surrender to your desire. You came so close to me that I felt the breeze of your movement on my surface. Swept away by your burning attention, I felt as if I was made for you. I was completed by your presence. Will you carry me in your memory? Or is that too much to ask?
This letter sums up my relationship to my audience. I have a deep love for the viewer; they are my imaginary friend. When I’m making work I spend a lot of time fantasizing about what the viewer will do and think; I enter their body, and imagine them walking up to my sculpture—what they’re going to think at that moment, and what will call them to walk in one direction or another. I take great care in orchestrating how the meaning of the work will unfold through the physical discovery of the form.
Ohh I'm jealous. I bet Janine Antoni was fantastic! It reminds me of our summer class rope hanging in the room. It would be interesting to practice this writing exercise with the rope as the object. I imagine there would be many different voices and stories woven together. Can't wait to hear more about the conference.
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