Cory Arcangel
Timeless Standards, 2011inkjet on canvas 142.24 x 101.6Courtesy the artist and Lisson Gallery
Cory Arcangel Speakers Going Hammer 12th October – 12th November 2011 Lisson Gallery 52-54 Bell Street
We caught up with Cory Arcangel via email just before his new show opens at The Lisson Gallery (info below) and asked him a few questions :
1. You are a very ‘fashionable artist’ , do you ever worry this may detract from your actual work?
I wish I had enough time after making the work to leave time to consider it’s reception, …
2. Do you believe ” Amateurs imitate and Professionals steal?”
To be honest, I am not sure I believe anything definitely related to these two topics, … it seems things have a way of changing depending on context, or timing. So I don’t know, but imitation and stealing tend to be important parts of a healthy creative process I think.
3. I didn’t realise you where a stand up comedian , what’s your best joke?
Re-doing Seinfeld routines.
4. Why Lisson Gallery for your show?
Well, I guess the important one is … they asked. Also, I thought my work could mingle in fun ways with their program (both past and present).
5. What can people expect to see at this show?
A humidifier filled with diet Sprite, some golf clubs, and a few drawings of Bill Clinton.
6. Finally if you could have a superpower what would it be and what would you use it for?
I guess to have as many super powers as I wanted. That way I wouldn’t have to make up my mind about it.
Cory Arcangel Real Taste, 2011 AIR-O-SWISS 7135 Ultrasonic Humidifier, Diet Sprite Soda.
40.64 x 38.1 x 20.32 cm Courtesy the artist and Lisson Gallery
Cory’s exhibition at the Lisson gallery will mark a move away from video modifications and articulate the wide range of his practice. Arcangel will present works previously unseen in the UK, following on from his large installation in February at The Barbican, London, and a solo show which opened in May at The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.
At The Whitney, the entire fourth floor has been devoted to Arcangel’s exhibition Pro Tools. The title plays on the name of the popular audio remixing software and reflects Arcangel’s practice of recording, remixing and re-using tools and media in ways in which they weren’t originally intended. It also references his curiosity towards amateurism and how people express themselves through technology outside of the professional realm, such as Youtube and Photoshop.
Arcangel’s artistic practice began in a somewhat unorthodox way, emerging out of his studies as a musician. Many musical influences and performative elements remain important to his work emerging from a core interest in technology driven popular culture.
Cory first gained attention for his hacking and alteration of vintage video games as well as his internet based interventions. An evolution towards the appropriation of systems and video imagery, including video games and music videos began his exploration of mediums of popular culture. This interest in technology has evolved to include tools and systems such as Photoshop, Youtube and Garageband, all of which are used in ways that are not their primary or intended function but create often surprising results.
Arcangel has always taken an interest in making his work accessible to anyone, often posting videos, images and even directions for how to create work online. This simultaneously acts as a way of questioning authorship as well as enabling anyone to create their own version of a Cory Arcangel work.
Cory Arcangel A Few Casuals, 2011Purple Ugg® footware, 99.9% pure lead ingots.
22.86 x 22.86 x 27.94 cmCourtesy the artist and Lisson Gallery
About the artist
Born 25 May 1978 in Buffalo, New York, Cory Arcangel is an artist, computer programmer, musician and stand up comedian. He is a co founder of the record label and multimedia hacking collective BEIGE.
Arcangel has had solo exhibitions at the Migros Museum in Zurich, Switzerland; the Barbican Centre, London and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. His work has also been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the New Museum, New York. His work is included in public collections including the Miami Art Museum and Neue Nationalgalerie.
Websites:Cory Arcangel
Lisson gallery
Cory Arcangel Since U Been Gone 2011 Metallic foil and screenprint courtesy the artist and Lisson Gallery
