Distributed Art Publishers, 2006
What I will cherish most from art college are the casual and often stimulating conversations over a pint with my peers and mentors - a sharing of ideas and opinions on art, philosophy, politics and life. California based artist, Doug Aitken, appears to have a similar passion for dialogue. In 2006, Aitken produced the book Broken Screen: Expanding the Image, Breaking the Narrative, an archive of candid conversations between Aitken and 26 of his own peers and mentors. Luckily for Aitken, his friends include leading artists, filmmakers and architects such as John Baldessari, Matthew Barney, Pippoloti Rist, Chris Burden and Rem Koolhaas. The overarching topic explored throughout these conversations is nonlinearity and fragmentation as an expanding tool for communicating and making art. It’s about perception, the unexpected and making sense of the world. As Bruce Conner states, ‘it’s about consciousness itself’.
Doug Aitken is an artist, film maker and somewhat of a ‘darling’ within the LA art scene, known for his large scale and complex video installations and architectural interventions. Aitken is no stranger to the international art world, having travelled extensively and participated in over 150 exhibitions worldwide. The idea of temporal landscapes and a transient lifestyle is often expressed in his work, constantly moving away from linear narratives and instead favoring fragmentation to honor the mystique of a life in constant flux.
The list of names presented on the cover of the book is impressive, however the book presents a rather transatlantic and male centric view point, with only three females and not one Asian artist included. The conversations also feel like they are born from a mutual appreciation society with the constant praise for each others work and creative processes littered throughout. This aside, the relaxed format of the text and the interesting ideas discussed in this book, results in a stimulating read for anyone questioning their existence in this modern and chaotic world. It is also an encouraging read for artists that are wanting to explore different means of reaching the inner consciousness of their audience and allowing the viewer to reach their own conclusion...beginning...or defining moment in between.
Caitlin Franzmann
Again, another easy to read, clear piece of writing Caitilin. I like the way you contrast different opinions against your own in exploring your topic.
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