INTERVIEW: Robert Wilson – dreamideamachine ART VIEW

Robert Wilson, is not only a great artist-performer, who along with Laurie Anderson and Philip Glass in the 70s presented a series of Avant-garde artworks and performances in Europe and America, he is an artist that his artworks (video-portraits), which are presented at the Bernier/Eliades Gallery from Monday, March 9, are equal to his artistic career, after arising from historical artworks belonging to the Permanent Collection of the Museum of Louvre. Just beause “Everything you can think of is true”, as he claims, the artworks in the exhibition entitled “Video Portraits of Lady Gaga”, although they seem to balance in the dreamland, containing elements from the art history, with the help of technology transfigure into modern fairy tales and they are: Extremely Truly…

By Efi Michalarou & Dimitris Lempesis
Photo: Bernier/Eliades Gallery Archive

Mr. Wilson, in the video-portraits presented in Gallery Bernier/Eliades, you use Lady Gaga as your model. According to what criteria did you choose her?
I am fascinated by the different personas that Gaga is able to project.
The video-portraits, with models famous persons started in 2004-2006, what prompted you to get involved again in 2014?
Actually I started with video portraits in the late 70’s. At that time I did animals (a duck etc.) and socialites like Hélène Rochas, poets like Louis Aragon, artists like Lucinda Childs and others. It is an ongoing fascination. Gaga was just the latest chapter.
Why you represent the specific artworks from art history, what they mean to you and what is the new element in visual values that you wish to add?
I was asked to do an exhibition at the Louvre Museum to show my work and to use the museum’s collection. With Gaga we selected these images from the permanent collection.
The video-portrait with the “The Head of Saint John the Baptist”, is related to the recent social and political events? Is a comment for the contemporary-unpleasant reality that we experience?
It is about many things. As the caterpillar said to Alice in ‘Alice and Wonderland’: “Everything you can think of is true”.
The video-portrait entitled “Flying”, has references to the ancient Japanese art of Bondage, Shibari. What social messages conveyed through this artwork, why is black & white and what is the role of repetition of words?
The “Flying” image was something Gaga wanted to do. She thought it was fascinating as a counterpoint to the Ingres portrait I did of her as Princess Caroline. It has many associations. The text is from the Marquis de Sade. I particularly liked the way Gaga can bite and speak this text.
What do you want to express through immobility of the human body that levitates, looks dead but breathes…
I am not trying to express anything.
Simultaneously with the video-portraits, you are presenting to the viewers the backstage of your collaboration with Lady Gaga, is it another “artwork” for you?
Yes, the process of making something is always interesting.

Info: “Video Portraits of Lady Gaga”, Bernier/Eliades Gallery, 11 Eptachalkou Str., Athens, Duration: 9/3-14/5/15, Days & Hours: Tue.-Fri: 10:30-18:30, Sat:12:00-16:00, http://bernier-eliades.gr

Photo: Robert Wilson, Lady Gaga: The Head of Saint John the Baptist (Leo), 2013, High Definition Video, 20″, LCD Monitor/digital player/speaker Ed. of 2 AP 2, Performance: Lady Gaga, Concept and Direction: Robert Wilson, Music: Michael Galasso, Production: Dissident Industries, Inc., Lumen Arts, © Robert Wilson, Courtesy the artist and Bernier/Eliades Gallery

Download Greek version here.