Frank 2005
Every month we feature an interview with an artist from around the country in SPOTLIGHT!
This months lucky contender is ANTON GOLDSTEIN!
I got in contact (email) with Anton though Clare Mitchell who met Anton and other artists from Spike Island Artist Studios. Having looked at his website we thought it would be a great idea to interview Anton about his work and life as an artist….
Anton’s love for art and sculptures began from an early age. He had a special interest in African-European intercultural aesthetics which shaped his early experiences. Anton was born and grew up in Johannesburg. Reading Anton’s biography I can see that he has always enjoyed the hands on parts of his life. When he was a young boy he was introduced to Plasticine® which was a new object to him, he showed great interest in this material. One of the earliest memories of a fascination/interest in objects that Anton can remember is a red metallic sculpture that stands outside the Cape Town Civic Centre. Anton was never sure as to the nature of the red metal sculpture-what it was and why it was there but it a great appeal for the young boy and has remained a particular icon of his early childhood.
Anton got some of his artists creativity from his Grandpa, who painted the house by him self to replicate issues and memories of his and the families life.
Now a world renowned artist he has made many amazing but puzzling artworks which replicate his childhood and how his experiences shaped his future.
1. How would you describe your art?
My work is contemporary, definitely not avant-garde (I don’t think this term applies to art- only army tactics).
My art reflects my interests, and I am interested in many things, anthropology, history, biology, human endeavours/exploits… the list goes on.
2. Can you tell us which artist influenced your work?
One of my big influences was my great uncle- Jack Barnett who was an architect and artist.
Other influences include Jeff Koons, Martin Kippenberger, All the great Italian artists of the past, especially Botticelli, Vladimir Tatlin and the Russian Constructivists, Takashi Murakami, Casper David Friedrich, Glen brown, John Currin, (there are many more, as well as an extensive list of artists I like who haven’t directly influenced me)
3. You use animals in your work a lot, but the animals you use have a human look about them, why is this?
The main reason is that when placing animals in the position of people it gives the viewer an objective position, so human exploits and endeavours can be seen from the outside and be re-analysed to see how odd or ridiculous things are. Especially formula one racing, something I can only imagine monkeys/apes could enjoy watching.
4. You seem to have a pattern in your paintings with primates but there is then one which is just a rhino, why did you go out of pattern?
Thanks to your question I have put some other paintings on my website so that lone (most recent painting) doesn’t seem out of place.
5. You don’t seem to have titled your work, is there a reason for this?
Again thanks to your question, I have updated my web-site, making a web-site is new to me so really appreciate the flaws being pointed out.
6. How do you think people interpret your work?
I find people have much richer and more interesting interpretations of my work than I do. Largely people read what I intend them to, I try to utilise the languages that media and society use and ‘talk’ in those languages.
I am really interested in the study of language, it fascinates me. I do think that it is the responsibility of artists to make art that is understandable, otherwise they should just stay at home and not show their work to other people.
When the audience doesn’t understand the work, often the artist is at fault. I always use the example of an artist making a black painting and telling us it is about his dead dog and a depressing Monday, but all we can see is a black painting, nothing more. The rest is make believe.
7. In your photographs your animals have a cartoon/graffiti look about them, was this the intention, if so why?
It’s not my intention that the work looks cartoony or like graffiti, I guess it comes down to my influences and love of cartoons. I don’t know if this is good or bad, even Da Vinci drew cartoons.
8. What advice would you give to young artists who are starting out?
Yikes, well its not necessarily a career that will make you money but if you want to follow your dreams, in any direction I say (like Nike) Just Do It. Get experience volunteering to work with artists and arts organisations, go to lots of galleries and look at lots of art in books in advertising everywhere.
Mainly take criticism on the chin, it is the best thing, its never really personal and can only help, mostly find people who’s opinions you respect, not just people who say nice things- that wont get you anywhere. Also, pick up as many skills with as many materials as you can, never accept limitations, from yourself or others,
Report by Joe Malin
WANT TO SEE MORE OF ANTON’S WORK ? - VISIT http://www.wix.com/antongoldenstein/empire
