Hot Shots: Gus Van Sant Talks Cut-ups at PDX Gallery
SLASH ART: Gus Van Sant is one busy guy. Not only is he finishing up his latest film shot in Portland, the director/writer/painter/musician/icon also has not one, but two, photos shows opening this month in Oregon.
The University of Oregon's Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art unveils its new exhibition, “One Step Big Shot: Portraits by Andy Warhol and Gus Van Sant” on May 16, featuring Van Sant and his doppleganger, Andy Warhol. For the May 15 opening there's even a chartered bus that will leave PDX at 4 pm and costs only ten bucks a person for the round trip.
The other Van Sant show is a little closer to home. Cut-ups opens May 5 at PDX Contemporary Art. For the show Van Sant digitally mashed-up some of the polaroids he casually clicked over the years as screen tests/head shots for the indie individuals that dot his now classic films. The results reminds me of what Lady Gaga must see when she looks in the mirror. Timeless, trippy, haunting, and hot, I would expect nothing less from Gus.
For the show Gus Van Sant agreed to answer a few of my questions in regards to the work. Here is what he had to say.
Why did you decide to do cut-ups?
Gus Van Sant: It is to show something that relates to the U of O show in Eugene, these are collages from
original polaroids, like the ones that are part of a show at the Jordan Schnitzer Art Center at U of O.
What was the biggest surprise about the results?
I suppose just watching the creation of a new person from elements of two different people was the most interesting thing... its kind of a photographic cloning of the two pictures.
When you were a kid did you like to do collages?
I was very used to making collages. Also we used to play a game "Heads Bodies Legs and Tails" where you would help draw a figure with other people without knowing what the others were drawing and you would create kind of fantastic cartoons or figures.
Do you think these cut-ups make a statement about identity?
Yes. They make an observation about appearance and recognition, style, identity, casual fashion...
Are there any famous faces hidden inside any of the cut-ups?
Not too famous, Bob Cumming's son is part of one of the pictures...remember the show "Love That Bob" ? Haha.
Oh Gus, you're such a cut-up.
Cut-ups, May 5-May 29, PDX Contemporary Art, 925 NW Flanders St., 503-222-0063.
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Last Updated (Friday, 30 April 2010 16:41)
