Replicas for all! Aaron Rose brings la-di-da art back down to earth. Interview Kieran Burke & Artwork Courtesy of Monster Children Gallery
If you look at the images on theselby.com of Aaron Rose’s home you
exhibitions I put together. I still believe art needs to be accessible to
will notice, unsurprisingly, that the curator, director, publisher and damn
average people. Not just so they can buy it, but also because it serves an
nice guy has an impressive art collection. It’s not an over-hyped ‘look
important function in our society.
who I know’ boast-a-thon of framed one-offs, but rather an understated hodge-podge of pieces that he feels connected to on both an aesthetic
Do you think we revere or place original works of art too high on the mantle?
and emotional level. You may think you need deep pockets to gather such
Where perhaps we should just appreciate an image for what it is, regardless
a collection together. However, in something of a democratisation of art,
of whether it has been reproduced or not? I think we should appreciate
Sydney’s Monster Children Gallery recently played host to Simulacrum, a
everything for what it is. Sure, there are some logistical reasons why
two-week exhibition of artists’ editions, posters and prints from the likes
artworks need to be expensive... an artist can only make so many things in
of Ed Templeton, Terry Richardson and Faile curated by Aaron Rose, that
a year, and that has to be taken into account when pricing, but at the same
proved otherwise. Sure, they weren’t original works of art, but does that
time that fact should not necessarily alienate people. There’s this place I
really matter? HUCK asked Aaron that very question and guess what?
always drive by in LA that rents fancy cars, like Lamborghinis and stuff.
Turns out originals are, like, so passé.
Maybe someone should have a service like that for art... where a dude that lives in a crappy apartment can rent a Richard Prince for a week?
What was the premise behind Simulacrum, the show you held at Monster Children Gallery in Sydney recently? For many, the very nature of artists’
I always find it interesting that when an artist signs something, it’s suddenly
editions evokes something that is somehow ‘lesser than’ the original. I
so much more appealing. Yet, at the end of the day, it’s still the same piece.
have always felt differently about it. When I was young, some of my first
I guess I’m a sucker for things like that. Can you shed some light on the
experiences in ‘art appreciation’ happened not in galleries, but in local
psychology behind this? I guess that makes it ‘authentic’ in some people’s
record stores. Not only were the record covers beautiful, but pretty much
eyes. I never buy things for that reason. I always buy because I like it.
all of the stores I would frequent had swinging racks of posters.
At the end of the day, a gallery receipt is just as valid as a signature for
I thought it would be nice to do an exhibition that was all editions.
authentication.
There are so many cool things being made that just kind of fall by the wayside because they aren’t necessarily ‘original’ art, but sometimes
Another fantastic element that made the show for me was viewing the
artists’ editions are my favourite things made for an exhibition. I wanted
artworks on tables rather than on walls. Have you used this technique at
to shine a spotlight on that.
your curated shows before? This is the first time I’ve used that display idea.
It came out of necessity really, we didn’t have a lot of money for producing It was almost a sell-out show and I get the feeling this was because the
the show, so that was a cheap way of showing, and protecting, the works
works of art for sale were so affordable. What do you think? I’m sure that
and still make it look half-way interesting in an exhibition format.
has something to do with it, but I also think the audience was just happy to see things that are generally hard to find.
Can you suggest some emerging artists that may be affordable and collectable for people who are looking to start collecting? I encourage
Was this an attempt to democratise art? To make it more accessible to
people to find their own stars. So much of collecting is about the thrill of
the average person? In some ways yes, but I try to do that with all the
the chase. Why would I deny people that joy?
AARON Rose Recommends Art and photography books every junkie needs.
Deformer Ed Templeton, Damiani.
1712 North Crescent Heights: Photographs 1962-1968 Dennis Hopper, Greybull Press.
The Black Panthers: Photographs by Stephen Shames Stephen Shames, Aperture.
American Pictures: A Personal Journey Through the American Underclass Jacob Holdt, Amer Pictures.
The Ferus Gallery: A PLACE TO BEGIN Kristine McKenna, Steidl & Partners.
Tauba Auerbach: How To Spell the Alphabet Tauba Auerbach, Deitch Projects.
Come Alive! The Spirited Art of Sister Corita Julie Ault, Four Corners Books.
FTW Terry Richardson, JMc & GHB.
Public Wall: Writing in Philadelphia Megawords Magazine, From Here To Fame.
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