Work
In our studio visit with Matt Ager, both he and Mike spoke deeply and passionately about the meaning of life, work, and artistic practice, and what it might look like outside of the framework of commerce and the financial demands we have to meet.
How might you imagine or reimagine the meaning of your work (whatever it may be, artistic or not) if it were not connected to sustaining your everyday needs?
Try this exercise:
Supplies needed: A blank sheet of paper or support, a pencil (any color), and an eraser.
First, on the piece of paper, draw a large shape that would represent your “day job.”
Second, color the shape fully. Take your time doing this, and as you color, think of all of the things material and non-material that you take from this work.
Third, within the shape, use your eraser to now erase what you’ve just colored, eliminating almost every mark except the original outline of the shape.
Sit with this for a moment, and think of those things you identified while coloring...which of those things would come even if they weren’t tied to an economic resource or compensation?
Write, draw, or symbolize these things within the shape. Add others that might come to you.
A clip from the visit:
ABOUT MATT:
Matt Ager is an artist based in London, making sculptures from ceramic, plaster, domestic materials, and found objects. He is particularly interested in fluidly composing works that address mimicry, design, and architecture. He believes that objects and textures carry particular identities which is continuously exploring through his practice. His primary focus is using making as a way of thinking. Through using a combination of existing materials alongside simple and sophisticated ways of fabrication, the work builds, nurtures, and embodies a social dialogue.
The work establishes a relationship with re-definition; it usually includes the use of the assisted readymade and builds narratives around social status and taste, constructing a crafted work out of something that may initially appear mundane.
Matt will be a participating artist in the exhibition Anthropometry which will run in our 2022 exhibition season.
www.mattager.com
@matt.ager