Artist Interview—Cecily Brown: Death and the Maid | Met Exhibitions

Summary

The artist reflects on the repetition of motifs and subjects in their work, emphasizing how revisiting these themes allows for deeper exploration. They describe influences such as Pollock, El Greco, and Bruegel, and the tension between abstraction and figuration in their art. The artist also discusses their fascination with double images, still lifes, and the interplay between beauty and violence, as seen in hunt and shipwreck scenes. They express excitement and nervousness about showcasing decades of work at The Met, eager to see how their pieces interact and hold up over time.

Takeaways

• 🔁 The artist finds value in revisiting the same motifs or subjects, believing that repetition allows for deeper exploration.
• 🏛️ Having a show at The Met is a thrilling and intimidating experience for the artist, reflecting on their 30-year painting career.
• 🎨 The artist's largest work, 'Father of the Bride', was influenced by Pollock's work and the blending of figuration and abstraction.
• 👥 The artist's paintings often depict teeming bodies and figures that emerge from and disappear into the paint, inspired by El Greco's funeral painting.
• ✍️ Daily drawing is a significant part of the artist's practice, often using photographs or copying other artists' works to understand their techniques.
• 🖼️ The artist appreciates the complexity of copying masterpieces like Bruegel's 'Children's Games' and 'Carnival and Lent'.
• 🎨 The artist typically works on multiple pieces simultaneously, often starting them in a similar way to create mirror images.
• 🪞 The subject of a woman looking in a mirror is a recurring theme in the artist's work, symbolizing reflection and otherworldliness.
• 👁️ The artist is fascinated by optical illusions and double images, such as the young/old lady profile in 'The Only Game in Town'.
• 💀 The skull in 'Aujourd'hui Rose' was initially a way for the artist to explore youth and life, rather than death.
• 🖋️ The artist's transition from hunt paintings to still lifes was a natural progression, reflecting on the aftermath of violence and abundance.

Q & A

What does the speaker believe about repetition in their work?

The speaker believes that repetition helps explore subjects deeply. Rather than worrying about repeating themselves, they feel there is always something more to uncover in a subject.

How does the speaker feel about having a show at The Met?

The speaker finds it unbelievably thrilling and intimidating to have a show at The Met. They never imagined it could happen and are reflecting on seeing many of their works again after a long time.

What is the largest work mentioned by the speaker, and what inspired it?

The largest work mentioned is 'Father of the Bride.' The speaker was inspired by Pollock's work, particularly the moment where figuration was returning in his art, and El Greco's 'The Burial of the Count of Orgaz.'

What is the recurring motif in the speaker's work, particularly in relation to the human figure?

The speaker often explores teeming bodies and figures that emerge and disappear into a mass of thick, lush paint. This mix of abstraction and figuration is a recurring motif in their work.

How does drawing fit into the speaker's artistic process?

Drawing is a significant part of the speaker's daily practice. They frequently draw from photographs and other artworks as a way to understand the original artist’s intentions and gather information.

What famous double image does the speaker reference in their work 'The Only Game in Town'?

The speaker references a famous optical illusion in 'The Only Game in Town,' involving a three-quarter profile of a young lady that can also be perceived as the face of an old woman, similar to the well-known duck-rabbit or skull in 'Memento Mori.'

How does the speaker approach the theme of death in their work?

While the speaker's work sometimes deals with the subject of death, they approach it from a slightly distanced perspective. Initially, they were more focused on youth and life, using double images like skulls to indirectly reflect on mortality.

What is the speaker's relationship with the depiction of meat in art, given their personal beliefs?

Although the speaker is a lifelong vegetarian and dislikes looking at meat in real life, they are fascinated by paintings of meat and hunts. They appreciate the contrast between violent subject matter and the sumptuous, beautiful execution in artworks like Rubens' hunt scenes.

How does the speaker describe their more recent works that combine multiple themes?

In recent years, the speaker has enjoyed combining seemingly unrelated themes, such as a hunt, a shipwreck, and a garden with a nude. They describe this as an amalgamation of imagery, where multiple impulses are unified into a single piece.

What are the speaker’s feelings about seeing their works together in the exhibition?

The speaker is both excited and nervous about seeing their works together in the exhibition. They are eager to see how the pieces interact and hold up over time, hoping the collection adds up to something cohesive.