Artists Experiment: Michael Rakowitz

Summary

The speaker reflects on their journey in art, shaped by their Iraqi Jewish heritage and a desire to challenge dominant narratives. They discuss a collaborative project with their mother, teaching Iraqi recipes as a form of resistance against stereotypes tied to war and oil. Their work extends into communal cooking experiences with American soldiers and Iraqi émigrés, aiming to reanimate cultural identity. They embrace an interdisciplinary approach, engaging in diverse fields like archaeology and architecture within their art practice. Ultimately, they highlight the importance of education in making art accessible and fostering dialogue, particularly in spaces like museums.

Takeaways

• 🎨 The speaker's perspective on art evolved from a traditional view to a more expansive understanding, influenced by their instructors.
• 🧬 The speaker's heritage as an Iraqi Jew informs their artistic practice, focusing on reanimating Arab Jewish identity.
• 🍽️ A project involving teaching Iraqi recipes to public audiences serves as a form of active resistance against dominant narratives about Iraqi culture.
• 🌍 The speaker's current work includes collaborative cooking projects that bridge communities, such as fishing trips with American soldiers and Iraqi émigrés.
• 🧑‍🍳 Cooking 'mosh' (a national dish of Iraq) fosters connection and challenges the visibility of Iraqi culture beyond war and oil.
• 🔄 The artist engages in 'redirective practice,' stepping into other professional realms like archaeology and urban planning through their art.
• 🏛️ Projects like rebuilding the Iraq Museum highlight the artist's commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration.
• 🛠️ Art provides a unique space for experimentation, allowing the artist to undertake projects considered impossible in traditional professions.
• 💡 The speaker values educational initiatives in art institutions for enhancing accessibility and public engagement with art.
• 🏛️ The potential for evolving artworks at institutions like MoMA can lead to new insights about the institution and the public's understanding of art.

Q & A

What traditional perspective on art did the speaker have in their youth?

The speaker had a pretty traditional perspective on what art was before being challenged and expanded by their instructors.

What cultural background does the speaker identify with?

The speaker identifies as an Iraqi Jew, with a family history of leaving Baghdad under circumstances beyond their control.

How does the speaker's work address the identity of Arab Jews?

The speaker's work focuses on reanimating the identity of Arab Jews to challenge dominant narratives and provide visibility to their culture.

What is the current project the speaker is involved in?

The current project involves teaching Iraqi recipes to public audiences as a form of active resistance and cultural reanimation.

How does the speaker aim to counter the perception of Iraqi culture in the U.S.?

The speaker seeks to counter the perception that Iraqi culture is solely tied to war or oil by highlighting its culinary traditions.

What is the significance of cooking mosque with American soldiers and Iraqi émigrés?

Cooking mosque, Iraq's national dish, serves as a communal activity that fosters connection and dialogue among diverse participants.

What role does the speaker believe art plays in exploring other professions?

The speaker believes that art allows them to engage in other fields, such as archaeology and urban planning, without the constraints of orthodoxy.

How does the speaker view their participation in the artist experiment?

The speaker finds it thrilling to engage in an artist experiment that promotes dialogue with respected artists and encourages innovative thinking.

What is the importance of education in art, according to the speaker?

The speaker emphasizes that education enhances accessibility to art, enabling more people to engage with and understand it.

Why does the speaker appreciate the existence of education departments in art museums?

The speaker appreciates these departments because they help make art more approachable and encourage people to enter and explore the museum.