M Contemporary Art | Contemporary Detroit Artists Gallery

View Original

CONVERSATION WITH THE ARTIST

ROBERT MIREK

Detail of “726”

What are you currently working on?

Still concentrating on my Seeds, Comets and Shuttlecock series

Robert Mirek, 726, 2020, Mixed media over plywood, 8.125 x 15 x 5 inches.

Has the format of your practice been impacted in the last few weeks? Are you using different mediums or sizes?

Not at all

Does the social distancing aspect of this period help you focus or has it changed the trajectory of your work?

It absolutely allows a greater focus

Are there any apps or online tools that you find helpful in this time? (They don't need to be related to art making).

It appears that ZOOM may be a new tool in my future (I guess I can confirm that after Fridays session).

How are you remaining connected to friends and family?

More phone calls, group texts and email

What do you do to separate your practice from the rest of the day? I try to put in a full work day at the studio. Have you set boundaries or is it permeable?

Yes, I extend my work hours at the studio as I need, based on specific pieces.

What have you been using for inspiration from home (tv shows, movies, cooking, reading)?

I am not, or have ever been, in need of inspiration . . . my head is full of paths too explore, it of course can be a curse as well.

Do you have any recommendations for books movies or other media?

David Lynch’s monkey interview video is a riot, I highly recommend . . . he’s so committed to the questions.

Walk us through a piece that you are working on right now (please send a picture as well).

Working on specific work is a very personally process for me. To discuss that part of my process makes me very uncomfortable. I also feel embarrassed by any video of me in a studio setting, but I understand that’s not uncommon. I hope you don’t see that as a cop-out. Gallery Q&As seem a better format for me, although I don’t think I’m particularly good at that either.

Karen Larson interviews her husband, Robert Mirek about his artwork, process and science fiction.
See this gallery in the original post