FRANK MOHR INSTITUTE

MFA PAINTING 2021/2022

ROUND TABLE No. 5

Date: Tuesday 01 February, 15:00-17:00

Location: A1.07

Subject: Materials in practice

Sources  Videos on Art21:

Jessica Stockholder in “Play”, available at: https://art21.org/watch/art-in-the-twenty-first-
century/s3/jessica-stockholder-in-play-segment/
Tanya Aguiniga: Crafting Lineage, available at: https://art21.org/watch/extended-play/tanya-
aguiniga-crafting-lineage-short/
Jes Fan in Flux, available at: https://art21.org/watch/new-york-close-up/jes-fan-in-flux/
Michael Rakowits: Haunting the West, available at: https://art21.org/watch/extended-play/michael-
rakowitz-haunting-the-west-short/
Tala Madani in Los Angeles, available at: https://art21.org/watch/art-in-the-twenty-first-
century/s8/tala-madani-in-los-angeles-segment/
Family Resemblance: Tim Hawkinson, available at: https://art21.org/watch/extended-play/tim-
hawkinson-family-resemblance-short/
Material/Immaterial: Valeska Soares, available at: https://art21.org/watch/specials/valeska-soares-
material-immaterial-short/

Seven different videos have been selected from the Art21 website for this round table on materials
in practice. The artists featured in the videos all use materials in different ways but do so
consciously. In the videos, the artists explain their reasoning for using these materials whether it is a
fixation on a colour or texture or a historic resonance that is imbued in the medium. When watching
the videos consider the different ways in which materiality is spoken about by the artists and how
they all attempt to communicate specific ideas through their mediums.

Assignment:
➔ Watch all the videos carefully.
➔ Write a max 1 page contribution in which you respond to (or expand on) the different ways
in which materiality plays a part in the artistic process.
◆ Consider your own artistic practice and how materials are related to it. Ask yourself
questions like:
● What ideas and histories are imbued in the materials you use?
● (How) do the intrinsic characteristics of these materials change when you
work with them?
● What do these materials offer you and what are their affordances?
● How do these materials resist you and what are their limitations?
● How present is the process of working with certain materials in your work
and how important is it for the viewer to see this? I.e. What gets lost in the
process of transforming materials into artworks?
FRANK MOHR INSTITUTE
MFA PAINTING 2021/2022
➔ Upload your contribution to Sharepoint, latest on Monday Tuesday morning 01 February.
With respect to preparation you will not be required to read the contributions of your fellow
students beforehand, although we encourage and recommend spending time on reading
them afterwards.

Looking forward to reading your contributions,

Margo Slomp & Michal Kruger