Most people probably look at Vaseline and think it’s a
nice way to say petroleum jelly. But Matthew Barney might look at
Vaseline and think it’s an excellent symbol for his
films.
Vaseline is just one of the many random elements in
Barney’s famous “Cremaster” films. And while
average film audiences might not recognize him, to art students,
he’s practically a rock star.
This evening at the Hammer Museum, as part of the UCLA
Department of Art Lecture Series, Barney will speak to students and
the public about his work.
Barney rarely gives lectures, but was persuaded by friend and
artist Catherine Opie, who organizes the lecture series and is a
professor in the UCLA Department of Art.
“(Barney) is probably one of the most important artists of
our generation and so a lot of students are influenced by
him,” Opie said. “That is why I wanted him to come,
because most people studying art are very familiar with
Barney’s works, as well as the L.A. art community.”
The Idaho native graduated with a bachelor of fine arts degree
from Yale in 1991 and originally studied sculpture. Eventually he
began to use film to expand on the idea of sculpture, which led to
his “Cremaster” film series.
“He really creates entire worlds,” said James
Bewley, director of public programs at the Hammer. “(The
“˜Cremaster’ films) have such a dense composite of
people that they are totally unique. It’s bizarre and
it’s of this world and not of this world.”
In the films, Barney toys with viewers’ conceptions of
real life and utterly abnormal situations, like goat men crawling
through limousines or artist Richard Serra throwing hot Vaseline
down the Guggenheim’s spiral ramp.
“They’re unbelievable. If you ever sit through them,
it’s like you enter this other world, you enter
Barney’s mind,” Opie said.
His mind has accomplished a lot since graduation. Barney won the
Europa 2000 prize at the 45th Venice Biennial and the first ever
Guggenheim Museum Hugo Boss award.
“(Barney) touches on a lot of different artists’
practices. You might be interested in his filmmaking, but
he’s a really good creator of objects and imagery and
visuals. He’s got a little of everything,” Bewley
said.
The Hammer is confident that many artists will seize the unique
opportunity to hear Barney speak. The museum is putting up speakers
throughout the courtyard to accommodate the crowd.
“In the art world, he’s a superstar,” Opie
said. “We’re just thrilled to have him as part of the
lecture series.”