Mirror mirror on the wall, show the most fashionable country of them all. The Metropolitan Museum of Art plans to do just that in spring 2015 where it will display China: Through the...
OLAF BREUNING Interview
June 18, 2020 4:50 PM
OLAF BREUNING Interview is now available!
QUERIES OF A QUIRKY MIND
Olaf Breuning is the Woody Allen of the art world. Breuning is a self-professed “complainer,” and his work pokes fun at himself, art, culture, and the paradoxically inescapable and inane politics of day-to-day existence. For Breuning, an artist who switches mediums so effortlessly that they could be instruments of his own one-man band, the absurdity of modern existence is a point of particular interest. He is no artiste above the fracas of mere mortals; he’s one of us, and as much as he complains, he’s happy to be here. His work is often laugh-out-loud funny and ingeniously simple despite that it addresses weighty topics like war, violence, cultural identity and environmental destruction. Inspired by his “Art Freaks” series—a collection of photos of models’ bodies painted to recall the signature works of famous artists, we asked Breuning to paint the body of Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir in Yayoi Kusa- ma’s iconic polka dots. Before he got to painting, we sat down for a chat.
What artistic ventures are you working on now?
I just finished a movie called Home 3, and showed it in New York last week; I worked for about half a year on it. It’s a story about New York City, and this crazy guy who runs through the city and does weird things. That’s done now, and at the moment, I’m working on drawings. Very simple drawings on letter-size paper, very simple thoughts about life.
What role do you think humor plays in your work, or in art in general?
I can’t stand people without humor; I never get along with them. Without humor I couldn’t be alive, and that reflects in my art. Humor is often put into the area of stupid or trivial, but I think it’s actually a very intellectual tool to get along with this life, this world. Like Woody Allen movies. Woody has a lot of humor, but always at a serious level. I like that very much. I couldn’t be without it.
Would you say your personality matches your work?
Probably I have a sick mind or something, but I would consider myself normal; I’m not eccentric. Often, artists do something because they want to explore something that they aren’t.
Is there an artistic medium that you’re specifically interested in right now?
I do photographs, drawings, films, sculptures...now I’m doing drawings but then I’ll get bored of it and I’ll focus on something else after a couple of months.
How about concept-wise—is there something you’re exploring at the moment?
Oh yes, always the same concept in my work. It’s always life, life, life. I’m always interested in that. I’m always interested in asking very simple questions about our existence.
Do you see your work as reflecting the world? Criticizing the world? Changing the world?
My work is holding up a mirror. I’m never someone who would force my language on other people. I just do it because I need it to go through life, to have a happy life. I would never say what I do has to influence you or a culture of people. But I’m a complainer; I do criticize a lot. I have negative comments and I like to address them, but not with the motivation to actually change anything. More to get it off my chest and move on.
How did you get drawn in to creating art?
My father gave me a camera when I was 16. I was hooked. Before then I had no idea what I wanted to do, but then it became obvious.
If you could go back in time and visit that 16-year-old self, what advice would you give to you?
I don’t really have any regrets, I’m quite happy so far in my life. I think I would tell myself, “when you hear about the company Apple, buy all of the stock.”
If you could be anyone alive or dead, who would it be and why?
I’m quite happy with myself. Let’s say... (glances at Man Ray coffee table book) Man Ray. I love Man Ray.
If you could be anything at all, what would it be and why?
This is a stupid question. A grape.∞
WRITTEN BY CHARLOTTE O’DONNELL
PHOTOGRAPHY: DAVID SCHULZE
related posts
The Met Looks East: Chinese Heritage And Its Influence On Fashion
MEET KURATAS, YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD GIANT MECH
Have you ever thought to yourself, “Jeez I’d really love to own a ’13 tall 4-ton mech with blast-proof armor and an interchangeable weapons system”? Well, your lucky day has arrived,...
Sequels That Never Saw the Screen
For those who wish their favorite movies had a follow-up, Los Angeles art gallery and production studio iam8bit has the answer. Presenting a series titled “Sequel,” the gallery will...
Art Basel Takes Miami
Art Basel heated up Miami this December for its annual showcase of contemporary and modern art. Held every year, Art Basel sets up in three locations: Switzerland, Hong Kong, and Miami...
Small Data, Large Impact: Daniel Canogar Presents Discarded Electronics
Earlier this year, New York gallery bitforms presented Daniel Canogar’s Small Data. Composed of “nine video projection-mapped objects that are intimate in scale,” Canogar explored...
Jeff Koons Presents Hulk Elvis at Gagosian Gallery
Jeff Koons presents his first solo exhibition in Asia, Hulk Elvis, at the Gagosian Gallery. Hulk Elvis is an ongoing series for Koons and at the Gagosian Gallery, multiple bronze Hulk...
Look Again with Sebastian Errazuriz
At the Carnegie Museum of Art, Sebastian Errazuriz’s first solo exhibit heeds the following warning: Look Again.
EASTERNSPORTS; A” FOUR-CHANNEL, MULTILINGUAL SOAP OPERA”
The ICA Philadelphia has truly unique piece on display titled Easternsports: a “four-channel, multilingual soap opera.” For the stars of the video installation and first time...
KILLER HEELS: THE ART OF THE HIGH-HEELED SHOES
If the shoe fits, showcase it. That’s the motto the Brooklyn Museum is following as it transformed a portion of its gallery into a shoe closet to “explore fashion’s most provocative...
BREAKING DOWN THE SUBJECT - HANNAH VANDERMOLEN
Fashion and art combine for model/artist Hannah Vandermolen. The striking model is more than just a subject in other people’s works of art, she makes her own as well.
KARSH GOES HOLLYWOOD: REVISITING HOLLYWOOD'S GOLDEN AGE
Old Hollywood is new again at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Titled Karsh Goes Hollywood, the MFA’s latest exhibit pulls stills from legendary celebrity photographer Yousuf Karsh to...
THE LOUIS VUITTON FOUNDATION OPENS
After 13 years in the making, another must-see sight has opened in Paris, the Louis Vuitton Foundation. Already privately attended by Karl Lagerfeld, Anna Wintour, French President...
PETER LINDBERGH "PARIS PROJECT SPACE" EXHIBITION IN PARIS
PETER LINDBERGH is going to present his first solo photographs exhibition in Paris in more than a decade which is in association with Gagosian Gallery on September of this year.
HEDI SLIMANE “SONIC” OPENING -"Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent"
Counting down the days until Paris Fashion Week starts; it is arguably the biggest week for all fashionistas includes fashion editors, buyers, bloggers and photographers from all around the world...
"DAVID BOWIE IS"EXHIBITION @MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART CHICAGO
“David Bowie Is” exhibition is coming to The Museum Of Contemporary Art Chicago on September of this year.
HEDI SLIMANE EXHIBITION "Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent"
“SONIC” is an exhibition of photographs by HEDI SLIMANE, the creative director of Yves Saint Laurent, which will be held at the Foundation Pierre Bergé -Yves Saint Laurent in September 2014.
DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS BRUCE WEBER EXHIBITION
Since its beginnings in 1885, the Detroit Institute of Arts has grown to encompass multiple mediums of art, including American, European, Modern and Contemporary, and Graphic Art.
MOMA TO PRESENT EXHIBITION OF RENOWNED ARTIST BJöRK
The Museum of Modern Art just announced that it will be doing a full retrospective exhibition of the artist Björk’s work in 2015.
DANIEL OGLANDER'S STORY BY LAURA KAMPMAN
He kept on apologizing when I was on my way to come see his apartment for the first time. 'I'm sorry. My room is such a mess don't look at it, okay?'.
MACIEJ MARKOWICZ-WHEN SKIES BECOME GROUNDS
On display in Brooklyn’s BUSHWICS Studio, “When Skies Become Grounds” offers negative prints of iconic landscapes.
MARIA LASSNIG AT PS1
Austrian artist MARIA LASSNIG exhibition at MoMA's PS1 has been attracting herds of people as she focuses her art around "body-awareness." Known for being the first to employ this theory, it...
THE MARK HOTEL
The corner of Madison Avenue and 77th Street is the home to the MARK HOTEL: one of New York’s most prestigious hotels, housed in a beautiful 1927 landmark buildings on the Upper East Side.
ETTORE SOTTSASS EXHIBITION AT THE AZZEDINE ALAÏA GALLERY
Last Thursday, May 14th, legendary Tunisian fashion designer AZZEDINE ALAÏA hosted an event at his art gallery celebrating Italian architect and designer ETTORE SOTTSASS' (1917-2007) comprehensive...
Queen Of The Night Casts Its Spell
At Queen of the Night, inhibitions drown in sudden dalliances. Upon entering the Diamond Horseshoe, a spell is cast as you descend the staircase.
Twelv Things We Learned at Super Bowl XLVIII
1. When you look good, you play good. The Seattle Seahawks dominated Super Bowl XLVIII in a lopsided 43-8 win over the Denver Broncos.
SUPER BOWL KICKOFF WITH WTRMLN WTR
Super Bowl weekend has arrived and TWELV Magazine is collaborating with WTRMLN WTR for their pop-up store Saturday evening, February 1, from 7:00p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
ART BASEL DIARY #4
TWELV knew we couldn’t leave Art Basel without exploring the up-and-coming area of Wynwood, Miami.
ART BASEL DIARY #3
For our third day at Art Basel, we figured it was time to visit Miami’s Convention Center where the majority of galleries were represented.
ART BASEL DIARY #2
On TWELV’s second day at Art Basel, we brunched at The Webster Hotel for Oliver People’s presentation of Dennis Hopper’s iconic photographs.
ART BASEL DIARY #1
Art Basel has been taking over Miami Beach since 2002 with its extravagant exhibitions and events, making it a go-to destination for art and culture lovers everywhere.
2013 Metropolitan Museum of Art Apollo Circle Benefit
Last Thursday night, the bright young things of New York City ascended the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the 10th annual Apollo Circle Fund for Art Conservation Benefit.
Parnell Jones is Ninja
Here is a story of transformation, of a man born and bred in Harlem, who spent nights sleeping on park benches, who lost best friends through brutal violence but still persevered to become an...
W NEW YORK PRESENTS ARTIST DESI SANTIAGO’S ‘CASINO DIABOLIQUE’
W New York hosts a unique VIP pop-up casino experience from November 15-17 in collaboration with acclaimed visual artist Desi Santiago.
Open Versus Closed
Born in Saudi Arabia, educated in the United Kingdom, and now residing and working in New York City, 25 year old artist Abdullah Qandeel has burst onto the Manhattan art scene with his...
LET'S BID AGAINST HUNGER
Last week, City Harvest held its annual "Bid Against Hunger" event at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City.
CARTER SMITH MASTERING SHIBORI ZEN
“The innate energy to create - call it Zen”, Carter Smith explains as he folds up one of his large wall-size silk pieces dyed in black, a rich shade of olive, and every tone in between.