Anton Unai
View all images
Art Star No.15. THE MODERN MIND IS IN COMPLETE DISARRAY, 2010. Mixed media on denim.
Using salvaged material found on the streets of Berlin, Catalan-born Unai works on a larger-than-life level, often mixing installations, paintings, performances and collages to create all-encompassing exhibitions. Citing Jean Michel Basquiat and Joseph Beuys as influences, Unai revels in spontaneity, often creating works in week-long, public binges. The result is chaotic, cluttered pieces that mix symbols, phrases and found objects. He has exhibited internationally.
Questions & Answers
- " What kind of art do you make?"
Old-fashioned Art with respect for the young and fast dying out.
- " Where can I see it?"
In Berlin and Barcelona.
- " How do you feel about Polo Jeans Co.'s ART STARS project?"
If a patron supports an artist who needs money (to buy tools, time, food), the patron then makes himself equal to the artist; he is building art into the world; he creates.
- " Describe your finished ART STAR in a sentence?"
The star is a collection of miniatures of the American Dream by means of thoughts, ideas, paintings, actions, hints, videos, walks, toys, souvenirs, deja vus that originate from the idea of the American way of life. It is an example of a behavioral modality in line with the principles of ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.’
- " What did you think when it first arrived at your studio?"
sarcophagus: sarx meaning ‘flesh’, and phagagus meaning ‘to eat’. Egyptology… Valley of the Kings... deep respect, nice wood work.
- "You were asked to use the Stars and Stripes for inspiration. How did you incorporate it into your star?"
The Stars and Stripes translated into a striving for individualistic, dynamic, pragmatic art. Working for the supreme value and dignity of the individual; they stress incessant activity, ‘he is never to rest but is always to be striving to get ahead’; it defines an ethic of self-reliance, merit, and character, and judges by achievement: ‘deeds, not creeds’ are what count. ‘Forward-looking’ and optimistic. I think the activities developed around and on the star are full of these.
- " What else inspired you?"
The vegetable garden, the seaside, Leo Messi, my father, my mother, sister, girlfriend and daughter. And never in this order.
- " How did you find working with denim?"
Denim is a wonderful thing. It starts working the minute you're born and never stops working until you walk into the shower, then it stops working.
- " What processes did you use to create your piece?"
Cutting, painting and pasting always using contemporary cultural artifacts, be it stickers, acrylics, silicon, wood, paper, books, brushes, arrows, magic markers, glass, toys, photocopies and found objects.
- " What are you most proud of about the result?"
All the accidents, advantages, the bad luck, breaks, casts, casualty, coincidences, written destiny, what is doomed, the even chance, fluke, everything fortuitous, the gamble, the good luck, haphazard, happening, lottery, lucky break, misfortunes, some occurrences, odds, weird rare outcomes, amazing providences, risks and toss-ups.
- " Describe your denim style…"
My greatest denim style is not in never falling, but in rising every time I fall.
- " Who else's star are you most looking forward to seeing and why?"
I’d love to see one by Miquel Barceló, unfortunately he is not in the list. He meddles, arranges, injects human deliberation, wit, advocacy, intellectual agility, it is disturbing and clouding.
Exhibitions
Location: Bread & Butter, Berlin, Germany
Dates: July 07th – July 08th
View exhibitionLocation: GALERIES LAFAYETTE, BERLIN, Germany
Dates: April 12th – April 26th
View exhibitionLocation: SELFRIDGES, London, UK
Dates: May 01st – May 22nd
View exhibition
