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we met joep van lieshout in milan on april 18th, 2007.
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what is the best moment of the day?
in the evening when everything is done and you
can begin to relax, drink and then sleep.

what kind of music do you listen to?
I listen to a lot of music from south america,
the kind of music that comes from the favelas of argentina.
it's the kind of music that you can't buy in the shops -
it is very interesting.

do you listen to the radio?
sometimes, not so much.

what books do you have on your bedside table?
they are all books about the third reich! (laughs)

do you read design, art or architecture magazines?
very few, sometimes I look at the advertisements in
the art magazines.

where do you get news from?
I'm not so interested in following the actuality in what's
happening at the moment in the news or in art, design,
fashion... I prefer to get my own sources of inspiration,
this way I am completely free. if you are taking
inspiration from what other people do then you have
many limitations.

I guess that you notice how women dress,
do you have any preferences?
...no clothes!

what type of clothes do you avoid wearing?
anything with a brand, I hate brands.
if there is something I like that has a logo on it I would
take it off, or I just wouldn't buy it.

do you have any pets?
no.

when you were a child did you always want to
become an artist?
yes, and to me an artist was a painter.
very soon, when I began art school I started to do
sculpture and installations which is... more free.

have you ever doubted the decision to become an artist?
of course, as an artist there is always doubts and hesitation
because you never know what you should be, but this is the
destiny of an artist - there is always insecurity.
this is a good thing though, because it keeps you doing
something and improves your art.

do you discuss your work with other artists?
no, there are some groups, but I'm definitely not
an active participant! (laughs)

where do you work on your projects?
I have a big studio with twenty people working for me,
so the workshop and the office are very busy places,
I prefer to work at home by myself, I draw a lot and
develop ideas.

describe your style as a good friend of
yours would describe it.
there is always a juxtaposition of rational and irrational,
good and bad, beautiful and ugly.
contradiction is always present in my work.

is there any artists from the past that
has influenced you or that you particularly appreciate
the work of?
there are some artists who are very important to me,
leonardo da vinci and many other 'older' artists of course.
from modern age I would say joseph beuys and bruce nauman.

which project has given you the most satisfaction?
I don't know... I guess everyone says - the next one!
I suppose it's the projects that I do completely by myself,
(there are many pieces that are made/produced by my
assistants, then there are some that I do alone).
they are often very small and tiny but I like them more
because it is my hands that have touched them.(laughs)

do you think that there is ethics in art?
art should be non moralistic, it should be free and so should
the interpretation so the person who is looking at the art
should learn how to interpret the ethic and moral side of it,
otherwise art becomes propaganda. art should be personal
and volatile.

do you have any advice for the young?
try to go your own way and follow your intuition don't listen too much to what other people say, be stubborn like a horse with blinkers on.

there is a lot of talk around in design regarding 'ecology'
do you have anything to say on this matter?
well, I think that ecology is very important and we should
be aware of this, but whilst people are thinking about climate
change, there are other people in the background changing
the world for their cause. we should also think about what is
happening to the other areas of life, our freedom and expression
because of globalization and capitalism. it's good to care about
the environment... but you know... watch your back.

what are you afraid of regarding
the future?
that I will be too busy in the future.

---
atelier van lieshout


written by: jennifer allen, aaron betsky,
rudi laermans, wouter vanstiphout
published by: nai publishers, 31/01/2007
ISBN: 978-90-5662-482-8

'atelier van lieshout' avilable from nai publishers
features the most important projects by AVL, its
members and their reflections on art, architecture
and design. this up to date publication is a must for
any fan of the rotterdam-based collective. read more