ART, WHATEVER IT TAKES
Since the early pandemic in 2020, Rome Art Program has conducted a series of interviews, “Art, Whatever It Takes.”
Artists, Art Critics, and Art Historians living in Italy, the U.S., and U.K., share their insights during these powerful times.
Interview with Emily Zuch
Emily Zuch is a painter living and working in Brooklyn, NY. She received a BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art in 2008 and an MFA from New York Studio School in 2011. Emily has received grants such as the Fulbright and Hohenberg award, and has attended art residencies including Yaddo, Jentel Foundation, and the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center. She currently teaches at Pratt Institute and Wagner College.
RAP: What is your definition of “art” today?
Emily Zuch: I think art is nearly impossible to define, that's part of what keeps it interesting. My best guess is that art is humanity's way of explaining the world to itself, finding a way to navigate uncertainty and live with all the contradictions that surround us.
RAP: Art is dynamic and regenerates itself… how does it change, and how did it change us?
Emily: I think art changes us by affecting the way we see the world, sometimes without noticing. An image can show us something new that we then continue to see over and over, and a piece of writing can introduce us to a thought that eventually begins to feel like our own. Essentially, art changes the way we think and sometimes the way we feel.
RAP: When (and how) did you understand that art was becoming very important in your life?
Emily: Art in some form has always been important to me, as a kid I loved not only painting and drawing, but dancing, singing and writing. As I got older I became more and more drawn to painting, probably because I was better at in than any of the other artforms I mentioned, and it slowly became integral to my identity and day to day life.
RAP: What role does art play today? What are the “great figures” who have recently changed it? Do you feel close to any of these figures?
Emily: Art can play so many roles and I think it always has, I’m not sure if the fundamental role of art has changed dramatically. I don’t think we can truly know who the “great figures” of our time are until we have more distance from the current moment. Two of my favorite shows I’ve seen recently by contemporary artists are Lois Dodd and Lisa Yuskavage. I think they are both great figures in very different ways.
RAP: Are there still traditional figures such as collectors, muses, mecenate and patrons, in today’s art and society interaction model?
Emily: Yes, I think so, though of course a lot has changed about how art is bought, sold and funded.
RAP: How have the new technologies and media culture changed art today, improving or worsening it…? What do you feel are your biggest challenges?
Emily: I don't know if new technology has made art better or worse per se.. it's given us new tools to make art with. There are a lot of differences between drawing with a pencil and drawing on an ipad, and I will always prefer the former, but in both cases you're essentially using a tool to make marks on a surface.
RAP: Art as a mirror of man, in this moment of emergency seems to be shattered …what do these fragments reflect now?… Shadow or light of the moment?
Emily: I think art reflects both shadow and light, and it has at all points in history. Otherwise it wouldn't be so valuable to us.
RAP: Understanding, interpreting, and then possibly judging the work of art; which is the right path when we are in front of a piece of art?
Emily: All of these things are perfectly understandable courses of action. I think sometimes there is too much emphasis placed on thought when looking at art, rather than trying to quiet your mind and experience what's in front of you without immediate interpretation or judgment. Sometimes the burden of having to understand art can make people feel inadequate and turn them off from art, when just experiencing it could be enough.
RAP: Which is the real role of Academies and Art schools today? What can artists learn from these institutions today?
Emily: Art schools can be a really valuable "way in" in terms of knowledge and feeling connected to history and the current zeitgeist. You can be exposed to so much at art school, and making friends with other artists can be extremely valuable in moving your own work forward for years to come. But of course it's not the only path, you can gain these things without formal schooling as well.
RAP: Art too has undergone a complex process of globalization; can having an authentic and genuine style be an advantage or a drag for an artist?
Emily: I hope it's an advantage. I think it's hard to be authentic if your main goal is to conquer the global market, but that doesn't mean authentic artists don't rise to the top sometimes. But I think if your goal is to feel fulfilled artistically and communicate with others, authenticity is essential.
RAP: How do Art Galleries and Museums position themselves today, and, in your opinion, how should they?
Emily: That's a complicated question, and I can't say I know how they should position themselves. I will say I'm grateful to have such access to galleries and museums, it's my favorite thing about New york. (Besides the people I know and love here).
RAP: “Figuration” vs “Abstraction”. Which of the two is better descriptive of the period we live in? Which one will have a better future?
Emily: I think Abstraction and Figuration are intrinsically linked. Every figurative painting has abstraction at its core, and every element possible in an abstract painting will have some possible correlation in the visible world, whether the artist is conscious of it or not. It's much more interesting to explore the line between them than to choose one, and I don't think they ever really existed without each other.
RAP: Today we often speak of “emerging artists”; what advice based on your experience do you feel you can give to young artists?
Emily: I still consider myself to be an emerging artist in most ways. The advice I would give to younger artists is to develop steady work habits. I had lots of teachers who encouraged me to work as much as possible and I think it's served me well.
RAP: Art as a lens for reading the present, can it modify the space and time we pass through? …will art save us?
Emily: Let's hope so!
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