New Museum Triennial: IRIS TOULIATOU

Photography Aubrey Mayer

What is your current state of mind? Feels soft water, hard stone.

What body of work would you like people to know more about? The process.

What’s the last thing you binged? And how long did it take you? #NetflixWalkOut

Describe your work for the show in 3 words. Lights from Athens.

Do you think that earth is safe? From femicides to wildfires, definitely not.

What makes for a great group show? Care. Care can make the earth safer too.

Studio necessity? I don’t really have a studio, I mostly work from home, and from few things, rolling chairs, day beds, breakfast trays.

What artist dead or alive would you like to share a two-person show with? I would be honored to be in a show with Laurie Parsons.

What’s your best art joke? Cultural capital doesn’t pay the rent, it’s not a joke.

Who/what as the last person/thing that made you cry? Hormones and the full moon.

What qualities make for a good art work? A certain economy, its relation to events in the world and other artworks.

What is your most treasured possession? I treasure family and chosen family.

Most disturbing thing someone has said about your work? Applying any pre-established views or positions is disturbing.

The most flattering? That we worked well together.

Do you like gossiping and if so about what? Sure. It's one of things that makes me feel part of a community.

Do you ever see parts of your childhood in your work? I would say more girlhood than childhood.

Are there topics that should be untouched by art? Not if we include who is/are concerned by them.

Do artists have responsibilities? Many, many lives too.

In your mind, what is the state of art criticism? I think (hope) that recent movements and circumstances have brought in more emergencies.

What show do you wish people talked more about this year? I loved Pati Hill's “Something other than either”. It’s a quietly touring beautiful show.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing what would it be? Any animal or a stapler.

If you could live with one work of art, what would that be? Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Untitled (Perfect Lovers). I actually live with a copy I made myself.

What’s your biggest fear? Authorities.

What is one thing you do when no one else is around? I try to practice any form of self care.

How would you like to die? Surrounded.