New Museum Triennial: TOMÁS DÍAZ CEDEÑO

What is your current state of mind? Corgi knowing he is going for a walk in the park.

What body of work would you like people to know more about? My terracotta reliefs and ceramic and steel sculptures.

What’s the last thing you binged? And how long did it take you? "Soy tu payaso papi" song by bluerojo23x and taro flavor frappe.

Describe your work for the show in 3 words: Wet, flooded, calming.

Do you think that earth is safe? Earth is perfectly safe, we are not.

What makes for a great group show? Cohesion.

Studio necessity? Big window to see the sky.

What artist dead or alive would you like to share a two-person show with? Ana Mendieta.

What’s your best art joke? I prefer memes. Cant remember any art joke =(

Who or what as the last person or thing that made you cry? Korakrit Arunanondchai´s Songs for Dying video.

What qualities make for a good art work? Smart, emotional, broad.

What is your most treasured possession? Some printed photos.

Most disturbing thing someone has said about your work? Once we had a group show in city with a very protectionist and traditional art scene in Mexico. The reviews in the guest book were fire.

The most flattering? When people I admire say something good about it.

Do you like gossiping and if so about what? Try not to, but information sometimes arrives.

Do you ever see parts of your childhood in your work? Yes but not all the time.

Are there topics that should be untouched by art? Depends on the artist. I think not everyone has the same right to talk about some topics.

Do artists have responsibilities? Yes.

In your mind, what is the state of art criticism? It’s very different form city to city I think.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing what would it be? A gigantic Armillaria ostoyae fungus.

If you could live with one work of art, what would that be? Diego Rivera's Anahuacalli.

What’s your biggest fear? The void.

What is one thing you do when no one else is around? Spend time on the rooftop.

How would you like to die? Being ready for it.

Published: November 12, 2021

The fifth New Museum Triennial, “Soft Water Hard Stone,” was on view at the New Museum, 235 Bowery, through January 23, 2022.