Accumulation With Reading

For the accumulation project reading, I have chosen Shan Raoufi (opinions) and Presley Martin (gum).
I chose Mr. Martin because I found his work aesthetically pleasing, as well as cheeky. It invites you to get close, even though you don’t want to… because chewed gum is icky, and it sucks to step in it, or worse sit in it at the picture show… and you think of all the nasty germs that are in peoples mouths - which incidentally is where this gum at one time use to be - and then you see that he pulled this diseased shit out of the murky, shitty, San Fran harbor and you start thinking about all the nasty fish pee and ship greases that soaked into this ancient stick of trident and you start to back away. I thought his exhibition piece was innovative and original. I like that it makes people frown when they see that it’s petrified gum. I also liked the way that the lights kicked all the different shadows around. The colors are rich, the textures are ample and the overlapping shadows create a nice feel of depth.
I chose Shan Raoufi because I think that his accumulation project gave him a better understanding of how the world around him interacts with and among itself, how he relates to those around him and how he views himself in accordance to his own ideals as well as societies. This is ultimately what this project (or art in general) is all about - establishing some understanding of how we cope with or influence our environment. I really liked the quote from the “Larry Clark kid” - “Shit, man, that stuff is all in your head. It doesn’t matter.” - I’m sure Mr. Raoufi knows he has a perfect body, and I’m sure this is what he was getting at all along.
The thing I found most interesting/influential about Mr. Raoufi’s work is that he was daring in sacrificing his body to the outside elements. I also thought him ballsy for approaching as many people as he did. He wasn’t afraid to put himself under the scrutiny of others, even when those people could have just beat him to a pulp for being a half-naked loon walking around Manhattan. Northerners ain’t got none of our Southern hospitality.

As far as my own accumulation, I have thought long and hard. I will be collecting bits and pieces (small percentages really) of individual’s souls. My work focuses primarily on what people cherish. I work to create a stronger sense of adoration and gratitude for those things that people hold dear. In this piece, I will explore how various individuals view and hold dear the very essence of their lives.
No documentation yet though. I’m currently working on the contract that establishes custody of these souls under my name. If you would like to give me a piece, please shoot me a comment with your email and we can work something out.