Author: hannah
Interview published for Derek Dunlop’s exhibition End Forms at Lisa Kehler Art + Projects 2015
Published by Lisa Kehler Art + Projects.
The following interview took place between Derek Dunlop and Winnipeg-based writer, artist, and dj, Hannah Godfrey.
hannah_g: Let’s start with the basics: paint. The paint that you are using for these works is important and particular. Could you talk about the manufacturer of this paint and what makes it unique?
Derek Dunlop: For the most part, these paintings were made using Williamsburg Handmade Oil Colours. I started using them in the summer of 2014 when I was artist in residence with the Golden Foundation for the Arts in upstate New York. During the residency, I was able to experiment with all the material that GOLDEN makes. Williamsburg Oils are all handmade in small batches. They were developed by the artist Carl Plansky in the 1980’s and GOLDEN took over producing them in 2010 after Plansky passed away. The paint is produced in a very traditional way. The grind of the pigments in each colour reflects how best that colour will appear when mixed with the binder. As a result, each colour has a unique texture, mass, sheen, density, brightness, and depth. The paint is close to what early paint manufacturers would have produced before the over-commodification and industrialization of artist supplies in the 20th century. In my experience, only oil can achieve the subtle effects of colour that I seek.
hg: These particular paints with their individual textures and properties are fundamentally anti-generic, and this seems in line with a queer practice. Taking and then queering colours is subversive and expansive: what does it mean to queer colour?
DD: I’m not entirely sure what it means to queer colour. And I’m not entirely sure that I am queering colour. I started producing work for this show by researching colour. I’ve produced about a dozen different colour charts. Some of the paintings have up to seventy-two colours on one canvas. I do think a lot about the historical value of colour and its materiality. I think about how our feelings towards colours have histories, how they are subjective and yet still specific. Many of the paintings in this exhibition explore ambiguous colours with a paired-down palette. These colours are created by mixing complementary colours in order to create shades of grey, and then altering the tone.
hg: These works have more overt emotion in them, there’s a different kind of search happening. What has influenced your trajectory to this point?
DD: My process is becoming less systematic and slightly more poetic. I give myself more room to move. Many of the paintings in the show deal with a very basic compositional strategy of creating a square out of a rectangle, and then improvising with materials in order to express a thought or feeling. It isn’t predetermined. In terms of abstraction, I am interested in process and form equally. How can a way of working complicate and expand our ideas about subjectivity?
hg: The emotion in the work is rooted, of course, in your body which also contains your deep engagement with art history and the history of painting in particular, queer theory, social politics. Your gestures with paint and your choices of colour are intuitive here but that intuition is grounded in rigour. Was it difficult to adopt this process? What were the stakes?
DD: I am constantly responding to my materials, and often there is a compromise between how I want my materials to perform and how they are performing. My most successful paintings go through moments of creation and destruction. I acknowledge the double bind that exists within contemporary painting practice: the desire to paint mixed with the recognition of the limitations of the material. My desire to paint is guided by how it relates to my drawings, and where drawing and painting overlap. Both practices represent a kind of longing and a desire for transformation: a longing for visibility and a longing for invisibility.
hg: What role did your body play in these paintings?
DD: Touch is important to my process. I often think about embodied knowledge. How do we find value in other forms of knowledge? What does this knowledge look like? How are social forces embedded in the body, and how do they find material form?
hg: The space which the paintings create within themselves and within the viewer demands conscious involvement in both spheres. It is a complex experience that involves a degree of surrender and of trust. Does this mirror your state when you produced them?
DD: Trust is very important when considering a work of art. There are so few common registers these days for determining value in art. That’s probably a good thing. I put a lot of trust in my process. I trust my instincts. My process has developed over time. Each series relates to the one before.
hg: Are you asserting a radical approach to the tangled act of looking?
DD: I value difficulty. Which is probably more closely linked to a modernist project than what is happening in contemporary art. Cultural information, including art, is communicated in simple ways. The concept of difficulty has an important role to play in the creation and reception of artworks. Not difficulty for the sake of isolating the viewer, but as a technique for interrogating how objects generate meaning.
Derek Dunlop: “End Forms”. An Interview.
Click on the image for the interview.
Image courtesy of Lisa Kehler Art + Projects
The Surface of Obsession: a response to Chantal Dupas and Matthiew Bonhomier’s exhibition
Watchfulness: a response to Rosemary Scanlon’s exhibition, X Ray Lake
Consumed- Griffith Aaron Baker & Emily Rosamond exhibition essay AGSM
The MonkeySparrow
A weekly radio show broadcast every Tuesday, 10.30pm, on CKUW, 95.9 fm
Hosted by hannah_g with guest writers & music lovers. 30 minutes of ideas and music.
Original Stories based on This City & Elsewhere, Essays & Letters that attempt to Comprehend The Insignificant and Too Large, and Music from a Juxtapostastic Collection of Known, New, Answered, & Fated.
It’s recommended to listen via mixcloud. Glitches are less, and you can play it on any device. Mixcloud pays royalties to the music makers also.
Meandering Chat Along the Assiniboine River 5- 2021
Meandering Chat Along the Assiniboine River 4- 2021
Meandering Chat Along the Assiniboine River 3- 2021
Meandering Chat Along the Assiniboine River 2 – 2021
Meandering Chat Along the Assiniboine River 1 – 2021
Time Fills Space by Natasha MacVoy – 18 August 2020
A Traveller’s Journey – Salma Faraji – 7 July 2020
The Bee, The Architect, and the Human by Saio Sofa Gradin – 16 June 2020
French electro pop special- monkey mix- 21 April 2020
#3- Plague Fantasies – a collaboration between Ken Gregory & hannah_g 14 April 2020
#1- Plague Fantasies – a collaboration between Ken Gregory and hannah_g – 7 April 2020
Some Poems by Carrie Rhys-Davies – 24 March 2020
A Reading by Grace Han – 3 March 2020
A Magpie Response to Aaron Zeghers’ Retrospective – 17 December 2019
Thoughts on Irene Bindi’s notte sopra vipere sotto – 10 December 2019
A Magpie Response to Freya Björg Olafson’s Motion AfterEffect – 5 November 2019
Yellow Stains by Jean Borbridge – 3 December 2019
A List by Rachel Crummey – 29 October 2019
Selected poems from ishq by Reza Rezaï – 23 July 2019
A Concerto by David Lewiston Sharpe – 16 July 2019
A Sawng by Matea Radic – 9 July 2019
Notes on Fluids by Madeline Rae – 4 June 2019
Soft Stitches, Pink Tongue- Jillian Groening – 14 May 2019
San Fran nights monkey mix – 30 April 2019
A Tin of Peaches by hannah_g – 23 April 2019
Monkey Mix- Sparky Goes West – 9 April 2019
Monkey Mix- Like A Prayer – 2 April 2019
Monkey Mix- dog of my heart – 26 March 2019
Some Writing by Gislina Patterson, 22 January 2019
I Shall Love Myself In Installments by Jase, 15 January 2019
8 January 2019- Getting Beyond: Deaf Squab/Yoruba Drums
Sarah Atkinov, Big Thoughts, Small Space 1 January 2019
11 December 2018 mix- crys cole and greenhouse
4 December 2018 mix- MonkeySparrow
Films & video of Scott Fitzpatrick- incomplete notes – 27 November 2018
Last day/First day- a mix by monkeysparrow – 20 November 2018
Satisfied, and tickled too- a mix by monkeysparrow – 13 November 2018
Not winter yet- monkey mix, 6 November 2018
Singing and ploughing by hannah_g, 17 October 2018
miss/don’t miss mix by the monkey, 2 October 2018
From the birds – a monkey mix, 11 September
Untucked – a monkey mix, 28 August 2018
Hickey by Davis Plett, 21 August 2018
Three Pieces by Christina Hajjar, 14 August 2018
Tall Tales by Esui Saga, 7 August 2018
Extracts by Roewan Crowe, 31 July 2018
Cyclone Season by Kat Nancy, 24 July 2018
Melty Mix by MonkeySparrow, 10 July 1018
Tall Tails: Strange Animals by Esui Saga, 3 July 2018
Transcribing by Luke Nickel, 26 June 2018
Four Days An Inch by Francesca Carella Arfinengo, 19 June 2018
A Monkey Mix for the shortest nights, 29 May 2018
An extract from Not For The World Would I Compare It To Anything by Hannah Godfrey, 22 May 2018
Some Poems by Sage, 8 May 2018
Tall Tails: stories of past pets loved and missed by Esui Saga, 1 May 2018
An essay by Sage, 24 April 2018
Peach Satin Slippers by Stephanie Poruchnyk-Butler, 17 April 2018
Two Poems by Lissie Rappaport, 10 April 2018
Cyril and Donald Eat Ethiopian by Saz Massey, 3 April 2018
The Day My Dad Found Out Ellen DeGeneres is Gay by Ugonna Chigbo, 27 March 2018
More Beginnings & Ends by Christine Kirouac, 20 March 2018
Language Games – Mariana Muñoz Gomez, 27 February 2018
The Bird Who Spoke by Nic Wilson, 20 February 2018
Writing by Jennifer Ilse Black, 6 February 2018
A story by Chelsea Peters, 9 January 2018
Hillway by Ericca Godfrey, 26 December 2017
nN17 mix by the Monkey, 14 November 2017
Garbage by Saz Massey, 7 November 2017
17 October 2017: Pale Pink Sky by Meghan Zahari
10 October 2017: Ricin: A Cellular Assassin by Saz Massey
29 August 2017: A Metal Mix by Colton Rempel
22 August 2017: Birds and Songs for Lynx Eye Lew
15 August 2017: Poems by Colin Smith
6 June 2017: Some Poems by Julian Kirchmann
30 May 2017: Trichy Situation an essay by Saz Massey
23 May 2017: Beginnings and Ends: Episodes Of Online Dating with Christine Kirouac
4 April 2017: Xs & Os by Elise Dawson
28 March 2017: Three Buckets by Andrew Lodwick
7 March 2017: Poems By Andrew Eastman
28 February 2017: Music for Thinking- a MonkeySparrow mix
21 February 2017: Also As Well Too talk by Kegan McFadden Part 2
14 February 2107: The Famous Goose Wurlitzer of Portage & Main- Fundrive special
7 February 2017: Also As Well Too talk by Kegan McFadden Part 1
31 January 2017: The Ocean, a reading by Cecilia Araneda from her novel.
24 January 2017: Poems by Jaz Papadopolous
Tenth & Seventeenth January 2017: mixes (excuse the Judas Priest intro)
3 January 2017: OK, 2017 a mix by the Monkey
27 December 2016:Big Picture Attempts: a mix by the Monkey
20 December 2016:Not Christmassy At All: a mix by the Monkey
6 December 2016: Another Kind Of Desire a story by Jeremiah Gibbons
29 November 2016: Music by the Monkey
22 November 2016: A poem For Helga by hannah_g
15 November 2016: The Early Years by Ericca Godfrey
8 November 2016: An extract from Shopping Cart Pantheon by Jeanne Randolph
20 September 2016: On ‘A Doll’s House’ an essay by Adrielle Parley
13 September 2016: Lilacs: an essay by Kegan McFadden
sixth and twenty-seventh September 20167- mixes by MonkeySparrow
23 August 2016: Lessons From A Nude Man– a story by Donna Besel
second ninth sixteenth thirtieth Monkey music mixes from august 2016
19 July 2016: Corduroy & Cigars– a mix by Marisa Godfrey
12 July 2016: Our Darling Arlington by Choi Ho
5 July 2016: Reading by Murat Ates
28 June 2016: Extract from Shopping Cart Pantheon ready by the author Jean Randolph
21 June 2017: Some things I Have Tried by Doreen Girard
17 May 2016: A story by Eric Plamondon
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
10 May 2016: Music to bring back the sun: a mix by the Monkey
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
3 May 2016: With Sufficient Distance: extracts from an essay by Jeanette Johns
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
26 April 2016: Drinking The Finger Bowl: an essay by Alex King
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
12 April 2016: The In Betweens: an essay by Alison James
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
5 April 2016: Where Are All The Textile Artists? an essay by Jennifer Smith
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
22 March 2016: The Landscape Of Death– an essay by Tricia Wasney
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
15 March 2016 : Tolstoy Gets Lyrical- a reading.
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
9 March 2016: Baby Class– an essay by Esther Simmonds MacAdam
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
22 February 2016: Valdes The Barber: a story by hannah_g
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
9 Feburary 2016: The Scarf of Doom- Fundrive special. A story by hannah_g
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
26 January 2016: Poetry reading: Ted Hughes, Joanne Epp, Carol Ann Duffy
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
19 January 2016: ThinkCog by Kevin Doole
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
12 January 2016: Skating: a story by hannah_g
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
5 January 2016: A Week In Martinique – an essay by hannah_g
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
2015
24 November 2015: Why Matthew Sawatsky Is Not Like Gertrude Stein– an essay by C. Graham Asmundson
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
17 November 2015: Remembering Music – an essay by hannah_g
What Song Grabbed You By The Heart & Got You Into Music? – a mix by BossRoss
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
10 November 2015: a mix by Craig Claire
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
3 November 2015: on Loving Bodies– an essay by Victoria King
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
3 November 2015: Poetry Readings & Music- selections by Matthew Sawatsky
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
27 October 2015: Halloween Hauntings In The Home: Horror & Interior Design
an essay and mix y Hannah Nutmeg Crosson
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
20 October 2015: Lost Souls an essay by Liberty Karp. Mix by hannah_g.
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
13 October 2015: Witches & Feminism an essay and mix by Helga Jakobson
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
6 October 2015: Brushes With The Supernatural a ramble by hannah_g
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
29 September: Nanny Odjig & The Gleaners by hannah_g
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
22 September: Nanny Odjig by hannah_g (a story in response to Tiverton Museum artefacts)
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
15 September: A Few Notes On Loneliness by hannah_g
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
8 September: Summer, Autumn, September- David Cain and Ronald Duncan from The Seasons; ‘I loved you’- by Alexander Pushkin
1 September: For Amusement Only– an essay and mix by Courtney R. Thompson
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
24 August: Marital Dissolution & The Art Of Confession– an essay by Bryan Goertz
Songs of failure; songs of hope – a mix by Bryan Goertz
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
18 August: Poems by A. Nowlan and Jesse Matas
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
11 August: A Few Notes On Pain an essay by hannah_g
listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
28 July listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
Natalie Daoust: A Cracked Spider Egg an essay by hannah_g
21 July listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
Watermelon ice cream by hannah_g
Canoeing with Avi by hannah_g
14 July listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
100% Birgitta by hannah_g
7 July listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
Being Watched an essay by hannah_g
30 June listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
Travel Shorts: 31J; Cristina; Dawn Chorus by hannah_g
Greek, Iranian, Tanzanian, Jamaican, & Chinese folk music mix.
23 June listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
Poems: Train Journey by Judith Wright; Adlestrop by Edward Thomas
Essay: I Want A Train by Jamie Wright
16th June listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
Response: New Zealand vs China – The Hadron Effect by hannah_g
Essay: Authority, Power, and Evan Soloman by hannah_g
9th June listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
Poems: Frank O’Hara & Elizabeth Bishop
Essay: Feeling A Little Queer by hannah_g
2nd June listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
Poems: Margaret Atwood & Selima Hill
Essay: Listening to Tennis by hannah_g
5th May listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
Extract from Chicago Of The North- I, by hannah_g
Essay: “Dwell. Separate. (Upon Estate: A Reverie)”, by hannah_g
12th May listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
Response: Natasha Torres Garner solo, Vampire Alberta Blues, by hannah_g
Extract from Chicago Of The North- II, by hannah_g
Essay: “Micro Mobility”, by hannah_g
19th May | listen via mixcloud| download via CKUW
Response: Steven Leyden Cochrane’s exhibition, Screen Wall at RAWGallery
Response: Rosemary Scanlon’s exhibition, X-ray Lake, KIAC, by hannah_g
Extract from Chicago Of The North- III, by hannah_g
—
25th May | listen via mixcloud | download via CKUW
Essay: A Bolt, by hannah_g
Extract from Chicago Of The North- IV, by hannah_g
—
Readings (selected)
Manitoba Writers’ Guild AGM , Winnipeg, November 2014
Negative Space, Winnipeg, Spring, 2012
PLATFORM: centre for digital + photographic arts, Winnipeg, August 2011
Landsdowne Prize for Poetry, supporting reader, Winnipeg, February 2011
Aqua Books, Winnipeg, July 2010
Folk Tales At The Scout Hut, Bristol, August 2008
The Cube Microplex, Bristol, 2005
Cafe Kafka, Vienna, April 2004
Performances (selected)
Dry Media Exhibition, The Edge Gallery, Winnipeg, February 2015
CKUW radio – The Brass Bowel Diner; every Thursday in October 2014
Girls! Girls! Girls! The Gas Station Theatre, Winnipeg. 2010,;2011; 2014 (MC)
Manitoba Showcase Luncheon, 24 October 2014
Hear/Say Story Exchange, Winnipeg, 16 January 2014
CKUW radio– Nocturnes, every Thursday in October 2013
Queerlore, Genderfest, Winnipeg, 15 February 2013
Microcosm, Cube Microplex, Bristol UK, December many dates between 2005-13
Opening act for Rae Spoon’s book launch, Winnipeg, 19 October 2012
Reel Pride Festival, Winnipeg launch night, 9 October 2012
Circus of Objects, Plug In ICA, 6 October 2012
The Dalnavert Museum, Winnipeg, 23rd & 24th Feb 2012
Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art, member performance, 3-31 March 2011
CBC Winnipeg Comedy Festival, 10th April 2011
Richmond Art Gallery, BC. January 2011
Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba, Sept 2010
Aqua Books: Emerging Writer in Residence, July 2010
Eye Level Gallery, Halifax, April 2009
Gibraltar Point International Artists Residency open studios, Toronto, June 2007
Trinity Centre, Bristol, 2007
Yujiro Gallery, London 2007
Exeter Festival, 2007
Le Cirque de Mots
A long while ago I ran an experimental storytelling gig at the Cube Microplex. Everything from telephone answering machines to mixing storytelling records to, of course, people telling- it was a platform for trying things out. Find out more about it here: Le Cirque de Mots.
By the way if you made this poster please get in touch with me! I’ve lost your details!
