1010

Physics, Psychology and Desire

Whether I had an unsettling premonition leading up to this interview with 1010, I still can't say, but in light of the massive global upheaval since, the series of works appear to be portals to someplace else, another dimension, time-travel, or just a new way to experience our collective reality. The artist, who works in abstraction, often in public spaces, has been developing a series that has taken on a new meaning. What does abstraction mean to us in a time when we are desperate for direct answers? How do we navigate a universe that is actively fighting back? What does democracy mean when laws are in limbo? As he was finishing a trip in Asia, 1010 spoke at length about these ideas, as well as the influence of Op art, referencing current events in his work, and how desire plays into his upcoming projects.

Evan Pricco: I know you are traveling in Asia at the moment. Is it a proper vacation or are you working as well?

1010: Nothing, I just try to switch off as far as possible and leave everything be for a while. Just let things happen without taking care. It feels healthy to me to just leave everything and disappear for a few weeks or a month.

How often do you get the chance to travel for pleasure outside of work? I ask this because there are so many opportunities to travel if you work in public art, but I know that can be a bit of a tough schedule because it’s back-to-back projects in different time zones.