EP 011: JUAN ANTONIO OLIVARES

Image Culture

On the show is the artist Juan Antonio Olivares. Juan’s highly interdisciplinary work resists traditional object-oriented art production. Instead, his work often manifests itself as video. He first studied art at Columbia University, before moving to Germany to study at the Kunstakademie Dusseldorf under acclaimed conceptual photographer Christopher Williams. It was during this time that Juan began work on his film Moléculas, a 10 minute CGI animation following a one-armed teddy bear who ruminates on family, loss, and our place in the world. If it sounds strange, it’s because it is, but it was also one of my favorite works of the year, and I wasn’t alone. Moléculas was recently acquired by The Whitney and is now on view at the museum through June 10th. I encourage everyone to go see it.

I got the chance to photograph Juan at his Brooklyn studio, and you can see the portrait at www.williamjesslaird.com/imageculture as well as on Instagram @william.jess.laird or @image.culture

You can find more information on Moléculas here: https://whitney.org/Exhibitions/JuanAntonioOlivares

I’d like to thank Juan Antonio Olivares, John Miller, the Columbia University and Barnard College Art Departments, and the entire team at the Whitney Museum, especially to Jane Panetta and Allie Tepper. Our show is produced by Sarah Levine and our music is by Jack and Eliza.