American multimedia artist ALEX ISRAEL sits down to talk with Editor Katarina Doric about LA, celebrity culture, Hitchcock, his collaboration with Louis Vuitton and his future projects. (Image: Self-Portrait (Driveway), 2020, Acrylic on Sintra, 24 x 20 in., Photo Credit: Josh White)
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Do you remember your dreams? — Not usually, no.
What do you dream about? — When I’m sleeping? I honestly don’t know. When awake, I often think about my work and what it could be or how it might evolve. I’ve definitely created entire projects and bodies of work in my head multiple times over.
What’s your worst nightmare? — When I was a kid, I had a recurring nightmare that I was being chased around my childhood neighborhood by Nazis. Today, my worst nightmare would probably be losing the people that I love.
Tell me about the LA you love. How would you describe the spirit of LA? — The LA that I love is a magical place bursting at the seams with creativity. Its spirit revolves around a very special kind of freedom—wherein no one is accountable for the person they were born, and everyone is allowed to reinvent themselves as the person they dream of being.
How does the LA from a fever dream look like? — David Lynch’s Mulholland Dr.
“I was really just trying to make paintings of the things that I was seeing, working on and thinking about. Are these images similar to and in some cases interchangeable with my Instagram feed, my grid and my stories? Yes, for sure!”
— Alex Israel
Have you ever considered going to live elsewhere? — I might enjoy having a quiet place somewhere outside the city to visit on week-ends, not too far away, by the beach or in the mountains. But ultimately, I’m married to LA: ’til death do us part.
You travel a lot. What’s your second favorite city and why? — I would’ve said Paris—it’s so beautiful, I can walk everywhere and I love getting steps; however, since my best friend Bettina moved to London a couple of years ago, it’s become my favorite place to visit. Aspen, The Amalfi Coast and Tokyo would likely round out my top 5.
On social media people often create a pseudo identity, is that what you’re referencing with your “Always On My Mind” self portraits? – I was really just trying to make paintings of the things that I was seeing, working on and thinking about. Are these images similar to and in some cases interchangeable with my Instagram feed, my grid and my stories? Yes, for sure!
You actually made the first one for your “As It Lays” web series and stated that it’s inspired by Hitchcock. What’s your connection to him? — Hitchcock made an oft-quoted comparison between actors and cattle. I was thinking about this notion—for better or worse—when making As It Lays. I was transitioning in my practice from a focus on movie props to movie stars, and thinking about the ice cold way in which Hollywood might not differentiate so much between inanimate, animal, and human actors.
My Self-Portrait graphic was inspired by Hitchcock’s profile-logo, into which he morphs during the opening sequence of Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
I remember when I met Melanie Griffith at her house, before we shot her As It Lays episode, and I told her that I’d already shot an episode with Jamie Lee Curtis. Melanie mentioned that they were old friends as their mothers had both worked for Hitchcock. I also interviewed Eva Marie-Saint, who starred in North by Northwest, in season two—she’s now 98!
What’s your favorite Hitchcock movie and why? — Probably The Birds, because the colors are so beautiful.
What are your thoughts on celebrity culture? What’s it all about? Money? Power? Influence? — I think celebrities are gifted, in the way that athletes have advanced athletic prowess and intellectuals have extra brain-power. Celebrities have the gift (or curse?) of star-quality— they have more charisma than an average person. I think for those who choose to enter the public realm, it’s all about self-sacrifice. The burden of this charisma may be too great to bear, and so they can’t help but release some of it by sacrificing themselves to our media culture, for our consumption.
You have a very successful collaboration with Louis Vuitton. How did the partnership come about? — Delphine Arnault, who is Executive Vice President of the brand, approached me to work on some projects. She and her family had collected my art and we had already gotten to know each other a bit so it was all very natural and organic.
Do you like fashion? What’s your personal style? – I love the Rudi Gernreich quote: “Fashion will go out of fashion.” It may sound defeatist at first, but when you think about it, it’s actually the roadmap to a model of endless creativity. My personal style? I’m just trying to stay healthy, comfortable, and to feel good.
“ I love the Rudi Gernreich quote: “Fashion will go out of fashion.” It may sound defeatist at first, but when you think about it, it’s actually the roadmap to a model of endless
creativity. ”
— Alex Israel
How would you define your personality? Who’s Alex Israel privately? — I’m pretty shy. I take a little time to warm up to new people. I’ve been told that I’m “in my head” a lot.
What does your typical day look like? — I wake up, check my phone, go for a walk and have a smoothie. Some days I go to the gym. Then I’ll work from my studio, or else I’ll head over to Warner Brothers to oversee my work’s fabrication. I have an afternoon decaf coffee and usually stop at home before going out for the evening. I go out every night: for an event, a party, dinner or sometimes all three. When I get into bed at the end of the night I’ll usually watch an episode of something, and usually fall asleep half-way through.
Can you tell us a bit about your future projects? — My next stop is Seoul, South Korea, where I’ll be working on an exciting new project in the world of K-Pop. Later next month I’ll be in Stockholm for an exhibition of works on paper—I’m showing an entirely new project inspired by Matisse’s cut-outs. Following Stockholm, I’ll travel to Italy to meet with fabricators there and to work on a brand new series of sculptures, the first of which I’ll hopefully debut later this year at Art Basel Miami Beach.
Keep up with Alex Israel on Instagram – @alexisrael
Originally published in DSCENE “Fever Dreams” Art Issue
