Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere

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Cars. I’m supposed to ask you about the one for Frieze. Can you describe that project? I’ve heard that you’re making a life-size, fully functional “model” of a 1970 Dodge Challenger.

We started with the shell of the Challenger and filled it with high-tech parts so that it will drive like an Audi. It’s being test-driven in Canada as we speak.

It’s going to have a 660 hp Hemi engine, custom interior, no chrome, black wheel wells, 14-inch tires in the front and 16 inch in the back, a pale orange paint job with a flat black T/A hood, plus various decals and emblems. I’ve been working with XV Motorsports out of Irvington, New York, on the design. It will of course be completely drivable and in an edition of three, all for sale.

Do you think art should be useful?

If your car is dented, the body shop can fix it. If you want a flake job, we can paint it. If you want to replace a rocker panel, we can send away for it.

I saw a photo of the body shop. From the outside it reminds me a little of the Menil Collection’s Flavin installation in Houston, which is in an old car dealership.

Inside there’s a metal stage with a drum kit, amplifier, keyboard. My kids and a friend and I occasionally perform covers of the Flamin’ Groovies and Lothar and the Hand People. There’s a pole for topless dancers, or if you simply want to exercise alongside always-playing videos of Vanishing Point, Two-Lane Blacktop, or Claude Lelouch’s [C’etait un] Rendezvous. In a nod to our most cherished gas stations (think On the Road), the bathroom key is attached to a bowling ball.

Isn’t there going to be a car at the Guggenheim as well?

For the rotunda there’s a new sculpture called American Prayer. It’s a 1968 Dodge Charger that’s been completely emptied of any engine parts and interiors and has been stripped of any paint and then powder coated. In place of the engine block there’s a cement block.

Did you see Borat?

Yeah. He reminded me of Andy Kaufman. Kaufman did a bit where he invited people up to the stage and asked them to touch the boil on his neck. It was big and red and real nasty. I remember people recoiling when they got close to putting their fingers on it.

Do you have other favorite comedians? What about favorite artists who make funny work?

I loved Sam Kinison. What a genius. Started out a preacher. He had the voice. The fear of God. The crown of thorns. I like Bruce Nauman’s humor, and William Wegman’s.

I feel like Wegman is a little underappreciated, especially those early videos. There’s this great quote from him: “As soon as I got funny, I killed any majestic intentions in my work.”

There aren’t a lot of funny artists out there. A lot of artists are afraid of the art establishment. Afraid of the critics and academics and the people who write for October. Most artists’ role models aren’t people like Big Daddy Roth and Hugh Hefner. Ad Reinhardt read the funny papers. I’m not sure Clyfford Still ever laughed in his life. Me, I like reading [T. E. Lawrence’s] The Seven Pillars of Wisdom and Lord Buckley’s System of a Down at the same time.

I’m glad you brought up books. You’re a well-known book collector. What’s new in the library?

Recent acquisitions are Sylvia Plath’s carbon of Ariel and a Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? inscribed to Tim Powers.

The sci-fi writer who Valis was dedicated to.

I’ve been wanting an inscribed copy of that book for years. What I’d really like to get is a signed Richard Powers book—I’ve never seen one. I recently bought a Jim Morrison, The New Creatures, inscribed to Norman Mailer. And I’m currently filling out a collection of Kathy Acker’s work.

Do you consider any writers influential on your work?

Not really. I think that musicians were more influential. The thing that’s influenced me the most about books is the original illustrations for paperbacks.

How do you feel about the genre of the press release?

I’m not sure about the press release. There always seems to be lots of love there. I do like what Adam McEwan has been doing with his fake obits. I was recently the subject of one and was shocked that I wasn’t dead.