Q&A with Yarisal & Kublitz

1 May 2009

Yarisal & Kublitz's "Forever Look so Good Right Now" at
Galerie Bertrand & Gruner
April 23-May 30

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artists, Ronnie Yarisal and Katja Kublitz

1.How did you decide that you wanted to work together/collaborate?

We were helping each other out with different projects when were were in art school and we both felt that it made complete sense and then we just kept doing it.

2.In the artistic realm, what qualities do you respect/admire in one another?

K: The magic touch and hands-on approach.
R: Her imagination

Yarisal & Kublitz, Forever Looks So Good Right Now, 2009
Courtesy of Galerie Bertrand & Gruner

3.How did you meet?

At Central St. Martins. Like in the Pulp song.

4.Which of your contemporaries inspires your work?

It changes all the time. At the moment we are very inspired by the energy of Ryan Trecartin's videos. Andrea Slominsky is an ongoing inspiration as well as Roman Signer.

5.How do you begin a work? What is the process which leads you to the result?

A small sketch and then we just go for it.

Yarisal & Kublitz, Domestication, 2009
Courtesy of Galerie Bertrand & Gruner

6.Do you consider your work that of the "re-appropriation" genre; in other words, do you consider yourselves Duchampian in a way?

In a way, yes, but it is not the main point of our work. We use everyday objects because that's what we are surrounded by and our work often plays with banalities and the everyday.

7.Do you ever see yourselves going in a completely different direction? If so do you have any idea what that direction would be?

Yes, but neither of us have any idea of which direction we would take.

8.What do you think you are known for in the art world?

Nothing. Really.

9.Why is transformation and movement a recurring theme in your work; what is inspirational about them?

Neither of us is interested in permanence. We like to think of our work as having a life of their own and all of them have an unstable destiny which makes them much more interesting to be around. The perfect sculpture is a transformation, a process.

Yarisal & Kublitz, Corny, 2009
Courtesy of Galerie Bertrand & Gruner

10.What are you working on now?

A piece called "Corny" where a coconut constantly moves up and down and replaces the "O" in "Horny". It is really a very silly piece, but makes us in such a good mood.

11.Do either of you collect anything? Not art in particular, but anything that you are particularly interested in?

No, we are always trying to get rid of things.

12.What do you do when you aren't creating work? Any hobbies?

Right now we are making a baby. We watch a lot of movies and are really into cooking and otherwise just hanging out with our friends.

K: I love to dance anytime, anywhere.

13.Is there an internet trend such as Twitter or Facebook that you participate in?

No.

14.Do you think you will always work as a duo?

We like to think so, but you never know.