Discomfort

Negative irritations maximised.
Who do these people think they are?
Our meat-wrapping is often insufficient.
Is our “Tryout Masculinity” insufficient? Cease and desist, or light up your own fires.
Friction as fuel.
Tips for purpose.
A body for the push.

/////

Discomfort at art institutions. Discomfort at the edges of your own body. Discomfort at a market in which you are marked “an apolitical commodity”. Discomfort at the loss of becoming, at genderbending for the first time. Discomfort at the paying of dues to all of those who got naked before us. Discomfort at state-funded artivist organizations that make you feel unwelcome. Discomfort at irritated heteronormativity, at your own inner oppressive discourses. Discomfort as gasoline to blast a fire that burns good-hearted tips into a sculptural claim.

One foot inside of the Rijksakademie and one outside. – AC.



Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 00326-2000-PsW2000-ADOLESCENTAMERICA
  • Title
  • ADOLESCENT AMERICA
  • Dimensions
  • 42 x 59
  • Materials
  • Poster marker on paper
  • Object Location
  • Physical

  • Reflection Notes

“I was so beaten up as a teenager that I could not stand up.” – SMW.

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Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 00236-2001-PsW2000-IHATEINSTITUTIONS!
  • Title
  • I HATE INSTITUTIONS!
  • Dimensions
  • 42 x 59
  • Materials
  • Poster marker on paper
  • Object Location
  • Physical

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Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 00457-2009-DN-PileOfShit
  • Title
  • Pile of shit
  • Dimensions
  • Variable
  • Materials
  • Digital word document file
  • Object Location
  • Digital

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Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 00541-2005-Co-VALIE EXPORTCease+DesistLetter
  • Title
  • VALIE EXPORT ‘Cease and Desist’ Letter
  • Dimensions
  • Variable
  • Materials
  • Outlook Express email service
  • Object Location
  • Digital
  • Social link(s)
  • · Irritation (negative)
  • · Correspondence
  • Year

  • Technical Notes

Email from lawyer.


  • Reflection Notes

“I/we found VALIE’s email to me from 2004, please find it attached for archiving eventually. In the archive we should blur or censor VALIE’s personal email address of course. This is just for you, now, for your eyes only… (James Bond’s theme tune runs through my head… :)” – SMW.

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Image of Studio object

Photographer: Robin Wassink-Murray

  • Catalog No.
  • 00884-2005-DoP-UntitledFirstNakedPublicPerfo…
  • Title
  • Untitled (First Naked Public Performance)
  • Dimensions
  • Variable
  • Materials
  • Live performance
  • Object Location
  • Digital

  • Technical Notes

Video documentation of performance (color video with sound, 37:37) // duration of performance: 37:37. Performance Date: 11 September 2005. Event: ‘When the Lady Talks’. Location: Arminius Church Rotterdam.


  • Reflection Notes

From 17. April 2020 (WeTransfer notes): “I get naked at around 6:39 on the video… first naked performance, untitled I think, where I was so nervous that I drank an entire bottle of red wine before I went on and could barely speak. I am wearing the dress by Karl Lagerfeld for H&M that Radna also has :) And the long black coat is meant to reference Hannah Wilke's performance https://www.eai.org/titles/int... and simultaneously the Blackgama images I commented on in Whatsapp: http://www.blackglama.com/camp...” – SMW.

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Image of Studio object

Photographer: Robin Wassink-Murray

  • Catalog No.
  • 00612-2009-PSP-TryoutMasculinityVenusEnvySho…
  • Title
  • Tryout Masculinity Venus Envy Shots (Sands and Peter)
  • Dimensions
  • Variable
  • Materials
  • Variable
  • Object Location
  • Digital

  • Technical Notes

Location: Peter Brandt’s Apartment Copenhagen, Denmark (21 August 2009). Images by: Double Performalist Self Portraits together with Robin Wassink-Murray.


  • Reflection Notes

8 april 2020 (WeTransfer notes): “‘Tryout Masculinity Venus Envy Shots’ by me and www.peter-brandt.com in Copenhagen taken by Robin on this same trip to Denmark in 2009. Robin took these in Peter’s studio in his apartment. I’ve broken my friendship with Peter for various reasons which we can talk about. But these pictures are the only pix I have with another male body artist of this nature.” – SMW.

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Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 01474-2012-DN-AdrianPiperArchivingTips
  • Title
  • Adrian Piper Archiving Tips
  • Dimensions
  • Variable
  • Materials
  • Digital word document file
  • Object Location
  • Digital

  • Technical Notes

Archiving tips sent to SMW by Adrian Piper via email in 2012 in response to photographs of SMW’s studio shared with Piper.


  • Reflection Notes

“(We had) To put AP’s tips to the test.” – SMW.

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Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 01479-2020-UbR-VondelbunkerGoesToTheGiftScie…
  • Title
  • Vondelbunker goes to the Gift Science Archive
  • Dimensions
  • Variable
  • Materials
  • Digital word document file
  • Object Location
  • Digital

  • Technical Notes

Text co-written by Amalia Calderón and Megan Hoetger for a proposed collaboration with Vondelbunker as part of the GSA archiving marathon series, which was never realised due to pandemic conditions and the lack of interest by the artistic committee of the Vondelbunker.

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Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 00343-2000-PsW2000-GAYISDRIVING
  • Title
  • GAY IS DRIVING
  • Dimensions
  • 42 x 59
  • Materials
  • Poster marker on paper
  • Object Location
  • Physical

  • Reflection Notes

“Did I ask for your opinion? Stay in your body.” – AC. “Stay in your lane.” – SMW.

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Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 02286-c2015-TwA4-Narcissism/Capitalism
  • Title
  • Narcissism/Capitalism
  • Dimensions
  • 29.5 x 21
  • Materials
  • Gouache and acrylic paint on pages of Gai Pied magazine
  • Object Location
  • Physical

  • Technical Notes

The pages are yellowed and cracked with age. Dutch Curator Erik Hagoort gave SMW a few huge boxes of these French gay liberation magazines from the 80s, and SMW intuitively started painting on them. There are many more than those listed in the archive.


  • Reflection Notes

“I had to throw away a lot of these, there were also Dutch gay liberation magazines in the boxes Erik Hagoort gave me, called ‘De Verkeerde Krant’ or so, (‘van de verkeerde kant’ was a Dutch saying for a queer person) but due to storage I could not keep everything as a resource to use. There are hundreds of these painted drawings, and they get quite a good response. Paul Thek = newspaper paintings, Karen Finley = same as Paul Thek, Erik Hagoort is the partner of Dutch artist Albert van Westing and AA Bronson showed a fondness for the drawings.” – SMW.

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Listings connecting to the keyword “Discomfort” (546)



Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 02240-c2015-TwA4-MakingThings
  • Title
  • Making things
  • Dimensions
  • 29.5 x 21
  • Materials
  • Acrylic paint on pages of Gai Pied magazine
  • Object Location
  • Physical

  • Technical Notes

The pages are yellowed and cracked with age. Dutch Curator Erik Hagoort gave SMW a few huge boxes of these French gay liberation magazines from the 80s, and SMW intuitively started painting on them. There are many more than those listed in the archive.


  • Reflection Notes

“I had to throw away a lot of these, there were also Dutch gay liberation magazines in the boxes Erik Hagoort gave me, called ‘De Verkeerde Krant’ or so, (‘van de verkeerde kant’ was a Dutch saying for a queer person) but due to storage I could not keep everything as a resource to use. There are hundreds of these painted drawings, and they get quite a good response. Paul Thek = newspaper paintings, Karen Finley = same as Paul Thek, Erik Hagoort is the partner of Dutch artist Albert van Westing and AA Bronson showed a fondness for the drawings.” – SMW.

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Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 02272-c2015-TwA4-NoBigDeal
  • Title
  • No Big Deal
  • Dimensions
  • 29.5 x 21
  • Materials
  • Acrylic paint on pages of Gai Pied magazine
  • Object Location
  • Physical

  • Technical Notes

The pages are yellowed and cracked with age. Dutch Curator Erik Hagoort gave SMW a few huge boxes of these French gay liberation magazines from the 80s, and SMW intuitively started painting on them. There are many more than those listed in the archive.


  • Reflection Notes

“I had to throw away a lot of these, there were also Dutch gay liberation magazines in the boxes Erik Hagoort gave me, called ‘De Verkeerde Krant’ or so, (‘van de verkeerde kant’ was a Dutch saying for a queer person) but due to storage I could not keep everything as a resource to use. There are hundreds of these painted drawings, and they get quite a good response. Paul Thek = newspaper paintings, Karen Finley = same as Paul Thek, Erik Hagoort is the partner of Dutch artist Albert van Westing and AA Bronson showed a fondness for the drawings.” – SMW.

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Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 02304-c2015-TwA4-ControlledUncontrolled
  • Title
  • Controlled Uncontrolled
  • Dimensions
  • 29.5 x 21
  • Materials
  • Acrylic paint on pages of Gai Pied magazine
  • Object Location
  • Physical

  • Technical Notes

The pages are yellowed and cracked with age. Dutch Curator Erik Hagoort gave SMW a few huge boxes of these French gay liberation magazines from the 80s, and SMW intuitively started painting on them. There are many more than those listed in the archive.


  • Reflection Notes

“I had to throw away a lot of these, there were also Dutch gay liberation magazines in the boxes Erik Hagoort gave me, called ‘De Verkeerde Krant’ or so, (‘van de verkeerde kant’ was a Dutch saying for a queer person) but due to storage I could not keep everything as a resource to use. There are hundreds of these painted drawings, and they get quite a good response. Paul Thek = newspaper paintings, Karen Finley = same as Paul Thek, Erik Hagoort is the partner of Dutch artist Albert van Westing and AA Bronson showed a fondness for the drawings.” – SMW.

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Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 02336-c2015-TwA4-LackOfInspiration
  • Title
  • Lack of Inspiration
  • Dimensions
  • 29.5 x 21
  • Materials
  • acrylic paint on pages of Gai Pied magazine
  • Object Location
  • Physical

  • Technical Notes

The pages are yellowed and cracked with age. Dutch Curator Erik Hagoort gave SMW a few huge boxes of these French gay liberation magazines from the 80s, and SMW intuitively started painting on them. There are many more than those listed in the archive.


  • Reflection Notes

“I had to throw away a lot of these, there were also Dutch gay liberation magazines in the boxes Erik Hagoort gave me, called ‘De Verkeerde Krant’ or so, (‘van de verkeerde kant’ was a Dutch saying for a queer person) but due to storage I could not keep everything as a resource to use. There are hundreds of these painted drawings, and they get quite a good response. Paul Thek = newspaper paintings, Karen Finley = same as Paul Thek, Erik Hagoort is the partner of Dutch artist Albert van Westing and AA Bronson showed a fondness for the drawings.” – SMW.

Close



Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 00202-c2000-PsW2000-MISANTHROPE
  • Title
  • MISANTHROPE
  • Dimensions
  • 42 x 59
  • Materials
  • Pen and poster marker on paper
  • Object Location
  • Physical

  • Reflection Notes

“I could definitely be an androthrope. Or both. There is this instinct to protect men/humans.” – AC.

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  • Catalog No.
  • 00237-2001-PsW2000-ADULTISWHEN
  • Title
  • ADULT IS WHEN
  • Dimensions
  • 42 x 59
  • Materials
  • Poster marker and pen on paper
  • Object Location
  • Physical

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Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 00273-2001-PsW2000-NAZI
  • Title
  • NAZI
  • Dimensions
  • 42 x 59
  • Materials
  • Poster marker on paper
  • Object Location
  • Physical

  • Technical Notes

Kathy Wentrack’s recommendation of a book by Klaus Theweleit.

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Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 00307-c2001-PsW2000-ITSNEVERTOOLATETILLYOURE…
  • Title
  • It's Never Too Late Till You're Dead
  • Dimensions
  • 42 x 59
  • Materials
  • Poster marker on paper
  • Object Location
  • Physical

  • Reflection Notes

Gift Science Archive meeting – 12.04.20. “The intergenerational dimension to the project… three generations tracked in the archive, a network of relationships and their shifts. Like so much of Sands is, already, ‘too close’. Partners of performers function as centres of the practice in caretaking. Talking about those caretaking relationships (ie. library objects) would give care back towards i.e. Robin. It’s a tragedy that in most of the history of performance we don’t hear enough about the carers.” – MH.

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  • Catalog No.
  • 00339-2000-PsW2000-XMarksTheSpot(BrownFlower…
  • Title
  • X Marks The Spot (Brown Flowers)
  • Dimensions
  • 42 x 59
  • Materials
  • Poster marker on paper
  • Object Location
  • Physical

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Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 00371-2002-PsW2000-CloudSketch(Lilac)
  • Title
  • Cloud Sketch (Lilac)
  • Dimensions
  • 39 x 51
  • Materials
  • Poster marker, tissue paper and glue on paper
  • Object Location
  • Physical

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Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 00414-c2001-PsW2000-OneLongPerformance
  • Title
  • One Long Performance
  • Dimensions
  • 42 x 59
  • Materials
  • Poster marker and pen on paper
  • Object Location
  • Physical

  • Reflection Notes

Rijksakademie Internal Open Studios – 07.09.20. “I try to confront how much [work] I have.” – SMW. “Destroying art pieces or not…” – Anon. “If you keep them, how long can you care for them? Do you give them again, throw them? It costs money for the space to store your work. What happens after the artist dies? Does success mediate the afterlife of your art pieces?” – AC.

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Photographer: Robin Wassink-Murray

  • Catalog No.
  • 00462-2002-PP-ElkeSandsEqualitiesEquivalence…
  • Title
  • Elke & Sands: Equalities, Equivalences
  • Dimensions
  • Variable
  • Materials
  • Live action
  • Object Location
  • Digital

  • Technical Notes

Location: Sands and Robin’s old flat (Halmaheirastraat studio, Amsterdam).


  • Reflection Notes

9 april 2020 (WeTransfer notes): “Okay, here are some of the most important works I’ve ever made: ‘Elke & Sands: Equalities, Equivalences’ from 2002 in a series of images taken by Robin in an old flat of ours in my studio there. It’s a wonder these ever were taken and I still love them.” – SMW.

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Image of Studio object

Photographer: Robin Wassink-Murray

  • Catalog No.
  • 00494-2002-PP-ElkeSandsEqualitiesEquivalence…
  • Title
  • Elke & Sands: Equalities, Equivalences
  • Dimensions
  • Variable
  • Materials
  • Live action
  • Object Location
  • Digital

  • Technical Notes

Location: Sands and Robin’s old flat (Halmaheirastraat studio, Amsterdam).


  • Reflection Notes

9 april 2020 (WeTransfer notes): “Okay, here are some of the most important works I’ve ever made: ‘Elke & Sands: Equalities, Equivalences’ from 2002 in a series of images taken by Robin in an old flat of ours in my studio there. It’s a wonder these ever were taken and I still love them.” – SMW.

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Image of Studio object

Photographer: Luc Matthys

  • Catalog No.
  • 00526-2004-PP-ValieSandsEqualitiesEquivalenc…
  • Title
  • Sands & VALIE: Equalities, Equivalences
  • Dimensions
  • Variable
  • Materials
  • Live action
  • Object Location
  • Digital
  • Social link(s)
  • · Irritation (negative)
  • · Correspondence
  • Year

  • Technical Notes

Location: Maes and Matthys Gallery Antwerp Belgium.


  • Reflection Notes

9 april 2020 (WeTransfer notes): “AND also the ones with VALIE and that’s when VALIE got so pissed with me. Top secret but also top important/significant.” – SMW.

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Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 01249-c2000-PsW2000-PinkCongealed(OpenWound)
  • Title
  • Pink Congealed (Open Wound)
  • Dimensions
  • 42 x 59
  • Materials
  • Poster marker on paper
  • Object Location
  • Physical

  • Reflection Notes

“I guess I was thinking of the most visceral phrasing I could imagine. Carolee was always so good at speaking about the body in visceral terms, like putting it into literal words.” – SMW paraphrased by MH.

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