Robin

Filename: conversation w_ sands and robin by radna 24 July 2020 (unedited) .WAV
Date: July 24, 2020
Duration: 02:12:07
Speakers: Robin Wassink-Murray, Radna Rumping, Sands Murray-Wassink
Location: The home of Sands and Robin, Swammerdamstraat, Amsterdam
Transcription date: 16/1/2021
Transcribed by: Martha Jager

00:00:32
RR: Where do we start? Well, I do have a start, actually. I would find it interesting to hear how Robin is an actual part of Sands’ work. For example, sometimes you are more present in the background with what you do...

00:00:54
RWM: Yeah, that’s mainly what we're talking about, I think. And of course I do a lot for him. I help him when he has to set things up... That’s a little less now, isn’t it? Now that he has four colleagues he works closely with, of which you are one. That is something different, because that whole show in London, eventually... It used to be always... I actually pretty much set up everything. The technical things when he does a presentation or something, I set those up. That is now no longer necessary, because there are now professional people, thanks to If I Can't Dance [ I Don’t Want To Be Part Of Your Revolution] but that is my biggest influence. Except... But you might better voice that – how I influence you? That of course has to do with what we talk about every day.

00:01:39
Sands Murray-Wassink: Yes how do I always phrase that... We are a team. That's how I always say it: we've been together since November 16, 1996. And yes, I have always seen you as very influential because you have taught me a lot about people and also how to look at art and my own work. Because you... How do you say that? Feet or legs on the ground? You keep my feet on the ground.



Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 01463-2015-PsW2010s-ILoveRobin
  • Title
  • I Love Robin
  • Dimensions
  • 50 x 65
  • Materials
  • Acrylic paint and gouache on paper
  • Object Location
  • Physical

  • Technical Notes

A second painting also on verso.


  • Reflection Notes

Inventorying session + invited archivist (IA) meeting – 15.09.20. “AC’s exact birthdate is the day Robin and I met. It’s all about these convergences.” – SWM. “RWM is my main audience and collaborator.” – SMW.

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Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 01785-c2014-PsW2010s-ShowRobinThatYouLoveHim
  • Title
  • Show Robin That You Love Him
  • Dimensions
  • 50 x 65
  • Materials
  • Acrylic paint on paper
  • Object Location
  • Physical

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Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 01455-1997-DN-BusinessPlan
  • Title
  • Business Plan
  • Dimensions
  • 24.5 x 32
  • Materials
  • Collection of filled bound plastic sleeves in clamp binder
  • Object Location
  • Physical

  • Technical Notes

Created when – as part of the residency process – SMW attempted to become a distribution business; materials a mixture of personal and private, including (to give a sense) – a Metropolis M advertisement that SMW designed for the Ateliers open studios – business plan spreadsheets – a love letter to SMW’s husband Robin.

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Image of Studio object

Photographer: Radna Rumping

  • Catalog No.
  • 01415-2020-MaPi-ConversationSandsAndRobin-005
  • Title
  • Conversation Sands and Robin
  • Dimensions
  • Variable
  • Materials
  • 5 phone snapshots
  • Object Location
  • Digital

  • Technical Notes

Date: 24.07.20. Location: house Sands and Robin, Swammerdamstraat 4E, Amsterdam. Images taken right after a recorded conversation with Sands and Robin, featuring cat Duman, Robin and Sands on the couch, and self-portrait in mirror of Radna.


  • Reflection Notes

“Living room of SMW and RWM, where the triangle is present again: Carolee, Adrian, Hannah.” – RR.

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Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 01442-1995-D-Coordinates
  • Title
  • Coordinates, Pre-Robin
  • Dimensions
  • 68 x 68
  • Materials
  • Pencil on paper
  • Object Location
  • Physical

  • Reflection Notes

“There’s something conceptual about it as well. I like that.” – SMW.

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Image of Studio object

Photographer: Robin Wassink-Murray

  • Catalog No.
  • 00121-2009-PSP-BigPumpkinSeries-020
  • Title
  • Big Pumpkin Series
  • Dimensions
  • Variable
  • Materials
  • Live action
  • Object Location
  • Digital

  • Technical Notes

Location: Moen Island, Denmark at Frederikke Hansen’s former house.

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Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 00554-2009-PP-IntimacyAutonomyAfterJoanSemme…
  • Title
  • Intimacy-Autonomy, After Joan Semmel
  • Dimensions
  • Variable (40 x 60)
  • Materials
  • Digital image file
  • Object Location
  • Digital

  • Technical Notes

Location: Sands and Robin’s apartment (Swammerdamstraat). Photographer: self-shot. Shown in an ‘off Pride’ festival in Zürich, Switzerland in 2009.


  • Reflection Notes

From 27. April 2020 (WeTransfer notes): “7 images including the cat (Betsie) on the bed and Robin and my body are an homage series to Joan Semmel’s work ‘Intimacy-Autonomy’ from 1974. She has never seen them (Joan) and probably never will.” – SMW. From 24. March 2020 (in email exchange): “here are the images too (just found them) which were printed fairly large and hung in sequence… i think there was only one image of our former cat Betsie in the sun… … then the Eva Hesse book on the floor and then the three nude images of us in the sun on the bed… … .i am going to start making domestic images again especially now that we are stuck inside! (but with sun, thank goddess!); https://artschaft.com/2018/09/... THIS IS THE JOAN SEMMEL PAINTING IMAGE FROM MY BIRTH YEAR ‘INTIMACY/AUTONOMY’ WHICH I ADDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDORE AND WHICH WE ARE REFERRING TO IN THESE IMAGES :)” – SMW.

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Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 00455-2020-DN-PerduLetter
  • Title
  • Perdu Letter
  • Dimensions
  • 21 x 29.7
  • Materials
  • Color copy of typed letter with drawing and scent card
  • Object Location
  • Physical

  • Technical Notes

Created for ‘The dear…’ series initiated by Martha Jager in Spring 2020.

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Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 02254-c2015-TwA4-WithRobin
  • Title
  • With Robin
  • 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.
  • 02390-2008-VDoP-TownHall
  • Title
  • Town Hall Philosophical Living Color Drawing
  • Dimensions
  • Variable
  • Materials
  • Digital image file
  • Object Location
  • Digital

  • Technical Notes

Digital image taken from documentation of performance available on Vimeo at: https://vimeo.com/76554268. The performance an homage to Annie Sprinkle and Beth Stephens, as well as Carolee Schneemann, together with Robin Wassink-Murray. The title taken from video documentation of ‘Town Bloody Hall’ (1979) with Jill Johnston and others. Location: Schlachthaus Theatre (Bern, Switzerland). Colour; sound; 48:10 (unedited).


  • Reflection Notes

“Robin and I were in the hotel room when we told Carolee the title of the performance, and she said wryly ‘no one will ever get that.’” – SMW.

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Listings connecting to the keyword “Robin” (572)



Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 02212-c2015-TwA4-Boyfriend
  • Title
  • Boyfriend
  • 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.
  • 02244-c2015-TwA4-IKnowItsWrong
  • Title
  • I know it's wrong
  • 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.
  • 02276-c2015-TwA4-Grossmith
  • Title
  • Grossmith
  • Dimensions
  • 29.5 x 21
  • Materials
  • Gouache 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.
  • 02308-c2015-TwA4-IAmConvinced
  • Title
  • I am convinced
  • 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

Photographer: Robin Wassink-Murray

  • Catalog No.
  • 02392-2000/2021-PO-IstoryWillVindicateUs
  • Title
  • Istory Will Vindicate Us (Ana, Hannah, Carolee, Orlan)
  • Dimensions
  • 55 x 82
  • Materials
  • Color slide/Color print of digitized slide with liquid gloss
  • Object Location
  • Physical

  • Reflection Notes

“This was a centrepiece of the ‘In Good Company (Horsepower)’ exhibition at mistral. In fact, it was the origin point of the exhibition’s title. The photo is a digitized slide, and it was originally taken in 2000 by Robin when he and Sands met Carolee in Denmark for the opening of an exhibition on the body in art. They are standing in the gallery on Feminist art where Carolee’s work was featured. Behind them are works by Ana Mendieta, Hannah Wilke and Orlan. Sands always says he would have liked to have had a photo of Carolee and Hannah together (they were friends), but Carolee never managed to find one for him. This was the first time that Carolee and Robin had met, so the photo is a commemoration of many things.” – MH.

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Image of Studio object

Photographer: Robin Wassink-Murray

  • Catalog No.
  • 00108-2009-PSP-BigPumpkinSeries-007
  • Title
  • Big Pumpkin Series
  • Dimensions
  • Variable
  • Materials
  • Live action
  • Object Location
  • Digital

  • Technical Notes

Location: Moen Island, Denmark at Frederikke Hansen’s former house.

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Image of Studio object

Photographer: Robin Wassink-Murray

  • Catalog No.
  • 00140-2009-PSP-BigPumpkinSeries-039
  • Title
  • Big Pumpkin Series
  • Dimensions
  • Variable
  • Materials
  • Live action
  • Object Location
  • Digital

  • Technical Notes

Location: Moen Island, Denmark at Frederikke Hansen’s former house.


  • Reflection Notes

“Water evaporates and can be contained…” – SMW.

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Image of Studio object

Photographer: Robin Wassink-Murray

  • Catalog No.
  • 00172-2009-PSP-BigPumpkinSeries-071
  • Title
  • Big Pumpkin Series
  • Dimensions
  • Variable
  • Materials
  • Live action
  • Object Location
  • Digital

  • Technical Notes

Location: Moen Island, Denmark at Frederikke Hansen’s former house.

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Image of Studio object

Photographer: Robin Wassink-Murray

  • Catalog No.
  • 00472-2002-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.
  • 00504-2002-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.
  • 00564-2010-CP-WithSarahLucasInBrussels-10
  • Title
  • With Sarah Lucas in Brussels
  • Dimensions
  • Variable
  • Materials
  • Digital images to be printed as photographs
  • Object Location
  • Digital

  • Technical Notes

Location: Barbara Gladstone Gallery, Brussels, Belgium.


  • Reflection Notes

From 14. April 2020 (email exchange): “Sarah makes ‘bunnies’ (sculptures she calls… ) so the bunny ears are funny.” – SMW.

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Image of Studio object

Photographer: Robin Wassink-Murray

  • Catalog No.
  • 00596-2009-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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  • Catalog No.
  • 01184-1995-PSP-IdentityShots-015
  • Title
  • Identity Shots: Before Robin, After Hannah Wilke
  • Dimensions
  • 20 x 30
  • Materials
  • Black and white photo print
  • Object Location
  • Physical

  • Technical Notes

Edition of 60 performalist self-portraits self-shot with a timer by the artist and archivally stored with floral silk textile.

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Image of Studio object

  • Catalog No.
  • 01216-1995-PSP-IdentityShots-047
  • Title
  • Identity Shots: Before Robin, After Hannah Wilke
  • Dimensions
  • 20 x 30
  • Materials
  • Black and white photo print
  • Object Location
  • Physical

  • Technical Notes

Edition of 60 performalist self-portraits self-shot with a timer by the artist and archivally stored with floral silk textile.

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Image of Studio object

Photographer: Robin Wassink-Murray

  • Catalog No.
  • 01492-2020-DoP-ProcessEvent#1VALUE12
  • Title
  • Process Event #1: VALUE. What is trash? What is trashy but valuable?
  • Dimensions
  • Variable
  • Materials
  • Digital video file
  • Object Location
  • Digital

  • Technical Notes

In the opening process event of Murray-Wassink’s year-long guest residency at the Rijksakademie, the artist and collaborators (Amalia Calderón, Megan Hoetger, Radna Rumping) took stock of the artist’s oeuvre with guest Vivian van Saaze (Associate Professor of Conservation and Museum Studies at Maastricht University). Conversation focused on the tensions between productive and reproductive value in art objects, and the status of the art object in ‘the archive’. Friday 6 March 2020, 18.30-20.30hr, Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten, Sarphatistraat 470, 1018 GW Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

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