We live in a society that amplifies and divides its’ population into varied, and at times extreme, political, religious and socially defined ideological tribes. Artist and activist Dan Luedtke works in a realm that challenges the concepts of stable identity formations in his sonic and visual art practice. Recently, Luedtke was able to take pause and chat with The COMP Magazine about his recent spring exhibitions, navigating a conceptual framework intuitively, and contrasting notions of abstraction and protest.
Dan Luedtke, “Cracks and Seams on Blackened Windows Brought to Your Feet Eclipsing Sky Blue ” (panel 3 of 6) – 96” X 80” – Wood, Black Fabric, Blue Terrycloth Towels, Foamcore, Resin and Ink, 2015
Lets start with some of the ideas you are investigating. Do you have a specific philosophy or conceptual ideas you are cultivating?
I have a very fluid process that is equally conceptual as it is intuitively formal. I would say my work is very much about working against the concept and authority of stable identity formations. I use formal and narrative means to break apart the associations of a particular medium, material, reference to the body or social hierarchy. Lately, ideas of dissidence, difference and negativity have provided a very open framework to attach some of my working methods to. I might create an image that is a direct reference to ideas of protest, or make a painting of abstract shapes derived from inverting positive and negative forms in a photograph, or create a sculpture that literally blocks the doorway in an exhibition space. These are all strategies that surround and relate to political frameworks that create difference / outsiders / others.
Dan Luedtke, “Remake the Braid to Trace the Picture” – (Part 1) Framed Collage with Foam Board, Resin, Ink and Animation Clay – (2nd Part) Foam Board, Resin, Ink, Animation Clay and Glazed Ceramic attached directly to gallery wall –
41” X 13”, 2015
You’ve been rather busy lately. You have two shows that recently opened. One at the Comfort Station and another at Roots & Culture. Would you mind giving us an overview of the work you prepared for the exhibit “Spine Crack Transfigure” at R&C?
For Spine, Crack, Transfigure I started thinking about painting a lot. I am relatively new to traditional painting methods although painterly aspects run through my other work. I used the processes of printmaking and material investigations in sculpture to help become more comfortable with painting. One painting was made from a surface of an element from a previous sculpture, that I skinned off and glued to the canvas. Another painting was derived from collaged paper with tracings of previous sketches of unrealized projects, and the third painting depicted a strange library scene with one person sitting next to a closed book. For all of these I was trying to depict how unrealized thoughts, ideas and projects create an emotional sense of lack. What affect does an unrealized idea have? I also included some floor panels that were stretched with black fabric and sized to be the same dimensions as the windows of the entryway of Roots and Culture. On these panels I placed shaped pieces derived from photos of cracks and seams made from foam core, with several applications of colored resin have the affect of looking like ceramic or glass. There were a few more pieces, but I don’t want to go on and on…just go see the show! My work is on display with another Tennessee based painter named Ben Seamons.
Dan Luetke, “E-Touch” – Glazed Ceramic and Animation Clay – 18” X 27”, 2015
You make music also. Is there any overlap in this aesthetic practice and the areas you are currently investigating visually?
How could there not be? 😉 😉 As with my visual work, I try to take aspects of traditional song structures and play with them a bit. In my current band WAGE (a synth and drums duo that I play with Ana Raba), I might use lyrics to describe ideas that I’m thinking through visually, or as a way to state political views in a different way than I do in my visual work.
Dan Luedtke, “Sitting Beside A Closed Book” – Paper, Watercolor, Gouache, Resin, Ink on Canvas – 32” X 40”, 2015
I value that art making gives me the space to take my own ideas seriously. I think the slowness, tediousness and specificity that it takes in order to make a piece of art that is interesting to myself and anyone who sees it creates a solitary space for me to ask myself really hard questions. Who am i? Why am I doing this? What is at stake? Why do I care? Why is this important? All the time and effort helps me answer those questions in a way that I feel is sincere and thought-out. I can then relate to the world knowing that I have made something that illustrates my views…as abstract, or as crazy as those views might be.
Dan Luedtke, “Tracing Thumbnails” – Oil Paint, Paper, Pencil, Toner, Resin on Canvas – 10” X 14”, 2015
You’re now teaching drawing and painting regularly. What elements or items do you hope to instill in you students?
Painting and Drawing are very slow, methodical processes. I hope to help my students take the time to SERIOUSLY LOOK at images, and the choices they make in creating work. We don’t often get the chance to slow down our breakneck speed of life to be able to dissect and observe patiently, so I try to create a space to do that. Creating images is a political act. I hope to help students realize that creating things by hand is a means of slowing down time, to take and use that time to believe in their own ideas and methodology.
What are you plans for the rest of 2015? Do you have any upcoming exhibitions, travel or other items on the docket?
This summer I’ll be running the screen-printing shop at ACRE residency, playing some shows and recording music with my band WAGE, working on my next short film, and after a small show in Des Moines Iowa in May I will be free to work in the studio to paint…So I’m very excited about that.
To view additional work by Dan Luedtke, please visit:
Dan Luedtke: http://dnml.org/
Roots & Culture – Spine, Crack, Transfigure: New work by Daniel Luedtke & Ben Seamons: http://www.rootsandculturecac.org/show/?id=97
Dan Luedtke, artist and musician, Joliet, IL, 2013
Interview and portrait by Chester Alamo-Costello
