KALTBLUT-HONK! 03 The Divas

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ZACHARI LOGAN
I have- and still do use my body as a catalyst for this
work, both because I am much more comfortable with
posing my own body the ways in which I want it, and
secondly it eliminates the power dynamic which exist
between model and artist (a dialogue I am not interested
in, except for the narrative base that using myself as
both artist and model creates.) Strangely, the continual
use of myself as subject is what people most often react
to negatively. This aspect of narcissism which is
clearly evident in my work can be found in every artist
I believe... in a less transparent way maybe, but I don’t
look at self-reflection necessarily as a bad thing. This
type of repetition sets up a timescape where I can
converse with aspects of myself and projections which
evolve a self-anxious, self-reflective internal dialogue
that is neither linear nor is it often rational. I am finding
a shift within my current work which is becoming
much more specific to my own life and experiences.
Work that is potentially much more revealing- ironically,
as within some of this new work- I appear to
have more clothing on...
HONK!: Zachari , we really like your paintings. when did
you find out that you want be a painter?
Zachary: Well, for as long as I can remember- I have
been working visually. Talking came slow to me as a
child and reading even slower, as it was discovered
when I was six that I was severely dyslexic... so communicating
visually became a very palpable way for me
to express myself.
You are a very good looking man and it is great to see
you on your paintings. What is the meaning behind
painting yourself? Are you a Narcissist?
If people have an inkling that I draw and paint my own
image because I am attracted to myself sexually- and
this is my sole endeavour in relation to self-reflexive
imagery- they would be mistaken. The use of my own
body as subject to set up glyphic gestures was initially a
way to express critical thoughts about masculinity both
as it has been posed historically in the visual arts and
how society still clings to these heterosexist constructions
in contemporary society. My body as a type is
one that has historically been used by artists to express
masculine bravado and superiority, my aim is to undermine
that myth, returning a more vulnerable gaze,
exposing the male body as a subjective being, as human-
as opposed to a spectacle of stereotypic notions.
There is always some nudity involved in your work. I am
pretty sure there are men and girls out there..seeing you
as a sexobject. How do you handle this?
Well, this was partially answered in the previous question...
however what I will say about the nudity in my
work, is that I have no control over how people will
interpret it- nor should I... a viewers conceptions about
me or my intentions for this work are clearly based on
thier own state of mind, they tend to reveal more about
themselves than they do about me upon reacting to
the work- that is a testament to the power of art, and it
usually can only be successful if it’s concept is maliable.
We are all sexual creatures... that being said- I don’t
ever aim to be a sex object or symbol- I find that type
of reaction to my work as simplistic at best. My body
is how I express political metaphor about my life as a
queer man married to another man, as a sexual being
and as a vulnerable subject- no different than anyone
else in many respects... this work aims at revealing the
normalcy of desire- and I don’t just mean capital D
desire, I mean the need to express difference and the to
have the visibility to exist among a majority that continually
projects objection to my choice... which ends
up often manifesting itself as a series of solitary domestic
portrayals. Sometimes the work references
established art-historical and/or literary works and
sometimes it simply refers back to previous work I
have made, evolving an already established narrative.
How do you start with a new painting? Do you photograph
yourself before? Or how do you do it?