Joan Jonas on Joan Jonas: Works 1968–1994

Interview

Joan Jonas on Joan Jonas: Works 1968–1994 at the Stedelijk Museum interviewed by Barbara Clausen and Kristin Poor, September 16, 2019.

Transcript

• “Joan Jonas on Joan Jonas: Works 1968–1994 at the Stedelijk Museum, interviewed by Barbara Clausen and Kristin Poor, September 16, 2019 (Interview Transcript).” Joan Jonas Knowledge Base, Artist Archives Initiative, 2021.

Abstract

The interview begins with Poor and Clausen asking Jonas how she met Dorine Mignot, the curator of the 1994 exhibition. Jonas speaks about meeting Mignot in the late 1970s, but also about her time living in Amsterdam [00:33–04:32]. This evolves into Jonas talking about the thought process of the exhibition [3:40–05:46]. From [06:03–06:49] Jonas describes the types of changes she made in the space once she arrived in Amsterdam for the show’s installation. Poor asks the artist how she thinks this exhibition was different from prior exhibitions [06:55–10:07]. The three women talk about the five new installations that were based on Jonas’s previous works and the different rooms of the show [10:08–14:34]. The interview moves towards Jonas speaking about how she chose these works for the exhibition and what she wanted the viewer to experience [14:41–17:38]. Jonas then begins to talk about Mirage and how this was the first version of the piece as an installation [17:40–19:27]. Next she talks about The Juniper Tree [19:28–21:24] and Volcano Saga [21:25–24:12]. The last room in the show housed Revolted by the Thought of Known Places â€¦ Sweeney Astray: from [24:12–28:04] Jonas goes into depth on the creation of this work. The conversation switches to the different technicians and other people that the artist worked with in the museum or in Amsterdam that were important for her at that time [28:33–29:54]. Poor and Jonas speak about the Choreomania wall that was in the first gallery [30:37–30:58]. Afterwards, Clausen asks Jonas what she remembers about the programming in conjunction with the exhibition. She further inquires if performances were presented [31:02–31:32] and if there were any themes or threads throughout the show [31:43–34:48]. Jonas comments on the catalogue for the exhibition, which she particularly likes, and other publications [34:52–37:35]. The artist mentions that …Sweeney Astray was done in collaboration with the Toneelgroep theater group and shares her thoughts on the process [37:35–38:59]. Poor and Clausen then ask Jonas if she thinks it is important to be aware of the history of how her works were exhibited [39:04–39:49]. Looking back on the exhibition, Jonas shares some thoughts on how it was a turning point for her [40:07–42:51]. The interview ends with Jonas providing the names of some people the Joan Jonas Knowledge Base team should look into [42:53–43:44].