As Stated, imagines a mix of elements and structures such as that which forms the artisanal craft of the ‘artists statement’. As a form of art writing coupled with the notion of visual aesthetics, ‘statements’ combine classical styles, mass-produced art texts, textual design, industrialism, lyrical imagery, minimalism and poetic forms. 

There is an absurdity to such a long and varied list, particularly when it’s coupled with our digital age. It’s this absurdity that is being explored in this collection of anonymous autonomous textual statements. 

Presenting 100+ textual scores relating mostly but not exclusively to painting and sculpture (by curators & contemporary artists), The unreal nature of the ‘artist statement’ is critiqued here through its use of ubiquitous art language that speaks of the individual, yet beholds an imaginary vernacular of universal verbalisms rife in contemporary practices, further excavating the wide spread development of ‘IAE’ International Art English. 

While this collection humorously juxtaposes various confounding elements, the publication ultimately highlights the tradition of art making, artistic statements, and the associations we make between past and present.

Taking its cues from unknown artworks, known only to the artist “_____ As Stated considers key figures in art movements, their work, and in much artwork in general, “there is tension between nature and culture, which (art)I have drawn from,” explains the artist. “I found this idea useful when thinking about the structures, both physical and philosophical, that have constructed art history.”

While the work seeks to both invoke and rethink art making and its structures, the ‘statement’ is also deeply connected to how we apprehend artworks digitally, as well as the blurred lines between image and reality. “I feel a bit like I have image fatigue,” says the artist. “We process so many images on a daily basis, mostly through the interface of a screen. I wanted to make an exhibition that focuses on materiality and space.”

Yet this focus on materiality doesn’t necessarily heighten an awareness of physicality over the cerebral. Rather, as the curator points out, “It gives viewers the opportunity to think about aspects of the physical world more intentionally. I guess this is similar to the conceptual intent behind Minimalism, but has different implications in the virtual contemporary.”

Finally the collection of texts also seeks to draw on the historical and social traces of the artist. As _____  explains, “I was thinking about the idea of the Renaissance artist being at once a sculptor, a painter, an architect, a poet, and so on. I’ve drawn on this idea and worked with contemporary artists who are ‘interdisciplinarily’ all of these things.”