'Fluff War' and 'Wildlife' are on view through June 15, 2019 at Anton Kern Gallery. All images courtesy the gallery. Lead image: 'Untitled (Exhibition of Dust)' David Shrigley.
You just got back from Mexico, how was it?
It was nice man, I truly love that city. Besides the food and the environment, there's a lot of history in Mexico. We usually go to coastal towns which is relaxing, but it was nice to go to see the history. Recently I have been really fascinated with advanced ancient civilizations. Particularly the ones in Africa that have been erased from history. In Mexico, it was similar to what people did when the Spanish and French came to the Caribbean and colonized it, the Spanish came and knocked down pyramids in the city just to build cathedrals. To insert their culture in and erase the culture that was existing there. That concept has really fascinated me.
Your work pulls a lot from Haitian culture and cultures from the past, how has that reflected in your work as you evolve as an artist?
The last year I have been really focused the carrying of traditions. Particularly with Haiti through the slave trade. Haiti, out of all the West Indian countries, have held on to a lot of traditions. Coming from the western coast of Africa they have deeply rooted cultural and religious traditions that have stayed true. They had a revolution that changed the platform powered by the rebellious nature in them to hold on to traditions. Seeing that and hearing about the erasure of culture and its effect particularly in Haiti, I have been thinking about it a lot more recently while making work.
Do you see similarities with this effect of cultural upheaval in NYC as well?
Yeah, I see the similarities of ripping out old communities. Kind of the way things go these days, modernization.
You have a new solo show coming up soon next year?
Yeah with a gallery in Miami called Jupiter Contemporary. I've been working on bronze sculptures, they are really honest to my style with figurative abstract figures. I'm still working on exactly what the show concept will be but I do know I'm trying to push myself into the abstract realm. I feel like I've been trapped up in the figurative realm the past few year. I think it has been a very popular concept, particularly minority figurative, but I feel like I got lost, influenced into it a way, but I'm trying to get back to my roots which is more abstraction.
Do you feel that working with sculptures rather than painting is allowing you to bring yourself more into abstraction?
Those are going to be very abstract, you can see the formations of the body in the works, but they are so abstract, I think the paint is what will bring the human elements into it. Its nice to kind of, you know, exercise that side of the mind. For some reason working the 3D realm is always hard for me to wrap my mind around. From the beginning, painting is somewhat 2D working with a canvas, now with the sculptures its forcing me to work outside of the form of the canvas. Different elements, like how the canvas hangs, or hanging something on to the canvas, brings a 3D aspect. This exercise of sculptures has allowed for progression.
Art is that channel finding a way to process the difference and seeing what connects us all. Theres so many more places I need to travel to that I think will put some of the pieces together for me. The west coast of Africa, hopefully that can answer some feelings.
You moved into a new studio recently, previously you were working in your apartment, how has that evolved your work?
I think it has given my work enough time to breath and have its own natural occurrences. I think being at home with my work, it was an unhealthy obsession. Now leaving the work in its own space and letting it breath, not having it right in your face, maybe I was rushing it before. Sometimes your piece may need a month or two to not even be looked at. Here I can put paintings away and allow them to have their moment. The balance is key for me, with the new space I can kind of, like, mess up and not worry about getting my deposit back from my apartment. The amount of times I've used Dr. Bronner's to scrub my fiancee's dresses cause I got paint on them, haha, but she's a trooper man, she's been with me through it all.
What are you most excited for in the coming years as you head towards your gallery?
I would say, unlocking or finding the comfort in pushing the abstraction. Its going to take some courage, naturally I am drawn to the figurative because it makes sense, but ya know, the biggest thing I'm looking forward to is my time off. With the art, things are planned out years in advance, but right now I only have a few months in the next few years that are off. I've been enjoying that a lot and that been the most impactful to my work. Whenever I come back from time off, I have the best flow and productions.
Also, making work for myself. This year was my year making works for myself. Its scary, you have to be honest with yourself but it's important. You can make pieces, they sell, they go to different places, but you hope people care as much as you do. For me, I just want to continue making it for myself and if people enjoy it, the pieces will find their way to the right hands.
For Art Dubai 2023, Boudet presented two new sculptures Explosion, 2023 and Pressure, 2023, which pay tribute to the iconic Merecedes G Wagon, the most popular car in Dubai. The sculptures explore the concepts of accumulation and compression, drawing on Boudet's other passion for basketball and the iconic AMG logo. Both sculptures were produced locally in Dubai and play with logos in a way that references the bootleg culture prevalent in the city.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase my sculptures in Dubai, a city that has inspired me for years,” said Boudet. “The Mercedes G Wagon is an iconic symbol of the car culture in Dubai, and I wanted to pay tribute to it with my artwork.”
