In her Tampa studio, Mernet Larsen "just wants to make good old-fashioned paintings of people and things."
Since the 1960s, Larsen has strived to defamiliarize the viewer’s relationship to the painting space. Larsen’s ‘people and things’ are familiar, whilst eschewing conventional rules of depiction — what one would expect to be close appears far away. Through close study of 11th-century Chinese painting traditions, 12th-century Japanese narrative emaki, Turkish and Indian miniatures, and the work of Russian Constructivists, Larsen found compelling alternatives to hegemonized Western linear perspective. Larsen’s works will be presented by James Cohan as part of the ’Studio’ section at Frieze Masters 2024. The section will feature ten immersive presentations focusing on artists’ place of making, reflecting the idea that the art of the past informs the present moment of creation.
Larsen’s works will be presented by James Cohan as part of the ’Studio’ section at Frieze Masters 2024. The section will feature ten immersive presentations focusing on artists’ place of making, reflecting the idea that the art of the past informs the present moment of creation. Studio will be on view from October 9 through October 13, 2024.
Segments of Mernet Larsen’s interview audio are taken from 'James Cohan Features: Mernet Larsen,' courtesy of James Cohan Gallery and Sunset People Productions. Footage courtesy of Christopher Harris.
