Robin Birdd GENTRIFRIED Interview
SKC: Who are you and what do you do? Robin Birdd: My name is Robin Birdd and I am an installation artist from the Bay Area.
SKC: Tell me a little about your installation at the luggage Store right now.. RB: My installation at the Luggage Store Gallery is called “Googoogagaaa”. This piece is associated with a larger series of work called “Babies Making Babies”. The installation is comprised of over 70 boobs of different shapes, textures and sizes made from various cotton fabrics. “Googoogagaaa” is inspired by a personal memory.
As a child, I was afraid of the dark, but more specifically scared of the dark mysteries under my parents bathroom sink. Amongst the miscellaneous items tucked away, I discovered two objects that terrified me; one, a Halloween mask and two, a gigantic boob shaped mug that allowed you to drink out the nipple. My immediate reaction to the second discovery was “why would anyone want to drink out of a boob!!!?”
My dad was a boob guy, and was the proud owner of the boob memorabilia. He would speak highly of Hollywood stars like Little Kim in her shell top bikini while making very different comments about how big his mama’s (my grandma’s) breast were because she had 12 kids and lived on a farm. As a young girl all I wanted was boobs. This desire became really complicated when I discovered for the first time that a woman’s body part could be objectified while having the capabilities of feeding a family of 12. I was confused.
SKC: What does Gentrifried mean to you? RB: Gentrification is nothing new to San Francisco and the Bay Area. South of Market for instance, has been repeatedly gentrified and still continues to be gentrified from redevelopers who want to build skyscraper apartments on top of communities that can’t afford to live in those skyscrapers. The term “gentrifried” to me is an exaggerated form of the word “gentrified”, symbolizing a sort of “fuck you” or rather a middle finger to gentrification. The “gentrifried” exhibition looks into our lives as young artist living in a generation where gentrification has become so relevant.
SKC: Have you always worked in fabric? RB: No, I have not always worked with fabric. I enjoy working with a variety of mediums from paint, paper and found objects. I’m more interested in transforming spaces with the use of whatever materials I can find.
SKC: Do you have any other mediums you work with? RB: I started off as a painter working with all types of paints & oils. Eventually, I got kind of bored from the repetitiveness involved in painting. One day, I was daydreaming about my childhood memories of creating cardboard forts and magic potions from expired shampoo. From this thought, I rediscovered my love for transforming spaces through the use of random objects. Installation art opened up a whole new world of possibilities. Although I still really love painting, I don’t want to limit myself to a canvas or wall as basis of my work.
SKC: How long have you been doing large scale installation work? RB: I’ve been working on large scale installations for over 6 years now.
SKC: Is there an underlying theme in your current works? RB: Yes, my overall series of work is called “Babies Making Babies”. This series explores the big question of “why adults are the way they are?” through the realization that everyone was once a strange baby. Think about it, the things we learned from those who’ve raised us were once babies. Our mamas were once babies and our daddy’s daddy’s were also once babies. “Babies Making Babies” is a sarcastic commentary on the forgotten childhood memories of play, discovery and trauma.
SKC: What is the connection to the feminine form in your body of work? RB: I have boobs.. and boobs are weird, beautiful and useful all at the same time. (Refer to answer # 2 for more details)
SKC: Who are some of your influences? RB: I am really interested in the work of Ernesto Neto. He is an installation artist from Brazil who works on large-scale interactive pieces. His work is very minimal, yet has the power to evoke emotions through touch and play.
SKC: What draws you to installation based works? RB: I want to be able to transport people, take them away from their 9-5 job, for even a couple minutes of their routine lives. I have this desire to change mundane spaces into alternate realms through installation base work.
SKC: How was the Gentrifried install and exhibit ? RB: When the artist’s were finally done installing and the ladders were all put away I finally had the chance to step back and really feel the work in its entirety. I came to realize how much each artist’s work really reflects and transcends each other. Yarrow did an amazing job curating work that was both simultaneously playful and serious at the same time.
SKC: Do you feel it was well received? RB: Yes, I definitely feel “Googoogaagaaa” was well received. I wanted people to be connected and conflicted at the same time. People felt uncomfortable around so many breasts but also comforted by the childlike environment of puzzle place mats, basketball court and toy blocks. It was awesome to see the faces of people walking up to a pile of boobs. I saw a lot of genuine smiles, the type of giggly faces kids have when they talk about boobs for the first time.
SKC: Whats next for Robin Birdd? RB:“Googoogagaa” is the first install to my adult play-structure series. My next installation will focus on expanding this notion of play and exploration. Unfortunately, I can’t give anything away, so you’ll just have to wait and see what this future piece will focus on… who knows maybe it’ll involve dicks or something LOL.
SKC: Is there anything else you would like to say? RB: Have a TITacular day.. and fuck gentrification!
Interviewed by SKC Saturday, Feb 20th 2016