Janine Antoni: Milagros | Art21 "Extended Play"

Janine Antoni: Milagros

In this section, Janine Antoni discusses her artwork "Milagros" and the inspiration behind it.

The Concept of Grafting

• Janine Antoni explains that the idea behind her work is grafting, which is the process of fusing one plant to another.

• She draws inspiration from "milagros," small medallions found in Portugal, Spain, Mexico, and Brazil. These milagros are often shaped like body parts and used for healing purposes.

• Antoni is particularly fascinated by the more generalized milagros that can represent anyone's body part.

Creating the Artwork

• Antoni starts with specific pairings or gestures that interest her and then transforms them into milagros.

• The pieces are meticulously sanded to give them a weathered appearance, reminiscent of sea glass in the ocean.

• The artist emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the severance when cutting up body parts for her artwork.

Installation and Symbolism

• The installation begins with a dramatic severance that ascends into the ceiling, symbolizing the significance of severing in Antoni's work.

• Initially, she planned to hang roots from the ceiling and attach milagros to them. However, she ultimately grafts a trunk to the building itself and extends it through the ceiling onto a table on the second floor where milagros are displayed.

Janine Antoni: Milagros

In this section, Janine Antoni shares a personal childhood memory that influenced her artwork.

Auntie Eileen's Tea Time

• As a child, Janine Antoni had an English aunt named Auntie Eileen who would visit every Tuesday for tea.

• During these tea sessions, Auntie Eileen taught young Janine how to drink tea like a lady, including crossing her legs.

• Antoni incorporates this memory into her artwork by fusing the bone from one leg with the skin of the other leg, symbolizing the impossibility of uncrossing her legs.

Janine Antoni: Milagros

In this section, Janine Antoni reflects on the process of making art and its healing nature.

Making Art as Healing

• For Janine Antoni, creating art is a form of healing that allows her to connect with others and her environment.

• She believes that when someone resonates with her work, it can have a profound impact on them.

Encouraging Imagination

• Antoni wants viewers to imagine how her artwork is made when standing in front of it.

• She highlights that we often interact with objects without knowing their origins or how they were created.

These are the main points covered in the transcript.