Kayode Ojo Interviewed in PIN-UP by Rafael De

Paris, Berlin, and then a show Kayode Ojo’s Class in New York that was reviewed most recent very well. I was included in exhibition in Act two different under-30 lists. Milan was in a It’s a lot to have found some- subterranean Artist Kayode Ojo’s sculp- thing that I don’t necessarily a p a r t m e n t with an indoor tural installations transform enjoy doing but that’s impor- pool, a ftting aspirational clothing and tant to do, and to be able to b a c k d r o p furniture into uncanny scenes. do it and be recognized for it! for the artist’s Wigs pour from champagne But there’s something unre- work which bottles. Pants hang upside down solved. If I knew why I was o f t e n from a music stand, the crotch making everything, that would deals with spilling glittering jewelry onto be a solved issue in my life. compli cated a mirror on the foor. Shiny For me, it’s a search, though n o t i o n s surfaces are used to distract I’m not exactly sure for of aspira- attention from the fact that what. tional luxury. these precariously assembled There’s this review by Cathy objects are all fakes — fast Horyn of one of Tom Ford’s fashion and design knockoffs frst shows for Yves Saint made to look glam. This Laurent after Gucci acquired past April, Manhattan-based it. I’m paraphrasing, but Ojo mounted a solo show basically it’s about how in Milan during Design Week, Tom Ford can never be as process doesn’t feel great. of Dynasty, I’ve always to do something like that which came right on the good a designer as Yves If I was someone who was been drawn to luxury with again? heels of exhibitions in Dallas, Saint Laurent because he’s very wealthy and never had to a capital L — a black-velvet It felt like this forensic crime Paris, Berlin, and New York. confdent, handsome, and work and was able to spend evening gown with a dia- scene. The setting — a room In the wake of this breakout everybody loves him. She six months thinking about an mond choker and long gloves, three stories underground with run, PIN–UP paired the says Tom Ford can never exhibition and afterwards a big fucking staircase, a marble pool — gave a differ- 29-year-old with one of his sift through the minutiae could go on vacation, maybe chandeliers, private planes, ent meaning to the work than fans, architect and designer because he doesn’t have it would be different. But marble! if it had been shown in a Rafael de Cárdenas, to to. my work is made to tear itself There was a summer gallery. discuss luxury, success, dis- There are two types of apart. It’s not something I went home to Tennessee Apparently that underground comfort, and object-driven artists. There are people who that’s going to make anyone and watched all these space was Giorgio Armani’s storytelling. Just love working, love what (2018). Courtesy the artist and Martos Gallery, New York. feel super confdent about seasons of Dynasty on frst atelier. I was like, “Holy they’re doing, and want to themselves. YouTube. shit!” And there is something Rafael de Cárdenas: I’m Just share it with everybody. And House Call House Do you think the obJects If you look carefully at the really dark about it. One day, going to be honest. I didn’t then there are people who in your sculptures are fght scenes, Linda Evans this guy was down there prepare questions. Time is are extract ing things out of beau tiful? and Joan Collins are talking about how Milan is valuable. themselves in order to exhibit It’s an 80s idea of what’s played by six-and-a-half- the center of murder and Kayode Ojo: Are you neg- them. There’s a little bit of attractive. Now luxury foot-tall guys wearing prostitution. I’m three foors g ing me? I actually thought satisfaction, but it’s not always is this minimalism type of wigs and punching each underground and thinking, maybe I should prepare. so comfortable for them. thing. other. “Am I going to make it back I called a bookstore trying I think that my pleasure is a You could make the argu- Wow! Throwing someone up?” to get your book. I thought, very small moment, and ment that rich people have through a coffee table I thought that space should I look at this thing it really is only the last day never been less aspira- does seem like a lot for Joan was so sinister and that’s before I speak to this of install. The rest of the tional.Growing up in the era Collins to handle. Some- why I’m bringing up person? S h i n y times I think about how if, this idea of the crime No, I’m asking you questions! tive of the bracelet. The idea is, you don’t take it off. But faux fur. Faux is better than at an opening, a kid or a dog scene. And I feel like we know some- is that you go to the store, also the bracelet introduces real, because PETA won’t surfaces and o b j e c t s — or a drunk person knocked Well the logic of my work is thing about one another already. your partner buys it for you, this idea of real and fake. come after you. But then if from home over my work and something about evidence, a trace of I mean, you came to my and they screw you into it. What’s happening between it’s faux, it’s really bad for the and fashion broke, it’d be a shame, but something that’s happened. birthday. Liz Taylor and Richard Burton price and quality in fashion environment. And if you go accessories it would still look pretty good I put on everything at least But this is the frst time we’ve did it. All my sculptures is really insane — I think somewhere wearing fake fur, to sex toys destroyed. once before I use it in a sculp- hung out in New York isn’t it? that include the bracelet were sometimes it must actually be it’s like, “She’s cheap.” So it’s — are key I was very impressed by ture. It’s this idea of the history I only see you in Paris, which made after a conversation the fetish of spending money come all the way back round (2019). Giardino Segreto, Milan. Courtesy the artist and Giardino Segreto, Milan; Bottom left: elements of the house where you staged that I have with an obJect, sounds so bougie but it’s I had with someone who was that makes people buy these to people thinking real fur Kayode Ojo’s your Milan show [You and a crime scene is about true. married and clearly cheat- things. I defnitely think about is better now — but recycled r e a d y m a d e dressed him like me?, curated obJects having a history. But Are you wearing a Cartier Love ing on his wife — the guy was knockoff culture. A lot of the fur. s c u l p t u r e s . by Gea Politi and Cristiano then, what’s the history of a Portrait by bracelet? wearing one of these Love clothing I use in my work is Do you feel successful? I’m Seganfreddo]. knockoff from Zara or Nasty You dressed him like me? Sangwoo Suh Yes. I’ve used these in my bracelets, and I thought it was fast fashion or e-commerce. curious. I couldn’t believe it! When Gal? for PIN–UP. work before. But this one’s so interesting because I like to complicate the hier- Last year was really insane. am I going to get the chance — Rafael de Cárdenas fake. I really like the narra- it’s like a shackle. The point archy of real and fake. Take I had solo shows in Dallas, imagesPortraitPIN–UP.WorkcourtesySangwoofor Suh artistby the Martos and York. Gallery,New Top right: 68 PIN–UP BOARD.

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