Gordon Holden operates at the crux of contradiction and corroboration, a point that occurs both expectedly and organically within collage, one of his preferred and most frequented modes. His manipulations of popular symbols and icons morph their ideologies for his own fluctuating purposes, which evolve and devolve swiftly and without abandon. While this approach isn’t revolutionary, Holden always manages to revitalize the subjects he chooses to imbue, resulting in both intellectual and perplexed pause within the viewer (or consumer, if you will). His additions and subversions range from slight (a penciled in mustache, an intentional typo or grammatical mistake) to significant (a cross broken and held together by a Band-Aid, an upside-down rendering of California’s “HOLLYWOOD” sign so that it reads “DOOM”), and it’s often hard to tell when his intentions are simply juvenile and when they’re more calculated and philosophical. But maybe that’s the point.
How do you describe what you do?
The most simple way to describe what I do is: I create things from a reflection of modern culture that i believe to be relevant, sometimes they’re humorous sometimes they’re not. I often change what I create or how I create it because it keeps things new, for sanity sake and to challenge myself. New ideas are progress. It’s about saying something. The big idea the big picture etc. etc…
How would you describe your work?
Oh I don’t know. I don’t really ever describe my work outside of its own context because the meaning it provokes exceeds my meaning. I can tell you about the process of specific pieces. If I had to make a broad generalization about my work as a whole, it would be that most of it all falls under the umbrella of made to be media, because once its on the internet, it’s media regardless of its intentions. I like to let how people perceive my work describe my work and sometimes I’ll just reiterate what someone else tells me its about because whatever they say it is about is what its about. There is that saying “the customer is always right.” I don’t always follow it, but it’s a good slogan.
Did the Internet really save your life?
The Internet is great. It makes everything everywhere more connected. I’m not exactly sure if it saved my life, but I’m sure it has done that for lots of people that have used match.com or eharmony.com. It is pathetic in the most awesome way if you ask me. You can be anything on the internet and get recognition for it, but it doesn’t necessarily reflect your immediate reality. Which is great because reality sucks.
I love how each piece delivers a message. Seems like you have a lot to teach us. What are three important things you’ve learned about life?
Thanks that’s a nice thing to say. I don’t know if I want to be a teacher though, because teachers can be so preachy, but the notion of learning can become an endless ride of stimulation and emotions if you seek it out. And that’s exciting. If there are three important things that I’ve learned, they are:
Do things you don’t necessarily want to do, until you really know you don’t want to do them because otherwise you might actually like it.
Try not to be judgmental or over-opinionated.
Wear sunscreen and…
you’re right, in the end I think it’s all about life.
Tell us about your shop.
The market shop is more of a performance piece in itself while still having the facade of an online store. I mean it is still an online store that you can buy things from but it has evolved over the period of time that its been operating. At first, it was strictly a place where I was trying to sell t-shirts that I made and be a brand, and I think the more you live with something the more your idea of it starts to change, otherwise you’ll get bored with it and you’ll leave it, or it will leave you. I can’t be exactly sure. Because regardless if i knew it or not, t-shirts are a great jumping off point. They have a sense of practicality, and pairing that with something that is ultimately very impractical (like conceptual art) seemed like the best thing to create. It’s a place where you can buy things, but you have to question what it is you are buying. Are you buying art? Are you buying the idea of the product or are you buying a product?
Is there only one moon rock beach ball?
Yes only one moon rock. Those things are really hard to come by. The moon is very far away, about 238,900 miles.
Artist Introduction by Justin Davis
Interview by Nasa Hadizadeh