Q & A WITH CODY BAYNE

Posted on May 20, 2011 by admin

Having been friends with Cody for a few years now, we’ve never talked candidly about his work and process. Initially getting to know him as a promoter and eventually client, it wasn’t until later that I came to know him as a painter. And though we’ve discussed art in general terms or compared notes on other artists, this is the first time I’ve gotten to get some insight of this side to him.

Where do you derive inspiration for your work?
It varies really.
About 4 years ago in Berlin I got really inspired by the tagged walls and graffitti upon practically every building. There is something about where the need to make marks upon a wall, and in a sense say “I am here, I exist.” I find the need for what i call the “immediacy of identity” the most interesting, and then the culture of painting over this mark by authorities just as interesting.

From my perspective, it’s as though saying you don’t exist…but that is something i have internalized.
Most of my external thoughts about my works are of my focus on color /shape/ form. I approach the work from a place where i am trying to create depth/space; dimension, almost sculptural thoughts or allow the work to offer the viewer a sense of something more to the right or left of the piece that isn’t there, but might be created in a viewer’s imagination as though the painting is a detail from a larger work. A fragment so to speak.
I’ll say that about most of the new work, but there are pieces with the simple intention of holding the viewer within the frame ..no pun intended.
I would like to mention I’m not a street artist per-say, however i do find a corollary between my work and what I experience in the world and what I see, albeit as simple a connection as using similar tools and methods in production and process.
I am facsinated by “immediacy.” By that, I mean the mark, the gesture, the action of painting /sculpting etc.
I like the challenge of being confronted with the consequences of taking that action in the work. The immediate effect and how it works or doesn’t work

What is your process?
Oh lord.
I like this quote from Cy Twombly.
“When I work, I work very fast, but preparing to work can take any length of time.” It fits me.
I use what materials I have or resources. To begin I contemplate…stare and attack is the best way to describe my method..haha.
..this new work is all worked upon canabalized canvas of previous painting of mine which sometimes I allow to remain as part of the new piece in fragments, or a suggestion of a prior life..and a few are on found canvas of other artists’ work which was very interesting too and a challenge, but honestly those pieces turned out the best, or at least my faves.
I think I spend alot of time watching paint dry and during that time I have a conversation about the work with my self…I might remove it from the studio and not look at it for a while…I take pictures so I get removed from “being in it.”

How do you know when a piece is done?
When the wine bottle is empty, lol.
I’ve had work done in minutes and others over a few years. I used to feel as though they are never done and reserved the right to return to the piece.
I read once about Louise Nevelson [who i quite admire] she would take pieces from a “finished work” and add to a new one at the frustration of her gallerists who might have been in process of selling the dismantled work. I love that, but now I find that when a piece is done there is a little voice in my head that says to me “done..walk away.” It really is a moment of letting go.

What other artists do you find compelling? Contemporary and classic?
Josh Smith
Joe Bradley
Basquiat
Sol Lewitt
Arnulf Rainer
Louise Nevelson
Franz West
Matthew Monahan
Ron Ehrlich
Cy Twombly
Robert Rauschenberg
Marina Abramović
David Park
Joan Mitchell
Hans Hoffman
Oh lord, I could just do this all night…seriously. Hundreds if not thousands all are in me, wait for a second I thought we were talking about my love life.
I must spend 10-15 hours a week just looking at art any way I can: internet, magazines, books, shows, blogs, this list could go on forever.

Anything else to say?
Well i have to admit this is one of the most personal shows i have done. The work is coming from a really honest place within. With previous shows, the work was honest but the pieces didn’t have as much personal resonance with me. Plus the sheer size of the show, with 20+ pieces ranging from 24″ x 24″ to 72″ x 48″; it’s got a lot of bang!!
i’m excited and as with anything when offering it out to the world, i feel a little anxious… hold me ;-D

UN[tit]LED opens tonight at (Sub)Urban Home – 101 West 5th Street Los Angeles, CA 90013-1417 – (213) 243-5881
Btw, we’re co-sponsoring the opening tonight, 7-10PM.