Lucas Samaras Plays Hard to Get

Jim Wilson, New York Times Co. / Getty Images American artist Lucas Samaras is representing his native Greece at this year’s Biennale. In this intimate interview with his longtime art dealer Arne Glimcher, Samaras discusses why he doesn’t want to go to Venice, getting famous artists to pose nude for him, and what he’s working on next.

In 1963, I moved the Pace gallery from Boston to New York and shortly thereafter, in 1966, Lucas Samaras became affiliated with us. Over the years, we have presented 30 shows and each time Samaras, the chameleon, reinvents himself. Just before leaving for Venice to attend the 53rd Biennale—where Samaras will represent his native Greece in Paraxena, a show of videos, photographs, and one of his signature mirrored structures—we spoke on the telephone.

Lucas Samaras: I can’t hear you.

“As I get older, I put more focus in my work, I’m more protective of it, even of the making it, and then I get more insulted if somebody doesn’t react.”

Arne Glimcher: You can’t hear me—are you deaf?

Not yet. Plug your machine somewhere in your office.

I’m going to plug it into you.

I have no orifices for your needs.

You have no orifices? I think you have orifices all over the place or else how could you have done what you’ve done? Come to Venice….

No.

...he said, pleadingly.

No, I’m not. My back is awful.

I think that’s bullshit. You should have an injection up your back. Come to Venice. I’ll give you anything you want.

Like what

I’ll give you candy.

I’m allergic to candy.

I’ll give you a massage.

I’m not a cheap fuck.

Woooo. I thought you were. What would you like? How could I get you to come to Venice?

I’m not coming. You can send…

The French Foreign Legion?

No, a video setup. But I’m not coming.

Would you do a live video?

Live, that’s what I mean.