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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.
John Talks Joe
Lloyd Grove is editor at large for The Daily Beast. He is also a frequent contributor to New York magazine and was a contributing editor for Condé Nast Portfolio. He wrote a gossip column for the New York Daily News from 2003 to 2006. Prior to that, he wrote the Reliable Source column for the Washington Post, where he spent 23 years covering politics, the media, and other subjects.
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Arne Glimcher is the founder and chairman of the PaceWildenstein art gallery. He is also a published author, a film producer and a director, whose pictures include The Mambo Kings, Gorillas in the Mist, and Picasso & Braque Go to the Movies.
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Arne Glimcher is the founder and chairman of the PaceWildenstein art gallery. He is also a published author, a film producer and a director, whose pictures include The Mambo Kings, Gorillas in the Mist, and Picasso & Braque Go to the Movies.
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Arne Glimcher is the founder and chairman of the PaceWildenstein art gallery. He is also a published author, a film producer and a director, whose pictures include The Mambo Kings, Gorillas in the Mist, and Picasso & Braque Go to the Movies.
Unfortunately I learned more about Mr. Glimcher's need for attention than I learned anything new about the heretofore always interesting artist Lucas Samaras. And eavesdropping on two friends and business associates shooting the breeze is not what I hope to learn on TDB.
Tina, I know you and Arne are friends, but...really.
Thank you.
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