Welcome to Kunst Speak with Brask. In this podcast, we explore the world of art through the eyes of passionate art enthusiasts based in Los Angeles and New York. Together with art collector, publisher, and curator Jens-Peter Brask, we uncover inspiring perspectives, captivating stories, and memorable anecdotes from the art world. Our mission is to spark curiosity and encourage more people to connect with and appreciate art in all its forms. Join us as we embark on this creative journey together. In this episode, we speak with Banks Violette, an American visual artist based in Ithaca, New York. Banks is best known for his large-scale, monochromatic sculptures and installations, often made from industrial materials. His work has always had a strong physical presence, but beneath the polished and refined surfaces, there is often something darker and more unsettling. His practice draws on real-life events, music, metal and punk subcultures, as well as themes of destruction, mortality, and tragedy. During the 2000s, Banks was based in Brooklyn and became one of the most talked-about artists of his generation. His work was shown extensively, and he was part of a very active period in the New York art scene. But around 2012, he returned to Ithaca, where he grew up, and gradually stepped away from exhibiting new work.For almost ten years, Banks didn't show new work publicly. He essentially disappeared from the art world and chose to work privately, away from the pressure and expectations that come with exhibiting. It’s a decision that raises a lot of questions, especially considering how active and successful his career had been before that. It has also been about ten years since I last saw Banks. So in this conversation, we talk about what happened during those years, what led him to step away from exhibiting, and what it meant for him to leave the art world behind for a while. We also talk about how he creates his sculptures - from the initial idea and the choice of materials to the highly complex processes involved in bringing them into existence. Banks has a very particular way of working, and we go into the details of his process, his relationship with materials, and the craftsmanship behind the work. But the conversation is also about much more than the objects themselves. We talk about making art, the pressure of being an artist, success, expectations, and what happens when you decide to step away from all of it. We talk about what it means to continue making work when there is no immediate need to show it, and how taking a long break from exhibiting can change the way you think about your own practice. After ten years, it was interesting to sit down with Banks again and hear what has changed, what has stayed the same, and where he is now in his life and his work. You can find Kunst Speak with Brask on Spotify and everywhere else you normally listen to podcasts. If you enjoy the series, feel free to give us a few stars! Tune in. @curatedbyjenspeterbrask @banks_violette_616
