What's On: Lynn Hershman Leeson Issue #37

The director-multimedia artist says you should consider moving to Mexico

By Amy Westervelt
Published: September 1st, 2008 | 4:06pm

Known for multimedia installations and video art exhibits as well as feature films Teknolust and Conceiving Ada, Lynn Hershman Leeson most recently wrote and directed Strange Culture. Co-starring Tilda Swinton, the movie is an entertaining mix between documentary and feature film — the story is real but had to be portrayed by actors because the subject of the film is still awaiting trial for crimes he didn’t commit.

Leeson has been working on her next documentary, an ode to the feminist art movement, for more than 40 years. Her 350-odd hours of footage provided the foundation of Wack! A History of the Feminist Art Movement, which is making its way around the country’s museums. Neeson says she’s committed to finishing the film this year and that it took her so long because she was waiting for “a happy ending,” which she feels she’s just about got. “The prices for women’s art are still lower and we don’t have full equality, but it’s far better than it was,” she says.

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Venus Zine sat down with Neeson in her hometown of San Francisco to ask her about her favorite artists and films, greatest challenges, and the top five art-supporting countries (surprise, surprise, the U.S. is not included).

TOP FEMALE ARTISTS
“Emma Goldman, Penny Miller, Judy Chicago, Mary Schapiro, Martha Rosler — people who really fought to have their own vision, who didn’t compromise it, and who weren’t successful in their time. I don’t really like lists though. To me all of the female artists are heroes.”

TOP CHALLENGES
1. Making enough money to survive: “The ‘starving artist’ thing is a myth. If you’re struggling to keep the electricity on, it’s difficult to make art.”
2. Keeping your belief in yourself while you’re working alone and dealing with rejection: “It’s also draining to make art as your job. I’ve got nine shows this year, and most of them don’t have a budget, so it’s a struggle to make the work with no real financial support.”

TOP ART-SUPPORTING COUNTRIES
South America, Mexico, Germany, and England: “Really, everywhere else but here supports art.”

TOP FILMS
Nashville, Cecil B. Demented, and Raging Bull.

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