Painter and filmmaker Sarah Morris reveals how Abu Dhabi inspired her latest film
Sarah Morris might be the most famous artist you’ve never heard of. Her work is collected by leading museums including London’s Tate Modern, the Centre Pompidou in Paris and New York’s Museum of Modern Art, and she was one of a handful of artists commissioned to design the official posters for the 2012 Olympic Games.
And yet—in Asia, at least—her name hasn’t entered the public consciousness. But that might be about to change. In March this year, the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing opened Sarah Morris: Odysseus Factor, an exhibition that features all 14 of her film works and a selection of her brightly-coloured geometric paintings.
And now, on May 25, White Cube in Hong Kong is opening Sarah Morris: Your Words Become Mine. Before the show opens, Morris tells us why she finds Abu Dhabi to be like something out of a science-fiction film and why words are so important.
Lots of your work over the years—both your films and your paintings—have been inspired by cities. Many of your films are even named after particular cities. What is it that fascinates you about cities?
I suppose I’m very curious and I love travelling, and the films are sort of an excuse to travel. Andy Warhol always said Interview magazine was an excuse to have conversations with people, which I think is funny.
The films are part manifesto, part studies of many subjects, including architecture, but they’re also a chance to learn about something new that’s outside of my immediate situation. Cities might seem very similar, but they all have their own histories, industries, politics and aesthetics.
I’m always interested in learning about those things and bringing the best elements of them into my work.
See also: How Yuri Yasuda Took Her "Yureeka" Moment And Ran With It