Art Talk: Erik Zajaceskowski

NR: What was the genesis of Secret Project Robot and who have been your essential collaborators on that space other than co-founder Rachel Nelson? What was the first show at Secret Project Robot and how did that set the tone for your programming moving forward?

EZ: I don’t remember all that much about the first event at Secret Project Robot, believe it or not. What I do remember—it was out-of-control, packed, a line down the block! More than a single event, though, Secret Project Robot was an evolution. At one point during the lifecycle of Mighty Robot, me and my collaborators decided that visual art and installations should be a more significant part of our output. So, in 2004, I found cheap rent on a vacant building on the Williamsburg waterfront and rented it with Karl larocca. Karl and I brought in collaborators Todd P and Vasti Windish to establish the space as Monster Island. Monster Island consisted of: Live with Animals, Kayrock screen printing, practice spaces, a communal party space, art studios, Oneida’s Ocropulous, Mollusk Surf Shop and Secret Project Robot. At this point, Rachel became involved and helped build Secret Project Robot toward what it is today. 

As for collaborators, there are so many people to credit! Secret Project Robot has had three different locations and each location had core collaborators and supporters. Other than folks I’ve previously mentioned, I’ll credit Chris Uphues, Doug Roussin, Zack and Eli leirhoff, Dave Kadden, Raúl de Nieves, and Simon Leary. I want to add more and more names! So many people have contributed in so many ways—big and small, but all essential.

NR: Live programming, performance, and even raucous events buttress Secret Project Robot's visual art program. What role do the live arts play in any contemporary art space, and how do experiences relate to exhibition and object based arts programming, both at your spaces and overall? 

EZ: At Secret Project Robot, these elements are interwoven. The purpose of the installation to create an environment to be populated, and part of the purpose of the event is to populate it. So, the art installation and the event work together to create a unique experience—this is the foundation of Secret Project Robot. 

I’d also like to think we make art more accessible. Some people find art obtuse–possibly even a little dull or uninteresting–but everyone likes a party. On the other hand, sometimes parties can be generic. But, putting the party in an art installation always creates something unique.

As for programming in the field overall, each space has its own approach. Some hang art on the wall, some focus on performance, and so forth. This variety makes the art world fun, gives us a little something for everyone. It does seems as though more and more galleries and art institutions host performances and parties. This is great, but I’d like to see more performances and parties happen within actual art installations. Most take place in a separate room. This is a key distinction between underground spaces and more established institutions—underground art spaces generally integrate art, art installation, performance, and parties more thoroughly. 

NR: You recently worked with Raúl de Nieves to present a performance at Frieze. How did that project come about? How does it intersect with other facets of your practice?

EZ: Raúl is a long-time friend–I’ve known him since Monster Island and the Melrose Compound–and we’ve collaborated a number of times. He is so famous now that it’s really fun to work with him! The Frieze piece was a continuation of somos montros, a project that Raúl and I’ve been working on for some time. It’s hard to summarize somos montros, but if I had to I’d say: it involves ridiculously elaborate costumes and interpreting current culture into a pseudo future religion performance. Does that help?

It’s a little harder to answer the second part of your question, as many of the artists at Monster Island and Melrose Compound just hung out and worked around each other and collaborated so much that the influence is nearly impossible to parse. Raúl and I both work across mediums: sculpture, painting, drawing, costumes, performance, mythology, so the collaboration just made sense, and made the project better.

NR: Who is a dream collaborator? Why? What type of project would you employ with said collaborator?

EZ: Well, the better part of my art practice has been a collaboration, from projections with bands, to making art and art installations with others, to working with other art spaces. Collaboration is also crucial for Secret Project Robot, as it was with Mighty Robot, and so on. But, personality plays such a big part in collaboration, there is such intimacy, so it's hard to think of a collaborator that I have never met. I’ve collaborated with Rachel and Raúl the most, and I have to say, they are both a dream to work with.