Art 21 "Aki Sasamoto is feeling stretched"

"Aki Sasamoto is Feeling Stretched," a film by Art21 Summer of Shorts: Ten New Films in Ten Weeks Premiering on Art21.org every Friday through August 4 Art21 premieres its seventh film from Summer of Shorts, a dynamic ten-week roll-out of exclusive new short films documenting the life and work of the most compelling contemporary artists working today: Meriem Bennani, Jordan Casteel, Stan Douglas, Theaster Gates, Liz Larner, Aki Sasamoto, Avery Singer, Jeff Wall, Chris Ware, and Caroline Woolard. Summer of Shorts continues today with a new film from Art21's New York Close Up series featuring artist Aki Sasamoto. WATCH ART21'S LATEST FILM: Aki Sasamoto is Feeling Stretched Through August 4, a new film will premiere at noon every Friday on Art21.org as well as on the Art21 YouTube channel. How far can an artist bend without breaking? Installation and performance artist Aki Sasamoto unwinds the logic of her latest work, Yield Point (2017), finding unexpected connections between the tension of stretched materials and the stresses we experience in everyday life. “Lately, I notice that I’m [feeling] super stretched and tired—trying to do a day job and trying to do art—so I was interested in how much one can push yourself,” says the artist. “That’s why I went to thinking about elasticity and testing that limit.” Mirroring the artist’s own stream of conscious logic and deadpan humor, the film follows Sasamoto as she uses a mechanical stress testing machine at Rutgers University, tours a dumpster warehouse in Queens, and performs in Chelsea’s renowned arts space, The Kitchen. During the performance, Sasamoto moves freely within an installation comprised of plastic trash bags, immersive videos, stretched bands, and rolling dumpsters with trampolines inside. Like the materials she pulls apart, Sasamoto resists bending to expectations and refuses an easy explanation of her subjects—instead trusting the creative process to yield its own truths. “Whenever I try to say this piece is about this or that, that’s when it starts to feel like I’m a liar,” she says. “I almost feel like I’m performing to find out answers for my own questions.” Summer of Shorts Premiere Schedule Friday, June 2 - Available Now! Avery Singer (New York Close Up) Friday, June 9 - Available Now! Theaster Gates (Extended Play) Friday, June 16 - Available Now!  Jordan Casteel (New York Close Up) Friday, June 23 - Available Now! Meriem Bennani (New York Close Up) Friday, June 30 - Available Now! Jeff Wall (Extended Play) Friday, July 7 - Available Now! Stan Douglas (Extended Play) Friday, July 14 - Available Now! Aki Sasamoto (New York Close Up) Friday, July 21 Caroline Woolard (New York Close Up) Friday, July 28 Liz Larner (Extended Play) Friday, August 4 Chris Ware (Extended Play) Spread across two original Art21 web series, New York Close Up and Extended Play, viewers will have intimate access to artists’ studios, and witness the creative process of artists firsthand. From the Extended Play Series The Extended Play digital series is a refreshed take on Art21's longest-running digital series, formerly called Exclusive. Five new films will premiere during Summer of Shorts, featuring artists: Stan Douglas, Theaster Gates, Liz Larner, Jeff Wall, and Chris Ware. From the New York Close Up Series The New York Close Up digital series introduces five additional artists to the series roster through new films: Meriem Bennani, Jordan Casteel, Aki Sasamoto, Avery Singer, and Raúl de Nieves (whose first film premiered in April). A new film featuring Caroline Woolard will also premiere during Summer of Shorts. Digital Extras Summer of Shorts programming will extend across Art21 digital platforms, including Instagram takeovers by New York Close Up artist Tommy Hartung, as well as thematic and guest-contributed playlists featuring films from the ever-expanding Art21 Library. Keep up with Summer of Shorts by joining Art21 on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Credits New York Close Up is supported, in part, by The Lambent Foundation; public funds from the New YorkCity Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; VIA Art Fund; and by individual contributors.