Mike Kelley: "Day Is Done" | Art21 "Exclusive"

Episode #104: Mike Kelley reveals how photographs from yearbooks and newspapers in Detroit served as the inspiration behind the performative project "Day Is Done," shown installed at Gagosian Gallery.

Mike Kelleys work ranges from highly symbolic and ritualistic performance pieces, to arrangements of stuffed-animal sculptures, to wall-sized drawings, to multi-room installations that restage institutional environments (schools, offices, zoos), to extended collaborations with artists such as Paul McCarthy, Tony Oursler, and the band Sonic Youth. His work questions the legitimacy of normative values and systems of authority, and attacks the sanctity of cultural attitudes toward family, religion, sexuality, art history, and education. He also comments on and undermines the legitimacy of the concept of victim or trauma culture, which posits that almost all behavior results from some form of repressed abuse. Kelleys aesthetic mines the rich and often overlooked history of vernacular art in America, and his practice borrows heavily from the confrontational, politically conscious by all means necessary attitude of punk music.

Learn more about Mike Kelley: http://www.art21.org/artists/mike-kelley

VIDEO | Producer: Wesley Miller & Nick Ravich. Interview: Susan Sollins. Camera: Nancy Schreiber & Joel Shapiro. Sound: Tom Bergin & Stacy Hruby. Editor: Paulo Padilha. Artwork Courtesy: Mike Kelley. Special Thanks: Gagosian Gallery, New York.

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[Pixelrelated]

Proof that you can label just about anything art and people will like it. The Emperor's New Clothes is what Day Is Done should've been called.

[urbanartlife]

I saw your artwork at Moca! I loved it so much!! I feel like I was in a jungle haha. RIP mike, You will never be forgotten.!

[savvysearch]

One of the best american artists

[근형 박]

How do you feel now, Mr David Rimanelli?

[MrLorenzotebano]

duh his work is not going anywhere!

[Rutsofia Campuzano]

RIP MIKE.. We love you. Marisa takal loves you

[djdubrubble]

SO SAD

RIP MK

[SANITIZEDINC]

R.I.P. The world will miss you.

[Diego Beaumont]

Mike always fantastic!