John Divola is an American artist
Episode 187: John Divola returns to speak about Terminus, his brilliant new book published by MACK.
“…A trial so long, so continuous, and so uniform should certainly convince us of our inability to reach the good by our own efforts… What is it then that this desire and this inability proclaim to us, but that there was once in man a true happiness of which there now remains to him only; the mark and empty trace, which he in vain tries to fill from all his surroundings, seeking from things absent the help he does not obtain in things present? But these are all inadequate because the infinite abyss can only be filled by an infinite and immutable object, that is to say, only by God Himself.”- Blaise Pascal, Pensées
In the episode, John and I spoke about making work at George Air Force Base and how John’s work pivots between a sculptural and installation tendency. We spoke about indexicality and meaning and the environment that John produces work in at George AFB. The conversation is quite relaxed. There is a moment within when we discuss the existential paradigm of mark-making and how the void that features in Terminus acts as a catalyst for my personal interpretation of the work. I feel John is literally stalking the void in Terminus. There is a progression towards nothingness in his ever-increasing creeping up to the black circle at the end of the long hallways of the barracks at George AFB.
It is always a pleasure to speak with John about his work. I deeply appreciate that he takes the time to do so. Please pick up Terminus from MACK and Tune In.
