On the cover: Red Hand on a Red 300E by Geoff McFetridge

Floating, 2022

Red Hand on a Red 300E, 2022

Tell us about ‘Red Hand on a Red 300E’…

It’s from a show I did called Rust Drinkers, about cars, the auto industry and the Rust Belt in the US. With ‘Red Hand…’ I wanted to represent the vulnerability of suburban life. I drew the Red 300E from memory. It’s an old car and people used to leave the windows open as they’d get so hot – but how open can you be before someone takes advantage?

What else was part of that show?

The first piece I made for it was called ‘Steve: (403) 239-2348’. Once, while on my skateboard, I was hit by a car being driven by a businessman. I wasn’t really hurt, I flew over the hood, but my skateboard was wrecked. This guy – who wore a suit and looked like my dad – said he’d pay for it and wrote down his name and phone number. When I got home and called it, I realised it was a fake phone number. It was an early life lesson.

Floating, 2022

Endurance, 2020

You were art director for the Beastie Boys’ Grand Royal magazine. Are you still a fan of print?

Growing up in Canada I learned about the world through magazines – they were a window into all these different cultures. What I love about magazines is that I end up reading about things that I previously had no interest in. Magazines teach you to broaden your horizons. Of course that can sometimes be devastating – ‘Oh God, now I have to worry about this as well!’

Do people view your work differently in a gallery versus, say, a branch of Hermès?

I’ve found galleries to be a more demanding culture than the world of luxury goods. I think it is because if you walk into a gallery your criticality is high, but when you walk into Hermès you’re already a believer. I guess that’s the power of brands.

“I learned about the world through magazines — they were a window into all these different cultures” — Geoff McFetridge

A new documentary about you is coming out. How was it watching your life on screen? 

When Dan [Covert, the director of the film, Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life] approached me about doing a documentary, I thought I owe it to him to be completely open – I’m going to answer every question, I’m going to let you shoot me in my pyjamas at home and I’m not going to ask for any control or say in how I’m presented. Now that the film is about to come out it’s suddenly ‘Oh man, what was I thinking?’ But I’m really glad I did it and did it in that way. It turned out great.

Friends Know Where To Look, 2022

How is your art affected by what’s going on in the world?

When we’re going through times of war or division, I often wonder if my art should be saying more about these ‘big’ topics. But I’ve got better recently at working out that if I’m deft at anything, it is bringing clarity to things that are very quiet. But it’s sometimes difficult when the times feel so very loud.

A Body as a Logo for Conciousness, 2022

Steve: 239-2348, 2022

Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life will be released in selected cinemas and on the streaming platform Mubi in July

Posted on Monday, June 24th, 2024 - Categories: #54 - Jan-Mar 2024, App Issues.