05.29.2020

Artist Eric Fischl Discusses Parenthood and American Anxiety

Eric Fischl is a renowned contemporary artist whose most recent work includes the painting “American Hula.” He first became known for portraying the relationships and dynamics between people and communities in suburban America. He joins the program to talk about the place of art in tragedy and trauma.

Read Transcript EXPAND

AND I KNOW YOU ARE SITTING IN YOUR STUDIO IN FRONT OF ONE OF YOUR OWN PAINTINGS.

AND IT IS CALLED LATE AMERICA TWO.

AND I WANT TO YOU DESCRIBE WHEN YOU PAINTED IT, IT IS VERY POWERFUL WITH A MOTHER HOLDING A CHILD WRAPPED IN THE AMERICAN FLAG.

YEAH.

A PAINTING I DID A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

THE START OF THE NEWS OF THE PANDEMIC, COUPLED WITH A LOT OF CONTINUING ANXIETY, FEARS, ET CETERA, THAT WE'VE BEEN FACING.

BOTH ON AN ENVIRONMENTAL LEVEL AND ON A POLITICAL LEVEL, ET CETERA.

AND I JUST FOUND MYSELF WONDERING, WHAT COULD I POSSIBLY SAY TO A CHILD AT THAT EDGE OF NOTHINGNESS WHICH IS WHAT WE SEEM TO BE HURDLING TOWARD.

I THINK THERE'S AN UNDERLYING CURRENT THAT WE LIVE IN A KIND OF FLOW TOWARD TRUE DISTOPIA.

SO IT IS LIKE TRYING TO PUT MYSELF IN THAT PLACE.

AND I THINK A MOTHER'S EMBRACE IS STILL HOLDS, OR SHOULD HOLD, AS A POWERFUL SYMBOL OF CARE, OF NURTURING, AS WELL AS VULNERABILITY IN AND OF HERSELF.

I CHOSE A MOTHER EMBRACING A CHILD AS OPPOSED TO A MAN.

About This Episode EXPAND

In the wake of George Floyd’s death, Rev. Jesse Jackson joins Christiane Amanpour tonight to discuss institutional racism, policing and inequality in the U.S. Melvin Carter, the mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota, discusses the protests in his community. Artist Eric Fischl explains art’s place in tragedy and trauma. Oskar Eustis discusses theater’s role in democracy and the national grieving process.

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