Claire Colette is an artist whose work on paper is intensely motivated by sound and how it might be represented in tangible form. Her exhibition “small moves in strange rooms,” on view at San Francisco’s Eleanor Harwood Gallery through July 12, includes seven graphite-on-paper drawings, as well as an interactive sound installation created with Sean Smith.
“‘Salle D’Attende’ is French for ‘waiting room,’” said Colette, referring to the title of one of the works in the exhibition. “I had been working on a series of drawings about space, both architectural space and internal psychological spaces, and how the two effect each other. I was thinking about sound a lot — the properties of sound in an enclosed space — how it fills a room, bounces off the walls, echoes, decays, and the invisibility of it. I see the nature of sound as a metaphor for how experiences can resonate, double back, and vibrate internally.”
Based on her practice, Colette said that most people expect her musical tastes to angle toward “Zenned-out” songs, but her actual studio playlist is eclectic, from hip-hop to the bombast of Swans. Here are a few of her selections:
Savages, “Shut Up”
“Savages are loud, searing, political, creative, brave as hell, wild and polished at the same time. Endless inspiration.”
Iggy Azalea, “Murda Bizness ft. T.I.”
“Iggy can be a little more pop than I usually like, but her songs are addictive. She is a great rapper and it’s inspiring to see a young woman working hard and finding her place in a notorious boys’ club.”
Swans, “The Seer Returns”
“It’s amazing how something so dark can make you feel such a freeing sense of lightness. It’s something I will always strive for in my work.”
Francis Bebey, “New Track”
“I listen to a lot of African music and Bebey is one of my favorites. I love the upbeat quality mixed with smart lyrics and adventurous sounds.”
A$AP Ferg, “Let It Go”
“A$AP Ferg really gets me going when I need a dose of energy. A strange and great mix of rap and gangsta rap with a horror-movie vibe.”
Moondog, “Why Spend the Dark Night”
“This song is just my kind of romantic, and great to listen [to] during moments of playful experimentation.”
This article is part of the series Studio Tracks, which runs monthly in Modern Painters magazine.
