Miranda July
I can't quite recall my first Miranda July moment but I think it may have been her art action/s called Learning To Love You More from 2003.
These actions were shown on-line and in presentations (and later a book) comprising of work made by the general public in response to assignments given by artists Miranda July and Harrell Fletcher.
As you can imagine, this was quite a break through moment for online interactive art at that time.
The concept is about taking moments and ideas from daily life and making them (more) significant and recording them. It's hard to choose a favourite but as I can identify to strong connections with clothing, I love this one :
#55 Photograph a significant outfit
I also love #63 Make an Encouraging Banner
or this one...#60 Write a Press Release About an Everyday Event
In 2005 Miranda wrote and directed her now cult film Me and You And Everyone We Know which won prizes at Sundance (Special Jury Prize /Originality of Vision) and at Cannes (Camera d'Or) as well as Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Newport and San Francisco International Film Festivals.
Over the years, Miranda July has been prolific in forming and presenting awkward art through more books and films and actions, the more obscure the concept, the better. Who could forget the Interfaith Charity Shop at Selfridges !
In 2016, Miranda July came to Australia on a talk tour called Lost Child! speaking about her career, life and inspiration and I was lucky to see her at Melbourne Town Hall. The love affair continues.
This year, she has released a book simply called Miranda July which is a chronological survey of her work to date.
Published by Prestel through Penguin Random House the book opens with an interview with Julia Bryan-Wilson and includes candid recollections by friends and collaborators including Carrie Brownstein, David Byrne, Spike Jonze, Sheila Heti, and Hans Ulrich Obrist.
The publication is available in Melbourne at Readings or internationally through Penguin Random House here.
Thea Basiliou
Author