Pursuing Authenticity

“An artwork can transport a person in a soulful, rich way without having any fear of punishment—or Hell, or sin, or any of those other good things.”

—Artist Mary Heilmann, seen here at work in her Bridgehampton, New York studio as featured in ART21’s Fantasy episode, reflecting upon the relationship between her work and her childhood

WATCH: Mary Heilmann in Fantasy [U.S. only] | Additional videos

“I wanted to develop my own language, and the minute I started performing, I began to invent in a different way—through my body movements.” —Joan Jonas

In a new episode from the ART21 Exclusive series, artist Joan Jonas—who represents the U.S. at this year’s La Biennale di Venezia​ in an exhibition presented by MIT List Visual Arts Center​—recalls the beginnings of her performance work from the late-1960s and early-1970s.

For Songdelay (1973), seen here, Jonas worked with artists such as Gordon Matta-Clark, Carol Gooden, Tina Girouard, Steve Paxton, and Penelope. “We all helped each other and worked together,” recounts the artist, “and people really enjoyed being in other people’s works.”

WATCH: Joan Jonas: New York Performances

“I kind of just steal the compositions, but I obliterate everything else. The details are gone. Nothing is stable. Everything is moving and dripping and messy.” —Diana Al-Hadid

Watch artist Diana Al-Hadid borrow from Old Master and Italian Renaissance paintings to create a singularly hybrid artwork—transforming brushstrokes on a wall into architectural sculpture—in a new film from the ART21 New York Close Up series.

WATCH: Diana Al-Hadid Plays the Classics

IMAGES (ROWS 1, 5): Diana Al-Hadid. Installation view of Ground and Figures at OHWOW Gallery, Los Angeles, 2015.

IMAGES (ROWS 2–4, 6): Artist Diana Al-Hadid in her studio, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY, 2015.