Enrico David
Enrico David is an artist based in London. In 2008 his work will be included in a survey of Italian art and design of the last 40 years at the Palazzo Grassi, Venice, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago.
What images keep you company in the space where you work?
An underwater photograph of Bonnie Camplin. It reminds me of Good Health, a short film she made in 2003.
What was the first piece of art that really mattered to you?
The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890) by Oscar Wilde.
If you could live with only one piece of art what would it be?
Honeypump in the Workplace (1977) by Joseph Beuys.
What film has most influenced you?
In chronological order of appearance in my life: Johnny Guitar (1954, Nicholas Ray), Suddenly, Last Summer (1959, Joseph L. Mankiewicz), The Silence of the Lambs (1991, Jonathan Demme), Paris is Burning (1990, Jennie Livingston).
What is your favourite title of an art work?
Run from Fear, Fun from Rear (1972) by Bruce Nauman and Fiorucci Made Me Hardcore (1999) by Mark Leckey.
What do you wish you knew?
How to do the death drop.
What should change?
The way we walk.
What should stay the same?
The price of oatcakes.
What could you imagine doing if you didn’t do what you do?
Activating bon-bons.
What music are you listening to?
Larry Levan Live at the Paradise Garage (2000).
What are you reading?
Memoirs of Hadrian (1951) by Marguerite Yourcenar. A repeat read. Also, Watchfiends and Rack Screams: Works from the Final Period (1995) by Antonin Artaud.
What is art for?
For showing it to us.
frieze is now accepting letters to the editors for possible publication at editors@frieze.com.
