No that’s not a typo, artist Jason Shulman is er, presenting himself tonight at Soho’s Door Gallery.
Previous works by JASON SHULMAN
When our some-time contributor and every-time brilliant Harriet Verney told us about the one-man, one-piece art show she was curating, we were a little intrigued. Opening tonight at the Society Club’s Door Gallery, Jason Shulman presents, well, Jason Shulman.
“It’s meant to sear your retina, strain your rods and cones… it’s what good art should do, I’m fast tracking it, you know. Get there how you can!” Harriet relayed a conversation between herself and the artist to us.
“That’s the thing about Jason,” Harriet wrote in a piece outlining the show, “he may be (on the surface) arrestingly nervous; but he’s a silently confident self proclaimed recluse, on numerous occasions I’ve left his company thinking; ‘How the fuck did he do that’ or just ‘fuckkk’. He’s a brilliant illusionist, a poacher of the imagination, he distorts and sticks a finger right through the rafters of your brain, without you releasing, sans pomp and splendour with the accuracy and precision of a scientist.”
Sounds delicious, right? And we’ve been promised dogs, drinks and vintage porn on arrival. All we know is that we’ll be there at 7pm to press a big red button, see a flash of light and find out what happens. We tried to pry more from Harriet in advance.
How do you know Jason? What about his work first drew you to him or did he draw you to his work?
Jason lives in the bunker beneath me in Haggerston, he was introduced to me by my flat mate who has known him for years; she’d been banging on about this shaman-like artist for ages so finally I met him; it was mind blow after mind blow – the other day he showed me this 3D shadow machine he’s created. Amazing!
What’s been your role as the curator of the show?
Being Jason’s Nanny, joking. I guess being there, writing the interview with him making everything go smoothly and translating the whole thing to reality. I played a minor role in comparison to Babette and Micheal at the Society Club who are King and Queen of the back streets of Soho.
What do you hope people’s reactions will be?
As Jason said “sear people’s retinas” shock and walk off into the night in Soho without being able to get his name out their noggins!
Why Soho and why the Door Gallery?
I’ve been really close with Babette for years; and previously curated and interviewed Tim Noble for his period in “the door”.
This show is itchingly secretive, what’s the best thing about a secret?
Well hopefully it will mean people come and actually see it rather than just see a video!
Can you give us three words to describe it, just so we can prepare ourselves?
Blinded by the light (that’s four soz).