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Interview:
Vince Vozzo, Sculptor and Artist - 8th December 2019
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Vince
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The
Media Man group continues to delve into the arts and
creative world, as Australia keeps hearing and reading
an ever increasing amount of static and mixed signals
about censorship of the creative sector. The Australian
government has already banned some music and performing
artists from appearing at venues. Could "big
brother" be going after traditional artists next,
or are we already there?
1.
Why is censorship bad for the arts?
Freedom
is most important to artists and writers, western
governments are more hidden in censorship than direct
obvious censorship in other eastern and third world
countries. Decent in thoughts if we look at Chairman
Mao, who said “do not read many books it is dangerous”,
which is similar to Western thought, when Plato wrote,
in “The Republic”, Plato was asked, “What
shall we do with the artists? He said the artists
are banished!” In our modern west we have freedom
only to a degree, cause if we look, for instance at
a free thinker, like Wilhelm Reich, who wrote, “The
function of the orgasm” the American government,
destroyed his books and he was imprisoned and died
in prison! Also, one can look at George Orwell, “1984”
the last individual was the artist, writer. Similar
to Aldous Huxley, in “Brave New World”,
soma was given as a drug to control people.
So
I think freedom in Art is essential, it is our way
to make new stories from the sameness. As Oscar Wilde,
said from the “Monotony of Type” even more
important now in modern society today with governments
around the world with controlling self-interest.
2. What experiences of censorship have I had in the
arts?
I
don’t remember the exact year in the early eighties.
I was accepted in the Blake Prize with a duel entry
of a sculpture and drawing. I was told that I had
to remove my drawing as the bank manager was offended
and said that his customers, would be offended. So,
I was asked by the Blake committee to remove the drawing
but I could leave the sculpture. The Blake Prize exhibition
was held in the Commonwealth Bank at Martin Place,
Sydney. Thus, compromising my work and all the drawing
showed was a naked father standing with a naked mother
giving birth. They couldn’t look at life..
3.
What censorship in the arts has gone wrong?
Straight
away I can think of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel,
The Pope and Bishops at the time, had asked for the
nakedness that was showing penis’ and bottoms
to be covered by another artists. I think any form
of censorship for an adult audience is bad but of
course censorship is another thing for children but
remembering the age of consent is a made-up from culture
to culture around the world at different times.
4.
What’s your motto?
William
Wallace…F r e e d o m!
5.
What are you best known for?
Voluptuous
female figures and spiritual inclined heads reminding
one Descartes, “Cartesian Dilemma, Mind and Body
split”
6.
What are your current projects?
At
the moment I’m working on two large marble carvings,
two regional solo shows for next year and one group
show. Also, I have been invited to go to Japan, by
a Japanese artist/sculptor, Keizo
Ushio to his studio to carve a Japanese granite
stone and bring back to Australia for Sculpture
by the Sea exhibition next year.
Ed:
I think its fair to say that we can expect more cutting
edge art from Vince Vozzo. Whether one wants to call
it controversial or not, it remains art. Vozzo looks
to have firmly cemented himself into the current censorship
discussion concerning the arts in Australia and abroad.
A public thank you to Vince, and we urge him to never
change his art to "conform" to government
guidelines and laws. Art by an artist, expressing
themselves, is art.
Interview
Vince
Vozzo, Sculptor and Artist - 13th December 2019
Vince
Vozzo
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