ALEXANDRE SINGH is a French-British artist based in Brooklyn. I met him though my friend Feliks Richter, and I am so glad he welcomed me to photograph his studio and home, which he shares with his partner and frequent collaborator, art historian Natalie Musteata. Singh is represented by Metro Pictures and Spruth Magers, and has exhibited at the MoMA, Guggenheim, and Palais de Tokyo, among others. He has written novels, plays and screenplays, and has an endless stream of work across a variety of disciplines. His work investigates the nature of consciousness, creating interplays of philosophical narratives, drawing on magic, business, art history and the occult. His surprising contrasts and assemblies are works of magic in themselves. Thank you for sharing your Brooklyn studio with me!
WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD BE SURPRISED TO FIND IN YOUR SPACE?
We have an inordinate amount of doll-house furniture that we use to make little sets for storyboarding.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL WORKSPACE IN THREE WORDS…
Dark. Cosy. Edwardian.
DESCRIBE A REAL LIFE MUNDANE SITUATION THAT INSPIRES YOU!
Dog walkers. They walk down our street every day, their trousers jangling with seemingly keys to every house in the neighborhood. They’re trusted with access to all of these people’s homes. Imagine what kind of sordid little dramas they might walk into!
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM PROJECT?
A fantastical musical about the history of the insurance industry.
FAVOURITE SONG/BAND WHILE WORKING?
Mozart.
WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN AND FROM WHOM?
Whilst it’s not advice I’ve received personally, the single most important insight I’ve come across is William Archer’s pithy summation of storytelling: “Drama is anticipation mingled with uncertainty.” It’s as true of films and novels as it is of jokes, magic tricks or a newsflash– “Animals Escape from Local Zoo”
WHAT IS YOUR MOST IMPORTANT ARTIST’S TOOL?
Green tea and a fountain pen for writing.
WHAT MINDSET/MOOD DO YOU MAKE YOUR BEST ART/WORK?
After a good night’s sleep, on a grey rainy morning with the curtains drawn and a low incandescent light on my desk.
Where They’ is a visual documentation of the creative environments of artist & people, that meet during my travels, of homes and studios.
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