The VICE Guide to Miami Art Fairs - Hanna Liden

Hanna Liden is my all-time favorite artist at the moment because when I went up to her studio to do this interview she had cold beer for me to drink! Out of all the people I interviewed she was the only one who offered me refreshments. I vaguely remember a cup of tea being waved in my face at some point by somebody, but Hanna was the only one who really understood me and my needs as a pioneer of new, new, new journalism. Plus she’s the daughter that Ozzy should’ve had. Cheers.

Vice: So you been to this Art Basel thing before?

Hanna Liden:

Yeah.

What’s the best part of going down there?

The weather, the climate, that is really the best thing. It can be fun to be out of context with all these people, it takes everything to a different level. The parties can be fun.

What part totally sucks?

The fair.

The actual fair?

Yeah, Miami Basel. I don’t like art fairs, it’s for dealers and collectors, it’s not for artists, you know? Last time I was there, I didn’t even go to the fair.

Crowheads, 2008, digital c-print, 20 x 24 inches, courtesy of the artist and Rivington Arms.

Will you go this year?

I don’t know, maybe, I don’t know. The containers are pretty nice because they’re outside, on the beach, and that can be nice to go to. It’s funny when you see the mix of European art dealers, uptight art people, and South Beach regulars, you know? All these tacky girls in bikinis by the pool and then the dorky European art dealers, it’s a really funny mix.

Are you worried about money affecting sales and stuff like that?

Well, this year will maybe be less excessive. Previously it’s been a lot of free drinks and a lot of drugs, but now with “the great depression” I think it will be a little less excessive.

That’s a bummer, but is it a good thing in the long term or is it just bad?

It’s really bad for artists if people don’t buy art.

Right. If you go this year what parties will you be hitting?

Beatrice Inn is having a party and my girlfriend, Rachel Chandler, is going to DJ… I think A-Ron has something happening.

Tell me about your first trip down to Basel.

The first time I went to Basel I went because I was doing the Rivington Arms booth. They booked my ticket and I’d never been there before and I didn’t know what to expect.

Did it suck?

No, it was fun to be there… but I was there way too long. I was blue when I came back, white and blue, so unhealthy, so, so unhealthy.

Why?

Because I’d been having too many drinks and I had been completely freaked out by the art world, I didn’t really know a lot at that point.

Three Shrunken Skulls, 2008, digital c-print, 40 x 30 inches, courtesy of the artist and Rivington Arms.

Where’d you stay?

I stayed at this really slummy hotel called the Creek. It was really ghetto. Me and Dash shared a room.

Dash Snow?

Yeah. It was kinda disastrous.

Did you party on?

There wasn’t really any division between partying and not partying.

Will you do the whole ten days?

No, I’m going to go on the second for the opening of the show that I’m in and then I’m leaving again on the third.

What’s the show?

“The Station.”

And you’re leaving the next day?

Yeah, I think, though I might change my plans once I’m down there.

Either way, that’s you really hung over on an airplane.

Guaranteed.