Interview with Ira Stein
A Model's Perspective
"When Ira looks at me, I can feel a paralyzing syringe slowly piercing my temple. Without using his hands, he delicately fills the syringe with thoughts I do not remember I had. He never injects thoughts; he only extracts. Helplessly experiencing his cannibalistic gaze dilates my pupils. With a slightly open mouth, he gently switches from syringe to scalpel. He is always eager to cut deeper. He is compelled to dig. I know it will hurt and he offers no mercy. I'm frozen. I dare not move an inch. I let him work. He obsessively lifts every curve and indentation from my fingerprints. It feeds his addiction, as well as mine. No one ever has, or ever will look at me the way Ira looks at me. I will forever loathe and adore Ira Stein." - A. Muse
Ira Stein is a trained artist, a Vietnam veteran, former commercial airline pilot, and a renown jeweler. With such an interesting and varied personal background, his works convey a well-rounded, multi-dimensional and inventive interpretation of the world surrounding us. His sculptures, mixed-media collages, and figurative paintings all provide a glimpse into the psyche of an artist grasping with the notion of genetic essentialism viewed from the perspective of the troubled, the vulnerable, and the erotic nature of the human condition.
Stein lives and works in Brentwood, California.
Ira Stein is Brooklyn born, L.A. raised, and Vietnam War Veteran.
His works confront issues that are difficult to talk about – sexual and physical abuse, social responsibility and what he feels is the dumbing down of society. As you will see, his works are bound together by his fascination with genetics and how that determines “all the "shit" we do.” His mantra, “Fuck Wisely” is a raw summation of his perspective on how society is evolving.
Could you please introduce yourself and tell us how you started in the arts? and your first experience in art making?
My name is Ira and I was raised by a strong Mother who handed me an egg one day and told me to throw it at a tree. I did, and throughout my life I’ve continued to throw that egg. It’s wrong, it’s right, it’s powerful, it’s daring. That is my art. My artistic epiphany began as young teen, in wood-shop class. I discovered that my mind and hands had the ability to collaborate and create a work of art, a thing of beauty, or not, a masterpiece. The ecstasy of making art, of creation, became imbedded in my soul.
How would you describe yourself and your artwork?
I am reclusive and wildly intense, eclectic, a ravenous risk-taker and lured to extremes. I’m driven to challenge societal conventions, and I push limits in all areas. My art does the same.
At the heart of every one of my projects is my conviction that each individual’s journey through life is determined entirely by their genetics. The genes passed from human to human control our choices and with those choices, the unavoidable consequences, good or bad.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I seek models who emit an inner pain, a troubling truth locked behind their eyes. Through the years, I have painted the most unique women.. Based on our chemistry and their life story, I believe that their behaviors are genetically determined and not so much the result of experience or societal influences. My paintings, mixed media collages, and sculptures will not necessarily go with the furniture but they will leave you with the unbelievable documentation supporting my belief that behaviors are predetermined by genetics.
What emotions do you hope the viewers experience when looking at your art?
I hope the experiences and hidden desires in my art dive deep into a viewer’s soul. Yet, the emotions triggered will be as individual as the viewers themselves. If no two fingerprints are like, why would anything else be? No two reactions to my art will be identical. In short, I hope to arouse an otherwise comatose population with strong images from which they cannot turn away. I expect to cause reflection, evoke emotion, disgust, denial, and in the best case, a recognition of one’s own GENETIC story.
When do you know that an artwork is finished?
I like to believe that Each piece lets me know in its own way when it’s finished, however I'm not sure if they are ever truly complete. There's a moment when suddenly I know that I can’t look at it anymore, so I know it’s done.
What has been the most exciting moment in your art career so far?
When my work, “Cosmetics” was unveiled at a gathering in a patron’s home, the raves were satisfying of course but the most exciting element of the evening was the visceral reaction of the viewers. This validated what I always knew, that my art is important.
How long does it take to produce one work?
I’ve spent years interviewing models about their lives. From this painstaking psychoanalytical artistic process, authentic (and sometimes troubling), portraits are created. My works aim to reveal the uniqueness of women and the power that genetics has in determining the life we lead. Before one brushstroke is put to canvas, I need to know absolutely everything about my subject or model. My artistic process requires time and a commitment on both our parts, in order for me to paint the unmediated truth discovered during this close relationship. It is an agonizing process but I am compelled to continue asking difficult questions.The process can take as much as a year to complete.
What exciting projects are you working on right now?
I am always working on new projects and sometimes I'm working on more than one at a time. Because my artworks bluntly place free will against genetic determinism, I seek to disrupt the conventional explanation of the essence our beings by dismissing environmental factors as the root cause of our actions. Unequivocally, it is my contention that genetic determinism is the overriding cause for all our compulsions. As long as there are human beings displaying their Unique Fingerprint, there will always be new projects in the works.
Can you share some of the future plans for your artwork? My goal is to see my works exhibited at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, France.
Do you have any upcoming events or exhibitions we should know about?
My works are currently displayed in my own personal gallery, I-Gallery (by appointment only), as well as featured monthly on the Apero Fine Art Gallery website (showapero.com).
Where do you see your art going in five years?
As the trends change, my art will evolve as well. However, genetics and its role in human nature will always be at the core. In five years, I see my art collected by a sophisticated clientele who understand that art is not just décor to match drapery, but something that has much more to say about society and how our own Genetics determine all the "shit" we do.
Email: ira@irastein.com
Website: irastein.com
