Who is Richard Move?
A New York City based artist and professor residing in the multiverse of dance/live performance, film/media and art meets science. I’m in Melbourne as Resident Artist at Monash University’s MADA (Monash Art Design & Architecture). This is my first experience “Down Under” – do Australians even use that term?
What would you do differently to what you do now?
Do all that I presently do, but do it better! Have faith as it continues to unfold while keeping the creative channels flowing.
Who inspires you and why?
The great artists I most admire – all of my collaborators! I’m especially obsessed by mid 20th Century maverick, female artists who pioneered and built Contemporary Dance – Martha Graham, Katherine Dunham and more. They were completely ahead of their time, in so many ways – or – they were completely of their own time in so many ways, but the rest of the world had not yet caught up with them.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Rescue more dogs and place them in loving homes. The world needs more dogs!
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Melbourne and the whole of Oceania, of course! And, anywhere in southern Italy.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take then to, and why?
My apartment. It’s close to Times Square and so all of Gotham’s iconic tourist destinations are easily accessible. Once they’ve gotten that out of the way – without me (I’m a native New Yorker, after all), we then visit my fave & top-secret spots, that are off the grid.
What are you currently reading?
The House of Impossible Beauties. It’s Joseph Cassara’s gorgeous and gritty debut novel inspired by the underground New York club scene where the dance form of Voguing was born. And yes, I was a member of a house. And yes, I was a competition Voguer. And yes, I took home some trophies, but also got “chopped” from categories too!
What are you currently listening to?
Several conversations running simultaneously through my mind. And, a news podcast from a local, public radio station and wondering … what’s next?
Happiness is?
Full and unselfconscious immersion in the mystical pleasures of the senses. Surprising encounters with new ideas, people and places.
What does the future hold for you?
For this, I’ll quote one of my many brilliant teachers. After all, I’m an academic and citations are a thing that we do: “… We must dream and enact new and better pleasures, other ways of being in the world, and ultimately new worlds…” – José Esteban Muñoz (1967 – 2013)
Richard is in Australia as ‘Artist in Residence’ at Monash University’s Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (MADA) – and will present his award-winning art to Melbourne for the first time in three public events: Performing on the Screen – The Films of Richard Move (Wednesday 1 August); MADA Artforum: Martha@21: Sonic Bodies, Seizures and Spells (Wednesday 8 August); and Workshop: Back to the Body: Dancing Words/Moving Text (Thursday 9 August).
Image: Richard Move – photo by Patrick McMullan