Sarmento: More Than House And Home At The Parrish

The name of Julião Sarmento’s exhibit at the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton belies the message of the more than 40 works of art on display. “Julião Sarmento: Artists and Writers/House and Home” is so much more than the title suggests.

Yes, there are images and blueprints of homes, and yes, incorporated in his artwork are many examples of the work of other artists and writers. But, as one will see upon entering the gallery space, the overall theme of the display is far more far reaching.

According to information released by the Parrish, the exhibition, which is the Portuguese artist’s first solo exhibition in the United States since 1999, focuses on “the artist’s long-standing themes of language, writing and sense of place.” The works included in the exhibit, many of which feature a faceless woman and some form of writing, are influenced by visual art, architecture, literature, psychology, philosophy, music and film, according to the release.

“It’s about life,” Mr. Sarmento said of his work during a conversation at the Parrish on Saturday, April 16, between himself and Bridgehampton-based writer James Salter, who wrote the short story “Raphael” for the exhibit.

The conversation, held in front of a sold-out crowd, was moderated by Parrish Director Terrie Sultan, who said she has been drawn to Mr. Sarmento’s work for years.

“The work is sexy, enigmatic,” Ms. Sultan said. “It’s everything you want in a visual experience.”

Pairing Mr. Sarmento and Mr. Salter for the talk was also Ms. Sultan’s idea. She said that the special project was about connecting like-minded artists, though they work in different disciplines.

Mr. Sarmento—who said he was moved by Mr. Salter’s writing—had already included snippets of the author’s prose in some of his artwork.

“You were one of my heroes,” he said to Mr. Salter.

Mr. Salter’s “Raphael” was written specifically for the exhibition publication, he said.

“I feel like we are in sympathy,” Mr. Salter said to Mr. Sarmento. He then addressed the audience, “I recognize in him things I recognize in myself ... We have a somewhat similar view of a wide sweep of life.”

The philosophies might be the same but the two artists approach their work in very different ways, they explained.

“The process is virtually the opposite,” Mr. Salter said, adding that his approach is ordered, restrictive and more interior-based and less about the world around him. “I have a very romantic idea of painters, which you haven’t negated by the way.”

Mr. Salter likened writing a book, which is a solitary experience, to building a house.

“You’re going to run out of money, you can’t find anybody to do the plumbing so you have to do it yourself,” he joked. He added, “writers are, at the end of the day, they’re cranky and depressed.”

Mr. Sarmento’s approach is more externally based and less in his head, at least when it comes to the visual part of the process. He said that he is forever cutting images out of newspapers and taking photos of things that interest him.

“I have a bank of images because I’m interested in images,” he explained. “I’m like a squirrel collecting images.”

Both were quick to agree, however, that the word “inspiration” is a bunch of baloney.

That quick bolt of lightning is seldom the impetus for creativity, Mr. Salter said. Instead, he reported that his ideas come from life experiences once he’s had a chance to ruminate on them; though he did admit that he and other writers will collect words they like in hopes of using them.

“You make lists of words you hope to use sometime,” Mr. Salter said. “But I would succinctly say that memory is everything. Memory is life.”

“I don’t believe in ‘inspiration,’” Mr. Sarmento said. “You might see something that gives you an idea but you just work within your possibilities, the scaffolding of knowledge that you’ve built. It’s through constant labor that great idea comes to life.”


Julião Sarmento: Artists and Writers/House and Home” is on view at the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton through June 11. For more information, call 283-2118 or visit parrishart.org.