I was thrilled to hear that Tanzi Twitch, the renowned conceptual artist, has won the Scunthorpe Award for International Art with her ground-breaking piece "Empty Room with Small Mouse and Bad Dream Number 17."She was interviewed recently by art critic Sophie Slingback, who asked her about her award-winning work.
SS: So what exactly was the intention behind "Empty Room"?
TT: It was to show just how empty a room can be. The infinite emptiness of a space without content. The total absence of expected visual triggers. The absurd non-availability of pizza.
SS: Though a pizza carton did feature briefly in version number 13.
TT: That was an accident. It was left there by Stephanie, my cleaning lady.
SS: I see. But many people have said they can't see the small mouse or the bad dream.
TT: I can't help them. The small mouse and the bad dream may be there or they may not. I thought I saw the mouse yesterday morning but I may have been mistaken. It may have been a truffle. Or a waffle.
SS: What about the bad dream?
TT: There is always a bad dream, wherever you are. A nightmare is always waiting to crawl out and scare you to death. If you look, you'll see the bad dream. It's as plain as can be.
SS: The small mouse is a recurring theme in your work. What does it signify?
TT: You'll have to ask the mouse. I can't speak on its behalf. It may just signify the universal prevalence of recurring themes. Or the presence of unexpected visual triggers. Or a nearby cheese mine.
SS: I thought cheese was a dairy product.
TT: Whatever.
SS: And how would you yourself sum up this masterpiece?
TT: Empty is as empty does. Empty vessels make the most noise.
SS: Brilliant! Sheer genius!
Picture of Tanzi Twitch courtesy of the Plunkett Gallery, Cork Street, London
