Astrological Aesthetics: November 2015 Horoscopes
Hyperallergic’s horoscopes offer astrological advice for artists and art types, in art terms, every month.
Hyperallergic’s horoscopes offer astrological advice for artists and art types, in art terms, every month.
Scorpio (October 24–November 22)
Imagine if, in addition to her sublime, Op art-ish renderings of grids and glitchy patterns, Tauba Auerbach also made really gestural and grotesque paintings — picture Carroll Dunham imagery with Allison Schulnik quantities of paint. That would be crazy, right? Well guess what, Scorpio? You will need to master that level of emotional ambidextrousness this month. In work you need to keep your pride in check and ask for help, but be careful in your emotional life, as an old friend is about to betray you.
Sagittarius (November 23–December 21)
Did you catch Dana Schutz’s recent show at Petzel Gallery, Sagittarius? Her huge, animated, and masterful paintings are so fun, in part, because they are bursting with energy and emotion, kind of like the coming weeks for you. In the next few days something huge will happen in your personal life, and it will either be extremely painful or transcendentally joyous. Good luck!
Capricorn (December 22–January 20)
Gosh, the fall has been so tiring and taxing, do you think you should just put off your next big project until after Art Basel Miami Beach? Or, you know what, why not just give up entirely, subdivide and sublet your studio, and go into real estate? Snap out of it, Capricorn! Any projects you don’t see through to completion by the end of the month will never see the light of day, so get cracking. (Also, an astrological PSA — the stars are weirdly specific about this — if you are a runner you should take a break this month or try a different fitness activity, otherwise you will suffer an injury.)
Aquarius (January 21–February 19)
We’ve always maintained that Julian Schnabel is a terrible artist, but we do so quietly. We don’t picket his shows or vandalize his seemingly pre-vandalized, smashed-plates-on-canvas “paintings.” We calmly critique his work and let others loudly champion his abominations, confident that the historical record will prove us right. Sometimes, Aquarius, it’s better to demure and let foolish folks publicly embarrass themselves.
Pisces (February 20–March 20)
Real talk, Pisces: you’re at a creative impasse, your ideas have become stale, and your technique lazy. What you need to get yourself back on track is a creative collaborator. We’re not talking about glorified studio assistants either, we mean someone who will not merely reflect your ideas back at you, but transform them and help you and others to see them anew. Find the Charlotte Moorman to your Nam June Paik.
Aries (March 21–April 20)
Through no fault of your own, Aries, all of your plans will go awry this month. Throw a party: there will be a power outage. Take a trip: the travel delays will be interminable. Send a new series of multiples or photos to be printed: the printers will break down. But, if you can anticipate these snafus, you can also turn them to your advantage. Turn your party into a candlelit affair with live music. Turn that vacation into a stay-cation. And those broken printers? Well, we never thought we’d tell anyone to take inspiration from Wade Guyton‘s woefully weak work, but sometimes tugging images out of busted printers can produce lovely effects.
Taurus (April 21–May 21)
Heed the words of Dr. Dre, Taurus. No, not the line about rocking your “khakis with a cuff and a crease,” that look is played out. On “Deep Water,” one of the songs from his new album Compton, he rhetorically and rightly asks, “Would you look over Picasso’s shoulder and tell him about his brushstrokes?” You would not, and you should similarly learn to be less relentless in your criticism of your own work. Let the brushstrokes flow! Or, to put it in Dre terms, “put it down, never slouch.”
Gemini (May 22–June 21)
Did you ever see the El Anatui documentary Fold Crumple Crush? While it features all the interviews and behind-the-scenes installation footage you’d expect from an art documentary, the most interesting part of it is getting to watch the Ghanaian sculptor and his team of studio assistants bent over tiny scraps of metal trash that they flatten, fold, poke holes in, and thread together. There’s a great deal of tactile satisfaction to be taken from those segments. We recommend devoting yourself to similarly menial tasks this month, Gemini, because anything more ambitious you attempt will fold, crumple, and leave you crushed.
Cancer (June 22–July 22)
If we were regular old astrologists, Cancer, we’d tell you that you have carte blanche this month to bend the rules, behave amorally, and do some things that might be perceived as unjust. But because we’re art astrologists, we’re going to use a phrase we throw around a lot in HAWUSA (Horoscope Art Writers, USA chapter) meetings: you have Robert Ryman (aka carte blanche, since he only makes white painting) to be a little rash and irresponsible in November, because otherwise you’re going to get trampled (emotionally and professionally).
Leo (July 23–August 22)
You’re such an idealist, Leo, always taking the high road, meditating on aesthetics and metaphysics, developing theories, and testing concepts. None of that is going to work this month, which should be devoted to more practical pursuits. If you’re a painter, spend November making stretchers and priming canvases. If you’re a sculptor, work on some molds or try upgrading materials — do you really need to use the most toxic type of resin on the market? If you’re a photographer, nerd out with some new camera equipment — it’s safe to shop at B&H again!
Virgo (August 23–September 23)
Many people seem to take a kind of zen delight in Sarah Sze’s installations — the perfect, precarious balancing of so many random, disposable, delicate, and surprisingly interesting scraps and sculptural bits — but not us. We have nightmares about walking into one of Sze’s shows and setting off a disastrous domino effect that leaves all the fragile work toppled and trashed. Your month is going to be like our nightmare, Virgo, but if you muster all your charm and charisma, you’ll patch things up just fine.
Libra (September 24–October 23)
Now is a good time to be promiscuous, Libra, just know that your flings, experiments, and nocturnal adventures, though fun, will not result in anything particularly profound or enduring. Try doing it on the floor, or against the wall, or in public. Could it work suspended from the ceiling? Have you considered bringing in more people to collaborate with? Why not incorporate video? You should indulge all your impulses this month, artistically and otherwise.
