I don't know why we, in the art world, cannot unpack things and sort of make hybrid notions of a practice. We're very rigid. It's funny, though; in music, we have no problem sampling, mixing and remixing. But in the art world, why can't we take little parts of history and mix it together?

Mark Bradford’s quote speaks to the rigidity he perceives in the art world, particularly in how practices and traditions are approached. He questions why the art world has difficulty blending different elements or ideas from various periods of history, while in other creative fields, like music, there is a seamless acceptance of sampling, mixing, and remixing. Bradford is pointing out an irony in the way the art world often maintains rigid boundaries and categories, even though innovation in other fields thrives on hybrid and experimental approaches.

By referencing music, where artists constantly sample and rework existing material to create something new, Bradford suggests that art should be more open to similar experimentation. The sampling culture in music allows for the reinterpretation of past ideas and influences, often leading to fresh, innovative work. Bradford questions why this openness to reworking and remixing is not as common in the visual arts, where artists tend to follow more traditional and conservative methods in how they approach history and materials.

The quote also reflects Bradford's desire to see a more fluid and dynamic approach to art-making, where history and tradition can be reimagined, rather than treated as static or untouchable. He advocates for a more inclusive and collaborative method in which artists can freely combine different historical and cultural elements to create new works that reflect a more complex and diverse world. This approach would allow for a greater exchange of ideas and a more innovative use of artistic language.

The origin of this quote likely stems from Bradford’s own experience as an artist working in a variety of media and using collaboration and interdisciplinary methods to challenge traditional boundaries in art. His reflections on how the art world can be more inclusive and less constrained by conventional rules are informed by his own desire to break down barriers and create more experimental, fluid forms of expression.