Politics

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8/9/14

Identity/Politics What makes a body political?

Identity/Politics How do I know who I am? How do I show others who I am? How do others “know” who I am?

Artists James Luna Felix Gonzalez-Torres

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8/9/14

“Natural” Appearance Visual meaning and politics

Angela Davis "It is both humiliating and humbling to discover that a single generation after the events that constructed me as a public personality, I am remembered as a hairdo.” – Angela Davis

Artist: James Luna Native American Identity Terms: Invisibility Prejudice of Admiration Authenticity Border Identity

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8/9/14

Invisibility Cultural and social invisibility happens when a culture makes it convenient not to see. If within the general visual experience of an individual living in this culture there is not a reflection of that individual then they can become (or feel) invisible. If their history, their experiences, their values, and their beliefs are not registered in the consciousness of “others”, they can become invisible. If one chooses not to see another out of fear, out of misunderstanding, that person can become invisible.

Liu Bolin – “invisible man”

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8/9/14

James Luna:Identity and the Body Born: 1950 La Jolla Indian Reservation California Chief Seattle’s 1854 speech - provides a foundation for much of the folklore surrounding the perception of Native Americans Even though the speech is revered by the dominant population, Luna believes that the characterization of the Native American actually limits opportunities for the contemporary Native American by fixing a “national” identity for the Native individual Luna feels that when the Native American does not fit the romantic image represented in Chief Seattle’s speech they are accused of degrading their authentic heritage. This process Luna refers to as the prejudice of admiration.

Espera Oscar de Corti Character actor - Iron Eyes Cody 1971 Ad from the “Keep America Beautiful” campaign

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8/9/14

James Luna Artifact Piece, 1987

James Luna Take a Picture with a Real Indian, 1991

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James Luna Half Indian/Half Mexican

This piece explores the idea of border identity in which one’s identity is understood internally as being composed of two separate yet equally influential backgrounds.

I give people choices - I don’t tell them how to think…Sometimes I hit people over the head with information they may not understand at first glance. It’s different than hitting them over the head with an appeal for them to think my way.” James Luna

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8/9/14

Felix Gonzalez-Torres Homosexual Identity and AIDS

Terms/Ideas: -  -  -  -  - 

A public staging of neglected freedoms AIDS Word Portraits Stacks Spills

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5 Reasons Gonzalez-Torres could not achieve what he wanted with painting 1.  Painting deals with surface 2.  Painting records only a moment 3.  Painting presents the image from the artist’s point of view without considering multiple perspectives 4.  Painting isolates the subject from the social, cultural, and political conditions that influence life 5.  Painting presents the public persona of the subject and not the private one

Portraits

“Perfect Lovers”

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8/9/14

Spills Ross Laycock was Félix’s partner, and when he was diagnosed with HIV his doctor set his ideal weight at 175 pounds. “Portrait of Ross” is precisely that: 175 pounds of candy set in a pile. The candy is unguarded, the purpose being for the viewer to take some of it from the mound. Each and every day, the remaining candy is removed, weighed, and more is added until it weighs exactly 175 pounds. Then it’s set back out again.

Portrait of Ross 1957 - 1996

Spills Untitled (Corner of Baci) 1990 Baci = italian for "kiss” "I'm giving you this sugary thing; you put it in your mouth and you suck on someone else's body. And in this way, my work becomes part of so many other people's bodies. It's very hot." - Gonzalez-Torres

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Untitled (Portrait of the Wongs) 1991

Portraiture becomes and record of a life unfolding over time not a frozen moment

Stacks Untitled (The End) 1990

Individual who take a piece of paper from the stack are “carriers” who precipitate an epidemic of compassion. “I don’t want the public to feel…I want the public to be informed, moved to action. ‘Feeling’ is too easy.” -F. Gonzalez-Torres

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Billboards Project 34 1991

“People With Aids Coalition 1985 Police Harassment 1969 Oscar Wilde 1895 Supreme Court 1986 Harvey Milk 1977 March on Washington 1987 Stonewall Rebellion 1969.”

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Felix Gonzalez-Torres and David Wojnarowicz

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