This pile of candy is delicious - Félix González-Torres and the AIDS crisis
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ย. 2024
- This is my attempt to take a quick look at 30 works in 30 days.
Today we're talking Felix Gonzalez-Torres and his piece “Untitled” (Portrait of Ross in L.A.). Or as you may know it - the large pile of candy in the museum.
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This one hit hard. I've been living with HIV/AIDS for 18 years now. The attention brought to this health issue by folks like Felix Gonzalez-Torres was likely partly responsible for the research into the virus and the development of medications that are helping to keep folks like me alive. Thanks Christopher...great essay!
Oh wow. Yes big thanks to FG-T and the many others who kept attention on this terrible virus. And so glad to hear you’re doing ok.
This is the only piece that has made me cry in a museum. Saw it unexpectedly at ARoS here in Denmark, with my boyfriend. It brought everything to a tactile, unignorable truth. Every person who died was a real part of this world, a body with space and weight. To see it wither and shrink bit by bit. We just had to embrace and let tears flow. The candy was yummy. The fight for our lives is not over. We will never be eradicated.
Thank you for sharing this story!
@@christopherwestpresents you're welcome! Hiv and aids was never something that was really close to us (we are young and don't happen to have closely known anyone afflicted) but this artwork and its story made me understand the loss in a special way that other portraits didn't. So thank you for sharing it too!
I have always admired this work, but I never had the opportunity to see it in person. Then, one day, I decided to take myself on a date downtown to the Art Institute last year. I broke down in tears because I finally saw the pile of candies in the middle of the gallery floor. I took a piece and savored it at last. A kind stranger hugged me and listened to my story.
I was named after my uncle Stephen who died from complications with HIV/AIDS in the late eighties. My mother loved him so dearly and it was such a devastating loss for her. My Uncle visited her in a dream and told her to stop crying. He told her that one day, she would have a daughter and she would name me after him, and he would live again through me. My uncle wanted a daughter who shared his name more than anything, and even described her having the same features I ended up having. Of course, this prophecy came true and I carry his memory with me everyday.
I hope more people realize that this epidemic affected so many families, whether they be biological or chosen. Each life lost was precious and we should not reduce this historical event to a graph with numbers. RIP to Felix, Ross and my Uncle Stephen ❤ Thank you for sharing this video.
Wow. Thank you so much for sharing your story. I’m sure Uncle Stephen is smiling down proud. This was beautiful, and I’m humbled you watched. Thank you.
This piece is absolutely beautiful and devastating. It's nice to see someone cover it with tact.
So nice of you to say. Thank you for watching!
I've had a piece of candy from one of these installations on a shelf in my living room for several years. I was just looking at thinking I should have a better understanding of the meaning behind it. This was a very good explanation. Thank you
Thank you for watching! And I must admit - I ate the candy and it was delicious.
This was a great video about a piece I wouldn't have otherwise known of. Thank you 🙂
I really appreciate that. Thank you!
It changed my life when I read Nancy’s book on Gonzales Torres in 2008. Just such a sad story and his work 😢
His work is so very touching.
What an amazing channel. Wonderful find. Calm music. Good b roll in all the right places. Very solid and positive message.
As a young channel, I really appreciate you saying this. Thank you for watching!
Excellent video, got this recommended to me. Thank you for covering this work and the AIDS crisis like this.
I really appreciate you watching. Thank you!